Many thanks to Daniella for pointing out that Malabrigo Organic Cotton is now available at WEBS. It’s pricey, but with the pound being strong it worked out to be affordable for me. I also took the time to get some of my new everyday-workhorse favourite yarn, Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk (I need to photograph those FOs), in a deep purple colourway (half-price), some more Arucania Pima Cotton (not organic, but at least fair trade, half price) to go with what I bought last year, and lots of onsies and twosies of other sale items for a total of £52 including shipping (to my US address). t gave me a budget of £50 since aside from Project Superstar (2 skeins, now used) and the Paris trip (2 skeins), I haven’t really bought yarn since the after-Christmas sales.
My gothpoints are utterly in decline as once again I bought really bright colours 🙂 I even considered several blacks and then thought “Well what would I make with that?” (as I haven’t tackled fair isle yet to do the piratey things). But in my defense, many of these yarns will be used for presents for children and I think children need eyepopping hot pink, right? 😉
For some reason this blog is the top Google hit for Malabrigo Cotton. How odd. I’m sure I will lose that status in the future as others come to know and love this yarn, but for now I felt obliged to order two skeins of the organic. I plan to crochet a bag out of it. Guess I’d best get cracking practicing my crochet first!
I do believe in using organic cotton as much as I can afford to. It’s hard when the price tag is up to ten times more than non-organic (considering that I have a mill that is localish to me in the States that at least hits my low-airmiles button, which most organics do not). It’s not so much about the environmental aspects in an altruistic sense but because I believe that the widespread use of pesticides is part of the reason why fibromyalgia and other neurological disorders are so much more common nowadays. (Remember to sponsor me for my walk for Fibro research!) Cotton growing accounts for 50% of the world’s pesticides which is why it is most important to buy organic cotton to prove to the rest of the industry that it can be done. But, I guess the lack of pesticides reduces the yield which accounts for part of the increased cost, although I am sure the rest of it is just the organic fad, alas. But Malabrigo is a higher-priced brand anyway and is fair trade as well as organic and these yarns have only natural dyes. Pity about the airmiles though 🙁
So with looms, swap goodies and now yarn coming my way, I think May 25 is going to be a lot like Christmas 😉 I can’t wait to get there and see all of my stuff. But first, several projects to finish and a swap package to make!