Lion Brand Yarn Studio, located on 34 W 15th Street, is a treat to the eyes. It is a colorful store featuring yarn and accessories, plus creative displays. The Studio also hosts knitting and crocheting workshops. It has an entire wall called “Sampling Wall” solely dedicated to yarn samples and the required tools for sampling. The few materials that caught my eye were – the Shawl in a Ball Yarn, Lion Brand Collection Silk and the Lion Brand Collection Natural Wool.
The Shawl in a Ball Yarn is five hundred and twelve yards long. Lion Brand calculated the amount of yarn required to knit an entire shawl and thus came up with this size. This type of yarn is recommended for beginners as well as experts. It allows amateurs to create excellent accessories by just using the simplest knit or crochet stitches. The self-striping brushed acrylic, run with a 100% cotton stub, has the look and feel of silk mohair. 58% cotton, 39% acrylic and 3% other materials, this yarn must be manufactured in the Lion Brand factories. I think that industries manufacturing shawls in bulk make use of this kind of material. With its easy use and beautiful look, the speed of the process can be much faster. Priced at $9.99 for one ball, it has a pretty average cost. The fact that it has a big amount of acrylic involved in its making, makes it quite unsustainable. Acrylic is generally petroleum-based and not biodegradable. The cotton they use is conventional, which adds to the unsustainability. I can see this particular material being used by students for studio projects, or people just beginning to adopt knitting and crochet skills.
From the Lion Brand Collection, the silk fibers were most appealing. Displayed in a range of lustrous colors, the silk’s delicate beauty and richness could easily be seen. Silk is known for its luscious softness and beautiful drape. Since silk takes dye so well, they created an exclusive, hand-dyed palette. This silk is 100% pure and is made from imported yarn. It is dyed in the USA. The brand that partners with LB uses acid dyes. This lowers the purity of silk. One ball is 163 yards long and costs $24.99. Pure silk always being in high demand, I see these hand-dyed fibers being used for multi-purposes. It can be used in the fashion industry, textile industry and even for decor purposes.
Lastly, the Lion Brand Collection Natural Wool is a super bulky 100% undyed, virgin wool that has been loosely twisted with a fine woolen thread, creating chunky and textured stitches. This soft and lofty yarn is a great option for felting and hand dying, since natural wool easily absorbs color dye. It is priced at $17.99 for a ball of 131 yards. Natural wool is a planet-friendly fiber because of many reasons. It is made of pure organic carbon, has a longer lifespan than most fibers, wool products need to be washed less frequently with less amounts of water, and it is also one of the most recycled fibers. This kind of natural wool is perfect for insulation. Its bulkiness can create very warm clothing. I can see natural wool being used in fashion industries, especially in the colder regions. Wool can also be used in carpets and blankets.
These materials have their own qualities and interesting backgrounds. Exploring their origination and future was a very interesting process.
