Knitting with Hempathy

I want to learn how to knit lace!

For my first lace project I am making Susan Pierce Lawrence's Branching Out available free on knitty.com. I decided to use Elsebeth Lavold's Hempathy, 40% Hemp, 40% Cotton, 20% Modal in Sage.

My 15 year old daughter, taking Sophomore biology, had to teach me about Hemp. It is, in fact, related to marijuana.

Hemp "Cannabis sativa,"

Koehler's Medicinal-Plants 1887

Here is a little geo-political lesson:

Hemp will grow in most climates, as it requires only moderate water, little fertilizer, and is relatively pest and disease resistent, minimizing need for pesticides and herbicides. Hemp has a short growth cycle of 100-120 days making it an efficient and economical crop. Where hemp is grown, it has become a valuable and environmentally friendly crop. However, the FDA has banned industrial hemp cultivation because it is erroneously confounded with marijuana. In fact, industrial hemp and marijuana are different breeds of Cannabis sativa.

Hemp for textile was widely grown in the US until the end of World War II, and made into parachutes and American flags. With the advent of synthetic fibers, manufacture of textiles using hemp, along with other natural fibers, such as cotton, declined. Finally, the FDA forbade growing all hemp products, and banned import of hemp in 2001 when the new administration took office. American farmers are lobbying for permission to grow hemp, as crops are economical and have a positive ecological effect on other plants.

Hemp is warmer, softer, more absorbent, extremely breathable and significantly longer lasting than cotton. It looks like linen, feels like flannel, and wears two to three times longer than most other fabrics. And OOOH does it drape beautifully when knit into a lace garment!

So, I shall knit my first garment from Hempathy. Pictures soon . . . .I promise!