What is hemp yarn good for?

Hemp yarn is a less-common relative of other plant fibers that are often used for knitting (the most common are cotton and linen). It has some disadvantages but can also be a great choice for certain projects (it’s fabulous for knit market bags and, when blended with cotton it makes great dishcloths).

Basic Facts about Hemp

Yarn fibers can be roughly divided into four broad categories – animal fibers (like wool, silk, and alpaca), plant fibers (like cotton and linen), biosynthetic fibers (like rayon and bamboo), and synthetic fibers (like acrylic and nylon). Hemp fits in the plant fibers category because it comes from a naturally growing plant and it also doesn’t need heavy processing to turn the fibers into a useable yarn (like biosynthetic fibers need). It is processed in much the same way as linen is processed.

While many fragments of cotton and linen fabrics and textiles have been discovered, giving us a glimpse of life in the distant past, these are fewer and rarer the further we go back in time because of the nature of plant-based fibers to decompose with time. Even given this fact, there are examples of hemp fabrics dating as far back as 800 BC in Asia, where hemp fabric was common for everyday use. Along with fabric, it was also used to make rope, twine, sandals, shoes, and even shrouds.

It was also traditionally used for paper. According to The Principles of Knitting, hemp paper was used for the Gutenberg Bible and Thomas Jefferson wrote a draft of the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper as well. Benjamin Franklin also had a hemp paper making business.

Like linen, hemp goes through a long process to turn the plant into a useable fabric. The outer husk is soaked and then crushed so the inner fibers can be extracted. These fibers are then spun into useable yarn. Hemp is very easy to grow and doesn’t need any fertilizers or pesticides so it’s a good yarn choice for those with environmental concerns.

The Properties of Hemp

Hemp yarn has some advantages and disadvantages that knitters need to know about before they start knitting. It’s a great yarn for market bags or placemats, and, if it’s blended with cotton or other absorbent plant fibers, it makes great dishcloths. But there are times you will want to avoid hemp.