Knitting for Olive

The wool in Cotton Merino is certified by RWS – the Responsible Wool Standard – ensuring that animals, farmers, and the environment are treated with care. This certification comes with a lengthy list of requirements, including protecting the Five Freedoms of animal welfare: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal behavior and freedom from fear and distress. RWS certification also ensure that healthy soil, biodiversity, and social welfare for farmers and workers are prioritized. 

Knitting for Olive mohair is RMS certified. RMS stands for Responsible Wool Standard, and the certification ensures that animals, farmers and the environment are treated respectfully. The certificate protects the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare: freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury and disease; freedom to express normal behavior; and freedom from fear and distress.

Equally, RMS farms protect soil health, biodiversity and native species, and the RMS certification protects social welfare, working conditions and health safety of farmers and workers. The complete RMS document from Textile Exchange can be found here.

The silk used in Knitting for Olive yarns is cruelty-free. Silk is made of silk threads that come from silkworms' cocoons. The cocoons are made of one single very, very long thread. In conventional silk production, the cocoons are boiled, leaving the silkworms to die. This way, the long, intact silk thread can be used. Knitting for Olive silk is made of silk threads from broken cocoons, where the silkworms have evolved into moths and escaped from the cocoon. The broken cocoon is now many short pieces of silk thread. These short silk fibers are made into yarn. This is a very time-consuming process, and the final result is less smooth than other silk because long silk threads make a smoother final silk product. 

Knitting for Olive Merino is available in a stunning range of shades that pop and soothe, so you can choose classic combinations or out-of-the box pairings. Whatever your style, let your imagination run wild, one delightful stitch at a time. 

Not only does Knitting for Olive Merino Yarn deliver on comfort, but it's also durable and breathable, ensuring your hand made heirlooms will last through many cozy seasons.

Plus, it's ethically sourced, so you can feel good about what you're using. The merino wool in Knitting for Olive yarns is independently certified to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).

This yarn is produced in Italy with high respect for animal wellbeing, and with social responsibility. Additionally, the spinning mills that produce this raw fiber into such lovely knitting and crochet yarns follow ethical, technical and environmental standards, creating yarns free from harmful chemicals.

Bourette silk is cruelty free! Silk yarn is made with the silk threads that come from silk worm cocoons. An intact silk worm cocoon is made of one single very long thread. In conventional silk production the cocoons are boiled, leaving the silk worms to die. Bourette silk, on the other hand, is made from the silk threads of naturally vacated cocoons – ones from which the silk worms have completed their natural metamorphosis into moths. During this incredible process, the cocoon breaks apart leaving the silk thread in pieces. These short silk fibers are painstakingly collected and spun into yarn. Creating bourette silk is a very time consuming process resulting in a more rustic, but no less luxurious strand of yarn. 

This slightly rustic, strong wool is perfect for durable sweaters. If you're looking for an extra cozy touch, combine it with Knitting for Olive's Soft Silk Mohair for perfectly matched tones. This pill-resistant yarn means you'll have a long-lasting wardrobe staple.

Heavy Merino's traceability makes it possible to identify the specific farms where the wool originates, ensuring that the animals are well cared for and the farmers are treated fairly, with good working conditions.