Win 5 skeins of Sari SIlk Ribbon

Crochet is a versatile craft, and it’s not just about yarn – it’s possible to crochet with a wide range of materials, from string to plastic bags. This month we’ve been experimenting with something much more colourful: recycled sari silk ribbon from Ethnic Crafts.
This beautiful and ethically produced ribbon yarn is a by-product of silk sari manufacturing in India, and is produced from waste silk from the textile mills that would otherwise be destroyed. Women’s co-operatives in rural India take the leftover silk sari fabric, which is then hand cut, tied end to end and made into skeins.

Not only does this yarn make good use of a waste material, but it also allows the women who produce it to work from home and earn their own income, which improves their quality of life and enables them to send their children to school.
Inside Crochet editor Claire Montgomerie has been giving it a try: “Each fabric change was an exciting surprise, making for a more interesting and unpredictable project than usual, which is great for plain and simple patterns as the yarn adds texture.”

Although this kind of yarn can be hard on the hands, because there is no stretch, the finished results are worth it. “Each strip of fabric can vary in weight, so generally it is best to find the hook that suits the thickest,” says Claire. “Simply hook in small bursts and take plenty of rests when making – my rag rug design is still extremely quick to work, even if you take it slowly.”

Buy this silk ribbon yarn from www.ethniccrafts.co.uk

WIN!

Three lucky readers will each win enough yarn to make Claire’s textured rug from issue 51 (pictured right). That’s 15 skeins of this gorgeous yarn up for grabs!

To enter, simply head to our competitions page and enter your details where prompted.