Normally, I sit here and tell you about the history of crochet in a far off place or some beautifully done craft object. But this time will be a little bit different. For India I’ve chosen a craft object whose history lies not in crochet but in weaving and the aftermath of that weaving.
Think back to the last Sari you saw. What did it look like? What do you imagine it was for? Or do you know why it was being worn already? Okay, so next question…what happen to it?
It might have become your yarn.
The Sari, or often called Saree, is a traditional garment worn by women throughout India. Sari quite literally means “strip of cloth” in Sanskrit, and its origin is traced all the way back to the Indus Valley Civilization (2800-1800 BCE) Sari’s were originally made from cotton, but around 2000 BCE silk (let me know in comments if you want to know how silk thread and yarn is made) began to be woven into garments, thus becoming the classic Sari that we are the most familiar with. Embroidery and dye techniques applied to the silk showed the status of the woman wearing it, with more colorful and ornate embroidery representing wealthier women. While the style and draping evolved over time, Saris continued to be a staple in Indian women’s wardrobes, particularly for weddings. After a few years of wear, Saris start to come apart, and instead of throwing out the elegant fabric, crafty women would salvage pieces and create other items from them, such as pillow cases and other home items, and even children’s garments. This recycling endeavor became more popular in the 21st century. Soon thereafter, the Sari Silk Ribbon was born.
Sari Silk Ribbon is made from 100% Sari Silk material. It’s often called “Recycled Sari Silk Yarn”. Sari Silk Ribbon isn’t actually made in the same way that traditional recycled goods are made, but rather it is derived two ways. The first from remnants of Sari material that is either left over from creating the full Saris, or from Saris that are no longer wearable. And the second; during the sari silk production bits of silk fiber are left on the equipment. These are gathered and hand-spun into the yarn you see pictured in the single more yarn like picture. As opposed to throwing this material into landfills, this material is salvaged and created into something usable. Sari Ribbon consists of hand torn strips of leftover Sari material, that is then sewed together to create one continuous strip that is then rolled into a skein. Due to how the material is woven together, traditionally on a loom, once torn, the sari material rips in a straight line. Sometimes, the edges are kept frayed or unfinished while other times, the edges are seamed to create a more finished look. But, here’s the thing you knit with it just like you would any other yarn. Its mostly consistent with 91m/100 yards and falls into the bulky yarn category which is crazy when you consider that silk is so delicate.
