Where to Buy Eco-Friendly Cotton

In my last post, I explained the sustainable cotton standards currently used by yarn and fabric companies that sell to hand knitters and sewists. Standards include Organic cotton (GOTS), Better Cotton, Cleaner Cotton, and of course recycled cotton. The next question you may ask is, “where do I buy eco-friendly cotton?” This post is a selected list of sources and brands that sell sustainable cotton to U.S.-based consumers.

I believe in supporting small local businesses. Ask your local shop(s) to carry brands you like or that you want to try! Tell them you wish to buy eco-friendly cotton yarn or fabric and that you want to give them your business. However, here are some online sources if you live in a more remote area that cannot support a yarn or fabric store.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a small commission, which supports my work and buys extra treats for my cats. I appreciate your support!

Organic Cotton

Organic is arguably the highest standard of eco-friendly cotton. It is not exactly abundant, but still easy to find in both yarn and fabric.

• Organic Cotton Plus  has a wonderful selection of hand-picked fabric, yarn, and thread. I have ordered from them and received wonderful, fast service. Find fabric brands like Birch, Cloud9, Monaluna, plus a variety of yarns and threads in different weights and colors.
• The Confident Stitch  based in Montana, has both organic quilting cotton and apparel fabric.
• Lovecrafts has a wide selection of organic cotton yarn. From Debbie Bliss Eco Baby to Blue Sky Organic Worsted to Schachenmayr Organic Cotton (fingering weight), there is bound to be something great for your project.
• Lion Brand Yarn has a line of organic baby cotton yarn. Oh Baby Organic is affordable and comes in lots of beautiful colors.
• Darn Good yarn has a line of beautifully hand-dyed organic cotton.

Cleaner Cotton™

Quince & Co. is the only yarn or fabric company I know of using Cleaner Cotton. Ask your local shop to carry it!

• You can order both Willet (sport) and Whimbrel (worsted) directly from Quince. (Check out the line of naturally dyed colors using botanicals!)

Better Cotton

So far, I have only been able to find fabric using Better Cotton. It has not yet hit the handknitting yarn market.

• Check out Mood Fabrics for a good selection. Mood also carries an assortment of organics.
• Ikea! All of their yardage is BCI cotton blended with recycled cotton and some “almost” BCI. See their web site for more information. You can have your “scandi” look AND do it sustainably!

Recycled Cotton

This is a fun category. There is quite a bit of recycled cotton yarn available. Sometimes it is blended with other fibers. Here are a few to try:

• Lovecrafts has several unique recycled yarn options including:
  • Hoooked Zpaghetti Yarn: Pre-consumer recycled t-shirt cotton salvaged from the factory cutting floor!
  • Paintbox Yarns Recycled Cotton worsted: 100% recycled cotton in a variety of colors.
  • Cascade Yarns Rebound Recycled cotton blended with recycled polyester.
• Also don’t miss Lion Brand Re-Up: 100% recycled cotton in wonderful solids and mixed colors at a very affordable price!

The most eco-friendly cotton sources of all

Don’t forget thrifted and second-hand sources of cotton! Pay a visit to your local Goodwill, thrift stores, antique shops, flea market, and garage/yard sales. Online you can browse Ebay, Etsy, Flyingbulldogs, and join local swap sites like BuyNothing or Freecycle.  Get the word out to your friends and your Mom’s friends that you’re willing to take any unwanted yarn and fabric off their hands. You never know what treasures will come your way!

This list is not exhaustive, and I plan to update it as I find more sources for buying eco-friendly cotton. Have I forgotten your favorites? Please comment!