Discovering hemp yarn with the french yarn brand Natissea

A few months ago, I met Mathilde who owns the young hemp yarn brand Natissea. I was really inspired by her ecological approach and by the idea of discovering a new kind of fibre that I had never tried before, and that is how our collaboration was born. Together, we created a collection of designs, the first one being this top knitted in her Pernelle base, a 100% hemp yarn.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Mathilde for the release of this Chanvre Top during our latest Afternoon Knitting Party. You can find the audio podcast (in French) and the summary (in English!) below.

Natissea, an ethical brand

Mathilde comes from the fabric fair industry, that’s how she discovered hemp, a few years ago. Amongst the inovative fabrics was a very old one, more natural and ecological with the same incredible properties. It was a true revelation for Mathilde. A few years later, she transitionned into a more ecological and then vegan living and came back to hemp by looking for alternatives to animal fibres. She then stumbled upon a french hemp yarn website, but the shop was closed! So by looking to buy a few skeins to knit, she ended up taking over this business and launching Natissea.

Hemp, an ancestral fibre with amazing properties

Hemp is the first fiber that has been used by humans to make paper and textiles. It is very ecological and here are a few of its characteristics:

• The fiber is very good for the skein, it has relaxing properties and is hypoallergenic (which means that there are very few chances to be allergic for folx with very sensitive skin).

• Is is thermoregulative, which means that it balances out the temperature of the body in Summer and Winter. Contrary to animal fibers, it doesn’t generate heat in itself but it’s a great insulator and it will keep the natural warmth of the body.

• It’s less elastic than wool and doesn’t have its softness but it has a beautiful drape and it softens when washed. It doesn’t stretches out like cotton for example and it is way lighter.

• It’s very close, it its properties, to linen, but hemp culture is way more ecological because it doesn’t require the use of weed killers. Because the plant is very high, it eliminates the weeds itself by blocking them from the sun whereas linen needs a weed killer in its fields before the machine comes to harvest it.

Hemp yarn production

Hemp yarn production almost disappeared in France, even though it was a big industry before the arrival of synthetic fibers in the 80s. A lot of farms closed since then, but the industry is slowly growing back along with the linen industry.

Natissea’s hemp comes from Roumania, and it is then dyed and skeined in France in an ecological dyeing factory located in the north of France. It has an ecological and vegan label and uses natural pigments.

For Mathilde, transparency aroud the origin of the fibres is very important. She will release soon a short movie to showcase all the production steps of her yarn and the beautiful work of the people who contribute to create it!

You can find kits for the Chanvre Top over on Natissea’s website

The pattern is also available in English and French over on Ravelry