Yarn with Attitude :: Manos del Uruguay :: [GIVEAWAY]

Wednesday 23 September 2015


Hello Everyone! Happy Equinox and more importantly let the knitting season truly begin! And I have just the yarn brand for you and your ethical stash - Manos del Uruguay. I am sure you heard of the brand, but have you ever knitted with it? I had not. And although I was on a stash diet, I added some skeins to my current stash - oops but I am weak when it comes to test ethical yarns. I started knitted the variegated brown skein shown in my pictures - the perfect autumnal colourway, don't you think? And it knits beautifully, I hope it will look great on me too, brown is my colour apparently, but I don't wear it that often. Also I am never sure what to make with variegated yarn - Manos del Uruguay also has some block colours as well (which I may have 'accidentally' also added to my stash). 

There are different elements that makes yarn special from an ethical point of view, and supporting and empowering communities is a key aspect for me. Manos has, as a non-profit social organization, provided jobs for craftswomen living in Uruguay rural areas since 1968. And during 2009, and after a comprehensice evaluation process, Manos del Uruguay was accepted as a member of the World Fair Trade Organization. This acknowledges Manos del Uruguay mission of eradicating poverty through sustainable economic growth, enabling craftspeople to improve the quality of their craft products, so that, in this way, they can continue their personal development.


This video will probably make you understand why I see a lot of Manos del Uruguay yarn in my future only ethical stash. 



 What the website did not cover was the animal welfare aspect. So I contacted Manos and asked the question, and was very pleased with the response I got. Manos sources their yarns mainly locally and also from foreign sources. In Uruguay the sheep are bred in large cattle ranches, at open air, gazing from natural pastures. There is no mulessing in Uruguay. Manos buys their alpaca yarns in Peru from a well know and responsible Company based in Areuipa. A small part of their yarns is spun in China from South American wool. The silk they use is tussah (a more ethical way to collect cocoons) imported from India. So a lot of care has gone into getting the yarn as well.


What a great option to have, there are many yarn weights to choose from as well. I am knitting the silk blend, but have also some Maxima in my stash, and hopefully will be able to start knitting it soon (just need to finish this cardigan). 



But what would you be knitting should you win the above skein of Manos Silk Blend? Let me know in the comment box for a chance to enter this giveaway

Followers have another chance to enter the giveaway (let me know how you follow my blog in a separate comment). 

(There might be another skein given away on instagram as well...)

The giveaway ends Wednesday 7 October at 5pm (UK time). I hope to share what I am knitting with my skein then. 

And please, please, please leave me a way to contact you if you are a no-reply blogger. Good luck!

* This is not a sponsored post - I am just really careful at selecting yarn going into my stash, and sharing my findings here*

37 comments:

  1. I think this would make a cute bandana cowl. (If this giveaway isn't international count me out [US] but I like the premise of your blog and will add it to my list!)

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  2. I have knit with Manos before (I made a cowl with a similar color way to your brown skein and one with a gorgeous bamboo yarn in green), and I love the ethos of their brand. I never feel guilty buying it. I think I would probably stick with my tradition and knit another cowl!

    Thanks for the giveaway.

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  3. Its a beautiful yarn, after much thought - on IG said hat but decided the Mamie Clutch from Ravelry would be a perfect choice. Wonderful to hear there are more ethical yarns being made.

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    1. didn't realise I was a no reply blogger - poppyinstitches@yahoo.co.uk. Follow you on IG and via bloglovin

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  4. That is some serious yummy yarn! Silk and merino? Who wouldn't love it?
    I follow your blog for a long time....I don't have a IG account so my chances stop here!
    I wish you many wonderful knits!
    Zeta from Greece

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  5. Awesome Yarn, awesome Company. I would knit a cowl, all thatt softness up in my neck!

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  6. I follow your blog through bloglovin

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  7. I think I would have another shawl scarf or a cowl
    A girl can never have enough cowls

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  8. I have been wanting to knit with that yarn for a while, but can never justify buying it for me! I would make a shawl or cowl.

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  9. oh, I think I need a new winter hat, I think the aviator hat from Needles and Artifice would work nicely. I've always admired the Manos, but have yet to pick up a skein. It is always great to find out that beautiful yarn is a result of kind practices!
    I follow you on Bloglovin (and to echo the first comment, I understand if you don't want to ship to the US!)

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  10. Gorgeous colours!
    I'd love a new beanie!

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  11. That yarn is beautiful! Such lovely colors. I have a number of cowls saved on ravelry that I think this would be perfect for!

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  12. I also follow you on Feedly :)

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  13. Oooh, I would knit a pair of mittens for one of my daughters for a Christmas gift. They would just love these colors!! Thanks for enlightening me about all the ethical considerations!

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  14. I've never knit with Manos before but heard many good things about the company. I think this skein would make a lovely pair of mittens!

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  15. I have never knit with Manos before but almost bought some once before deciding it was too expensive for the project I was going to use it in at that time. It is so scrumptious! I would love a hat or a cowl made from it - total delight!

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  16. Well.......I'd knit a cowl I think ; )

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  17. I follow you through my blogger dashboard

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  18. Heard lots of great things about that brand, the yarn looks gorgeous <3 I think it would have to be a cowl of some sort!

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  19. I would knit a cowl.

    anna_k67 at yahoo dot com

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  20. That's a gorgeous skein of yarn! I'd turn it into a cowl or a hat, I think -- something to mix up the variegation. Your post was really interesting; I mostly knit with nicer yarns, but I haven't really given much thought to how it's sourced, and I had never heard of mulesing before just now looking it up. I'm a bit surprised that even Manos has some production in China. Apparently EVERYTHING is made in China! Sigh.

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  21. I love to knit but always struggle to find the perfect pattern! So if I were lucky enough to win this Nat, I'd be asking you for suggestions!

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  22. And I'm an old fashioned blogger (Google+) follower!

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  23. I follow via Ravelry. :)

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  24. I've always loved Manos yarns but I've never realised it is ethical as well. What an added bonus! I will knit a lace or slipped stitch cowl with that yarn because (imho) the softness of Manos yarn is best as something next to the neck.

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  25. The yarn is so beautiful! I would love to make a pair of mittens out of the skein (and maybe a matching hat, if there was enough left over)! I follow you on Bloglovin as well.

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  26. I'd knit a cowl because I think that kind of yarn would be really soft.

    ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

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