Observed annually on the second Saturday in October, I Love Yarn Day is a holiday dedicated to yarn. Yes, this is a day for people who love to knit, weave, crochet, needlepoint, or use yarn in any other way to create fantastic craft projects. So if you’re a fan of using colorful yarn in creative ways, then you might want to take the opportunity to celebrate this holiday with like-minded individuals.

The History of I Love Yarn Day

If you want to trace the history of this holiday, you have to go back all the way to 2011. This is when the Craft Yarn Council founded this holiday to spread the word about yarn crafts and to encourage people to take part in all the fun.

Some Fun Facts About Yarn & Knitting

Using yarn in creative ways is a lot of fun, as is learning new facts about yarn and knitting. So we decided to take some time and share some of the fun facts we’ve uncovered about yarn and knitting. While you’re whipping up new yarn crafts to impress everyone, take some time to read the following fun facts.

• No one knows exactly how old knitting is, but it’s believed to be an ancient art form.
• Most historians believe weaving is older than knitting, and knitting is older than crocheting.
• The oldest yarn found so far is over 7,000 years old.
• The word “knitting” didn’t come into existence until the early 14th century.
• In 16th-century France, knitting was a male-only occupation.
• Knitting may have begun as a way for fishermen to work on their fishing nets.
• The Belgian resistance during WWII used knitting for espionage purposes.
• For the two years between 2002 and 2004, the number of women aged 25-35 years old who knit increased by 150% in the United States.
• The most common materials used for knitting during the first 500 years of its known existence were cotton and silk.
• Ancient people used needles made from bone or ivory.
• Ancient people also crafted needles from tortoise shells.
• Although cotton and wool yarns are still available, a variety of other types of yarns are being created all the time.
• Some of the more uncommon yarns include microfiber, bamboo, soy, hemp, and alpaca yarns.

Observing I Love Yarn Day

Anyone wishing to observe this holiday can do so by making some of their favorite yarn crafts or by treating themselves to some beautiful new yarn colors. They can also visit the Craft Yarn Council to get free patterns. While observing this holiday, people should use the hashtag #IloveYarnDay on their social media accounts to spread the word about it.