My first few years in the yarn industry coincided with the tail end of the novelty yarn craze of the 2000s. The pendulum swung back toward classic yarns for nearly a decade, but restless knitters have started to crave unusual materials again. The new novelties are much more likely to contain a good dose of natural fiber, and in the case of yarns made from T-shirt jersey, an element of upcycling eco-awareness.

Tactile appeal is also a common denominator; knitters are no longer interested in knitting difficult, itchy metallics or fussy, gimmicky fibers. Yarnmade from jersey knits feel as comfortable as your favorite old T-shirt, which makes it an ideal candidate for a throw pillow. Using two shades and an easy-towork slip stitch pattern, this pillow makes a unique housewarming gift.This is a case where the stitch pattern changes considerably on the “wrong” side, so choose flat horizontal stripes or nubbly vertical stripes before sewing on buttons.