Ingeo

I have become fascinated with ingeo* recently. I think it is partially because as a scientist/engineer I complete approve of this earth-friendly, renewable synthetic. Plus it is just damn cool. I have recently been contemplating what those knitters in the natural-fiber camp would think of it.

From The Earth Guild:
"This silky fiber is made from corn, first milled into starch, then sugar. The sugar is fermented using enzymes making lactic acid. Eventually it is transformed into pellets of polylactic acid, which can then be spun into Ingeo fiber. The manufacturing process does not require petroleum-based chemicals. The fiber is biodegradable. Ingeo (In-gee-o), derived from “Ingredients from the Earth,” is made in the USA and is one of several emerging products created from annually renewable resources."

Unfortunately it seems that you can't buy it as yarn. I can't find any online and I found that it was mentioned on knitting (specifically here) that it does not seem to be commerically available as a yarn yet. There are a couple places including here that sell it as just a fiber though. Does anyone happen to spin?


*This is another moderately interesting website devoted soley ingeo but it is very flash heavy.