Green Options

Last season I interviewed Leslie Richard and found out all about the Öko Box,

and she shared her love of Enamore lingerie. Now they’re a main feature for fall in the intimate section of the Öko Box!

She explains:

“Enamore sets out to bring classic and vintage styles to her designs, like the classic pin-up, which is a sustainable approach to the usual throw away fashion world.”

Enamore was founded by Jenny Ambrose, after discovering

This week I’ve been in the mood to knit with something simple and sweet, so I was pleasantly surprised when I came across Schulana’s Cotton-Silk Natural. This 80-20 blend is made with organic cotton and silk. And while the blend might not make it a completely simple yarn the gentle colors are quite sweet.

This yarn is also a very elegant and soft fiber. The silk lends its smooth texture to the sometimes rough cotton to create a peaceful yarn. Cotton-Silk Natural comes in relaxing colors created with plant dyes. It is available in five different subtle monotone verigates. These restful colors are created with such things as sandalwood and herbs and flowers.

GreenFibres is a UK based online “eco goods and garments” shop which sells a number of hemp, linen, silk, and organic cotton fabrics by the yard.  Their cottons and linens are certified organic, and two of their fabrics are certified fair trade - others “are made under fair and safe working conditions.”  The fabrics they offer are the usual natural, unbleached fabrics with a couple of colorgrown patterns thrown in.

They offer two items that really caught my attention, though, because I hadn’t seen them anywhere else: organic cotton gauze, and organic cotton / nettle blend fabric.

The first is organic cotton gauze, a.k.a. netting.  They say that it’s great for gardening, with an almost throwaway comment that it’s “great as a craft material or dressing up prop!” Indeed, I’ve always associated gauze with doctoring more than with sewing, but since they’re selling it in the fabric section instead of bath and body, I thought I’d figure out what crafters could use it for.

Inspired by Skye’s look back at all the Fabulous Fabrics she’s found in the past six months, I figured it was time to do the same with yarn.

The diversity of fiber that is available to use for spinning, knitting, crochet and a myriad of other purposes is quite heartening. The fact that so many eco-friendly yarns exist is simply amazing.

Many yarns come from animal fibers, while others are made from unusual materials that can be spun. I’ve found companies spinning yarn with big hearts and big companies finding it profitable to “go green.”

It seems almost impossible now a days to not have access to an eco-friendly yarn. So, after the jump, please enjoy this round up of Yearn Worthy Yarn.

Ah silk. It is such a luxurious fiber; cool and soft to the touch. It has an unmistakable feel that you always know when something is made of silk.

To become the silk that we know and love, this fiber has a very interesting story.

Silk comes from the cocoon of the Bombyx moth. Before turning into a moth the Bombyx caterpillar spins itself a cocoon of 1000 yards of silky fiber to house itself during the transformation. The caterpillar secretes a substance that is a thin but strong strand of fiber, which is what we know as silk.

It’s that time of year again: wedding season! Here are a few companies helping brides say eco-chic on their big day.

Here are a few tips for going green while wearing white:

The Rings: Make sure you choose conflict free diamonds and recycled gold bands if you aren’t inheriting a family ring. C5 Company, Todd Reed and Brilliant Earth are excellent designers that use recycled gold and raw diamonds thatare responsibly sourced.

The Dress: Check out ANGeLRox, Natural Bridals or Deborah Lindquist for gorgeous bridal collections that are made with organic and eco-friendly fabrics, such as hemp and silk. Heirloom dresses and vintage are also excellent choices and can be a really nice touch for your special day.

I’ve always been a big fan of silk, ever since I became a fiber artist in college. When I became a parent, I never came across this natural fiber in children’s clothing. Now that has changed! Born Silks offers 100% natural silk caps for newborns to toddler aged children.

Did you know that silk is a therapeutic fiber?  Natural silk is soothing, breathable, insulating, and hypoallergenic.  The insulating qualities of a silk baby cap protects the child’s ears from harmful noises, as well as keeps the baby warm in cool weather and cool in warm weather.  Sick contains a gum called sericin, which is a pure protein that treats and cools skin irritations.  I wonder if wearing a silk baby cap would help with cradle cap.

When a baby is born, it is so pure and natural, yet will soon be exposed to all of the harsh chemicals of the modern world. It is true that babies are exposed to some toxins in utero and through breastmilk, but this exposure is limited and mostly out of the control of parents. What is in the control of new parents are the kind of products they use on their baby, and of course, [...]

With the approach of October, Halloween is on my children’s minds. One costume I adore is Magic Cabin’s Silk Mermaid Costume, which my daughter got for her birthday. By adding a long sleeve shirt underneath the silk top, the Silk Mermaid Costume would make a beautiful, natural Halloween costume. (Caution: this product is made in China).

With the explosion of toy recalls lately and information regarding the Click to Continue Reading