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Fabrics
and Yarns
by Danielle Masterson
Ingenuity and innovation are the hallmark of ecofriendly yarns and fabrics.
Today's textiles are organic, fair-trade, recycled and low-impact dyed,
a treasure trove of choices for sewing and knitting.
FABRIC
While conventionally grown fibers are doused with synthetic chemicals
to promote growth and deter pests, organic fibers are grown without them.
Seven of the top 15 pesticides used on U.S. cotton crops are listed by
the EPA as potential or known human carcinogens, and these chemicals have
the potential to infiltrate the water, soil and our bodies. In addition
to organic and color-grown cotton, consumers can choose hemp, cruelty-free
silk and recycled-plastic fleece.
Organic fabrics are perfect for quilts, clothing and interior decorating.
Purchase undyed fabrics and color them with plants (see "Color By
Nature," GG #116), or if dyeing seems like too much trouble, you
can always work with undyed cotton, silk, alpaca or wool that has its
own subtle browns, sages and rust colors. "Due to the harshness of
most dyes, I find myself walking a balance between choosing eco-friendly
and socially conscious yarns for my store," says Kia McDowell of
Artspun, an online retailer of eco-conscious yarns. "Fair-trade sources
usually use industrial dyes because they don't have access to anything
else or access to land to grow dyestuffs. That's why I sell a lot of undyed
yarns like alpaca and wool that get their color from the animal."
You can also choose colorgrown cotton, bred to bear color naturally.
Cotton:
- Near Sea Naturals organic, color-grown cotton in Natural Canoe ($13.60/linear
yard), Chai corded chenille ($17.48/linear yard) and Stumps Speaks cotton
denim ($21.95/linear yard; www.nearseanaturals.com,
877-573-2913)
- Organic Cotton Plus 5-oz. floral embroidered, yellow chambray ($12.18/yard)
or 4.4-oz. Whispering Grass print sateen ($20.59/yard; www.organiccottonplus.
com, 866-784-0374);
- PM Organics natural, heavyweight jersey ($8.95/yard), Pecan horizontal
stripe, color-grown, denim weight ($10/yard) and black brushed, French
terry fleece ($15.85/yard; www.pmorganics.
com);
- Foxfibre Colorganic brown/green French terry, color-grown organic
cotton ($40/yd.; www.vreseis.com).
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/118/fabrics
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