Fabric

I'm not making outlines for these posts (yet) so I apologize if they are extremely scattered and make no sense.

So maybe today I'm not covering our regular Eco friendly practices. Instead, I want to talk about fabric.

Before I started sewing I enjoyed looking at fabric, but I never expected to become obsessed. When I took home ec in high school, I had my mom help me pick fabric since she knew what she was doing. When I decided to start my home business, it was initially extremely important to me to find organic fabrics with environmentally friendly inks. I really had no idea how difficult they would be to find or how expensive they would be. If I were making items that required solid colors or basic cotton prints, I would be golden.  However, most of the items I make, particularly diapers, need to be made from fabric with a good stretch. I recently bought some fabric that was $27 a yard. To put that in perspective, some basic cottons are $3 a yard. I can usually make three large diapers from a yard, so you can imagine how expensive that is. So after I realized the startup expense was going to be astronomical for my business, I decided to buy some traditionally made fabrics and save money. And my conscience was eating me alive. 

I am very happy to announce that all of my new purchases are certified organic, and they are all printed in responsible ways. The downside is that most of them also fade to a certain extent. Actually, I think that's a positive because I personally enjoy the vintage look of a slightly faded fabric. A good friend gave me some great advice, make what you like because someone else out there is bound to like it too. (Major paraphrasing, but that was the gist.) 

So that leads me back to my starting point. I am obsessed with fabrics now. Today I discovered a designer called Lillestoff, and I am in love. Here's a small sampling

Bought a meter of this one

All are GOTS certified organic cotton knits. I want them allllll!

The second part of fabric shopping that is hard online is needing to feel it. I don't know why, but I feel fabric before I decide if I like the print (in real life shopping, obviously). I'm the kind of girl who needs Egyptian Cotton, high thread count sheets, and texture has always been really important. Ask my mom about socks when I was a preschooler. 

So now you know, I'm a fabric addict. 

Finally getting started!

I've been planning to start this blog for quite some time.  Eeko Designs has taken off, and I am extremely excited to see where the next year is going to take me.  I will also admit that I am extremely nervous simultaneously.  I wear my heart on my sleeve.

So today I made a set of unpaper towels that I do really love.

Right as I finished I thought "Why didn't I take pictures of this process so I could share a tutorial?"  Well, I don't know.  So the next set I will.  I am also planning to do lots more of these Nintendo prints because they are way too fabulous!

When I first started my degree program (the meat of it anyway) 3 years ago, I started to become really passionate about limiting my impact on the environment.  Two of the first steps I took were to become a vegetarian and begin composting.  Unfortunately, I quit both of them during my pregnancy with Wolfgang.  I replaced vegetarianism with only eating free range and organic meat.  Composting was just not replaced.  This week I decided to have more meat-free days and to start composting again.  I do think it takes a little bit more time to be mindful about our food impact on the environment, and sometimes I am tired and come up with other excuses for not making that effort.  Because I find being mindful of my impact fulfilling, I really need to start making a better effort consistently.  So that's my goal for this month.

I think that is sufficient for a first post, so tomorrow I will cover the eco friendly practices that we are really good at doing every single day.