Fabrics and Yarns

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).