Quilting and Sustainability
 

"Sustainability," has really been the buzz word the last couple of years, so I thought I'd bring up the topic and how it relates to quilting. IMHO, I think that quilters, by the very nature of their craft, practice environmental sustainability everyday. For example, they reuse old clothes and fabrics and turn them into beautiful quilts. They also recycle all kinds of things to turn them into useful tools and storage solutions. We're seeing more and more organic fabrics too. What else?

~ C

I am not a quilter that uses recycle fabric. I do reuse my Thangles more then once but that is all I can think of that I am able to reuse. I do pass my small scraps to be stuffing into pet bedding for animal rescue groups.

While sustainability is there from reusing, refurbishing, use it up, wear it out thingy, and multiple purposes that quilty items serve a true purpose from warmth, comfort, from bed,windows, kitchen,bath, floor items,pets...I think in my heart/mind the true sustainability is the passing down, holding on to art form that is historical, yet sadly, in many ways is being phased out or misunderstood.And Tartan you crack me up. Yet so true.Just my thoughts.

I try to keep other people from throwing their scraps in the garbage, I have even offered to trade them for yardage. Even the batting on outside edge of the quilt that is trimmed off can be used in projects. I inherited the don't throw anything useful away gene from my grandma. (much to my husband's chagrin)

Not fabric, but I often get packages with cumpled up paper used as packing.
I actually iron it, no steam of course, because I use it for paper peicing nad just yesterday I used it to enlarge my sewing (apparel) pattern
Of course I got laughed at but the weight of it was just perfect.

Fabric? I throw away anything smaller than a crumb if it's quilting quality fabric

absolutely!!!

ROFL!!!! Absolutely!!! And me too..... :p

What she said...

When I order on line I don't have automobile emissions... the parcel delivery is delivering other packages so more fuel-efficient. Shopping saves the world, again!

I reuse everything I can, and keep more "potential reusables" than I probably should. That includes craft-related items as well as everyday household items. I'm pretty sure that makes me a packrat, but it tends to run in my family, so at least I can say "I get it honest". :thumbup: hee hee

DH doesn't like it, but when it comes to HIS collection of stuff ... tools, hardware, etc. ... he has NO room to talk. :D

Works for me!

I'm not much of a reuse or make do type person. I will if the need is there but I don't have that need in my life now. My way of thinking is why use use a blunt pencil when a brand new sharp one is right there. I save fabric scraps but rarely use them. I take them to guild and let everyone go through them or make a pet bed. I have even thrown the bin full away. Really makes no difference to me if they are used or not. I don't use old clothes for quilts. Too time consuming to repurpose those.

I found a really cute way to use up scraps of batting making a snowman Christmas tree ornament - unfortunately I can't seem to copy the picture from Pinterest to this board. Also have used scraps of batting to make "envelopes" to store some of my delicate Christmas tree ornaments in.

That snowman is sooooo cute. Had to safe him for reference.

As far as using batting scraps...I have a bin of them, used some for packing fragile tree ornaments last week....use squares to wipe excess oil out of bobbin race on L/A....even use a chunk to dust with in sewing cave.......

How does one reuse thangles? Aren't they paper pieced triangles that are torn away....maybe I have the wrong term....

Quilts @ Sustainability
 

That snowman is adorable!

I have gotten to where I save just about everything. No not a hoarder. I have a shoe box with tissue paper from the shoe boxes. I too iron it quickly. Great for paper piecing. Just got rid of a lot of gift wrap, I gave to a friend who decoupages. She was happy for it. She has a daughter who has autism and makes the most beautiful designs with the wrapping paper. She gets my colored tissue paper. I hang onto the white. getting back on track a little every day with quilting projects. Scraps under 2" square go to the doggy bed bin.

That snow man Christmas tree ornament is so cute!

The only thing I can think of right off that I "recycle" as a quilter is a toothbrush. I was searching for one of those wooden stick looking things that sort of flatten out seams... don't know what it is called. I found some online but was working on a tricky Bargello and wanted something "right then" to help with the ironing. A toothbrush worked perfectly....not the brush end, of course. I never did order the wooden thing. I learned later that a wooden clothes pin would make 2 such tools, but I am happy with my toothbrush handle.

Dina

This kind of thread drives me crazy. That's all I'm sayin'. Now I'll go to my corner and quilt.

Reusing and recycling is great. I think that's what quilters do best. But, what about at the buying end? How many of us look for organic, sustainably farmed fibers, or non-GMO fabrics? Someone else brought up the fact that ordering by mail, or internet, saves in fuel. That's an idea. What about how fabrics are produced? Are the dyes toxic? Do they have to be shipped from half way around the world?

Not me. These types of fabrics are very overated and over priced. I buy 100% cotton, that's all I check for on the label.

Frankly, most of the time I do too. But, I have tried some of the more popular, organic fabrics and I have to say that I really liked them. They all had a beautiful hand and most were sustainably grown and processed. I think that overall, they were worth the money. Most of them were bought on sale at around $9-10/yd, which is still more expensive than other quilting fabrics on sale at $3-5/yd.

~ C

If we want sustainabiloty - which to me would be acquiring and using ONLY what we need - that would definitely change my lifestyle!

I think many of us have a lot more "stuff" than we need. How many cars can one drive at one time? How many clothes can one wear at one time? How many sewing machines can one sew on at one time? How many beds can one sleep on at one time?

I know that my quilting/ sewing accumulation is waaaaaaaay beyond basic functionality. And most of my stuff is "not new"

In my opinion, many of the quilters who are on the internet, are not into sustainability at this time.

Many of them are productive, but many of us seem to be in acquisition mode - bigger stash, more machines, newest gadgets/tools -

I found the organic cotton fabric weaker then regular cotton fabric. The one baby quilt I made using the organic cotton fabric, the fabric tore at many of the seam lines and around the quilting. I also bought a very expensive organic cotton pillowslip (on sale) to make a backing for a bassinet blanket. It shredded at the binding seams after a couple of washes. I don't want to waste my time using it if the fabric itself isn't sustainable.

I am all for sustainability, but quilting is my passion, and I have never given it a thought. I don't think it would matter as I have no intention of stopping or being more frugal than I am with things in my sewing room

***
*** I reuse my Hexagon cut outs.
*** I make them from old credit cards, laminated mail outs, etc.
***
*** I am clean closets, eliminating clutter, and taking to Good Will or Salvatlon Army,
*** & books to a Reading Friend.
***

Long before I became a quilter I was taught to re-use items. Growing up a lot of my clothes were hand-me downs and home-made. (Either I made my clothes or my mom.) Both my parents saved bags, books, anything that may have a second life. Anyone remember when getting a plastic bag was a novelty? We kept them to use again. Bags for bread were used in a milk carton next to the kitchen sink to collect the garbage because we didn't have a disposal. My dad would bring home the extra napkins he would get in a restaurant to use with his watercolor painting. Oh, don't forget the 3 pound coffee cans with the plastic lids but still sharp edges - there were so many left in the basement, thank heavens for the the recycling bin when I was clearing out their house. Since we now have recycling bins and centers I don't keep a fraction of what I used to. And we do donate to local thrift stores if we believe there is more use from an item.

I prefer to give away my scraps - mostly because I don't have the imagination and dither too much over what to use next. And I have given a friend my left over batting because she uses small pieces for bags and purses. But I really like the idea of using it for padding of delicate items to be stored. I will try to remember that suggestion.

well, I use my skills acquired from quilting to fix clothing that I would otherwise throw or give away, ditto for towels and linens, amazing what some left over binding can do to a unraveling towel! and also what Tartan said.

When you have quilting friends or belong to a guild or charity quilting group, there is much opportunity for sharing and trading amongst yourselves - patterns, tools, fabrics, etc.

I am saving the whole world, I have figured that out!!!!!! I have my fabrics in plastic containers, boxes, drawer boxes all over the place. I love those plastic containers and if I can save the planet by rescuing all the boxes for my fabric, thread, needles, ribbons, embroidery thread, scissors and whatever I can get to fit in them, I am going to do it. If neighbors don't want them, they know I gladly will use them (recycle); I live in the neck of the world where if someone puts out a plastic cabinet with drawers in them and a sign that says FREE, it's mine!!!!! I have a drawer where, when I am planning my next quilt, if I have a piece of fabric that will go with it, it goes in the drawer with a little label on the drawer front that says "Next Quilt".

I will admit that I do have one box that I keep the bird seed, cuttlebones, millet and a birdie bathtub in. It has real nice catches on them so the dog won't get into it. I am not going to go into left field with all the changes a body can do to help the environment. I am going to do what suits me and my home and my hobby. I look for 100% cotton in the design or color I want and I buy it. Yes, I do believe in buying American 100%! Not to change the subject, but have any of you worn nail polish from China - turned my nails orange; took about six months to get my nails my normal color - Sally Hanson is made in America).

I think it is up to us as individuals to do what we feel is best, not only for the environment, but for us. What could a little old (well, not that little) 76 year old broad do to make this country of ours unsustainable. I recycle cans, plastic, paper, I try to buy American. Sometimes it is impossible. My quilting frame is from China. Do I feel; guilty? No! I have tied down many a quilt with that frame and I like it. I can put it together. I can take it apart and put it in a box and store until the next time. It works.

Dina ----- you are looking for an ORANGE STICK . I have a few and love them. I know one of them was my aunts and she would probably be 119 now and I can see her when I was a child pushing her cuticle back with her orange stick and now I use it to keep things flat that I am going to sew over. Been using the same one for over 20 years now.

OK, I am done. Off the soap box! Back to my sewing. These conversations tax my brain sometimes. No one will let me be just happy doing what I want to do. It always is "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I have paid my dues. That's all I have to say. Edie

I found just the opposite. The organic fabrics were just beautiful and very sturdy. I didn't experience any tearing or fraying at all. I've used them a few times now. Most of the prints are that they have for organics are younger and modern and I sew mostly traditional, historical type quilts, so I can't use the organic fabrics that often, but I'd really like to. It would be nice if they did some more traditional prints though.

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-signs009.gif

I have never recycled clothing into quilts or anything else for that matter. I donate my own unwanted clothing to the local thrift shop and sincerely hope they go to someone who needs them to WEAR, not to be cut up for their hobby. I'd much rather sustain people than things.

I don't save what I know full well I will never use, nor do I offer to save such things for other people. That's their thing, not mine. I don't like scrappy quilts so I only save pieces large enough for me to use, though that size goes down to around an inch. Small fabric scraps make poor dog bed stuffing (hard to sterilize, hard to dry, easy to swallow or choke on, lumpy to sleep on) and they're terrible for bird's nests. I compost what I don't use.

However, I gladly do my best to sustain several local quilt shops. :)

amen!!! lol

Staying sane
 

Tartan, you hit the nail on the head! At -41 wind chill last week, we need all the help we can get to stay sane!!

JMHO but we can do a TON more for sustainability by focusing on where we get our food from than where we get our fabric from. I support local farms which get 80% of my grocery budget and yes, there are many local farms in harsh climates (like mine) that are producing in the middle of winter or have vegetables that winter over well (like root veggies and hard winter squashes). I buy my meat direct from the farmer too and this year I raised my own meat chickens (I have always had my own laying flock).
My farms that are producing now, have greenhouses and I get a lot of lettuce and sprout goods this time of year. A few farmers in the cooperative invested in flash freezers so my weekly farm bag includes locally grown frozen produce.

I have reused some clothes to make quilts (T-shirt quilts) and I am working on a woven shirt quilt but those projects are few and far between. As I think they are with the lion's share of quilters in the US where fabric is easy to get and relatively inexpensive.

Chester- it must be a bunny thing! I love scraps and my friends keep me well supplied, including pieces of batting which I use in little projects. I have that gene from my grandma too, and my hubby isn't the most helpful with it. BUT my family will agree that my scrappy, string, and crumb quilts are the BEST and meant to be used- so they can have another. I have loads of string and crumb blocks done and when the mood strikes I put one together for somebody, plenty of variety by having loads to choose from and a great color scheme to boot. Just wish I could have more time to clear out some of the strings and scraps so I'd have more tops.

These things bother me too, but I still buy new fabrics made with chemicals and dyes and who knows what all horrible things. I love Batiks but I'm not at all sure how they're made is good for the environment OR for the people who do the work.

Probably not as bad as the computer I'm using right now is for the environment, though. All these weird metals and plastics all blended together, not to mention production of all the electricity it takes to run the thing. And we've all heard of the terrible conditions that iPhone makers live/work in too....I'm sure the other big players in the industry are just as bad.

You can drive yourself nuts trying to be environmentally conscious, but even the American Indians who lived so close to the land messed things up and turned lush forests into wastelands. I think it's a trait of humanity - we mess up the land wherever we go because we can't just leave things alone. We dam rivers, we chop down trees, we dig up mountains and flatten hillsides, and most of the time we only give a lick and a promise to any sort of real study on what the effects of those actions will be. I do worry about what future generations are going to do...at some point this is all going to either have to change drastically or it's going to come crashing down because the way we all live (myself included) is NOT sustainable forever, especially not with population growing the way it is.

So I do try to conserve when and where I can, but I try not to drive myself crazy about it. I'm diligent about recycling and properly disposing of things like batteries and e-waste. My car isn't electric but it is small and if I drive conservatively it gets good mileage. I DO reuse odd fabrics and ruined clothes in my quilts and I feel good about doing so, but I do it because I like to as much as I do it to be kind to Momma Nature. I squirrel away my scraps and bits and find ways to reuse those; I enjoy the challenge and I do feel better about trimming things off if I know I'm going to get at least SOME use out of them. My dogs & cats love the beds I make from my bits and bobs and sleep on them just fine. Eventually they'll get too gross and have to be tossed but at least when that happens I'll know these things were well-used.

Cellphones are my biggest pet peeve in the world right now. Built to fail, built to be replaced every year or two, and full of all sorts of metals and plastics and batteries and things that are probably NOT being recycled properly. I HATE getting a new phone every 2 years but they just don't last much longer than that, they start to fail. But I still have one and use it all the time so I can't point any fingers at anyone but myself. I know I'm part of an unhealthy system but the alternatives don't appeal to me either. SO I keep using my bad-for-the-planet items and devices and feeling somewhat guilty about it but not really doing much to change it.

My gift to the planet was to not have children. So I figure that gives me license to waste enough for 2-3 extra people. LOL (I'm JOKING, nobody get mad at me please.)

yup :) :)

I like this!

Just a reminder....and from my experience with the county-run cat/dog pound....make sure to only stuff the beds with a little. If there is a lot of stuffing.....it will take too long to go through the dryers even tho' they are heavy duty dryers.