Quick Post: Activated Carbon Felt Blankets to Block Odor

I wanted to share a product that I’ve been using for almost two months with you guys.  It is an activated carbon blanket that I use to block odors.  We currently have two in our car drapped over the seats.  The initial plan was to use the blankets on our bed under the organic cotton mattress covers, but we’ve been delayed in using them.  The carpet in the bedroom needed serious cleaning/de-fuming.  I’ll write another post on the steps we took to get the smell out of the carpet and link back here later next week.  I thought we would try the blanket out in the car first.  It does help with the fumes in our car (residual perfume), though not as much as I would like.  It would probably help much more if I would turn the blankets into the seat covers but I would rather use them on the bed.  I do plan to order additional blankets, perhaps I’ll make seat covers out of those.

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A testament to their effectiveness:  We pass by “Fast food alley” on our way home from the farm every weekend and inevitably end up sick for at least four days.  I make it a point to cover the Yipiyuk and myself in a blanket to block the horrific fumes.  We stay under the blanket until the car has had a chance to air out and I have noticed a marked decrease in our allergic reactions over the weekends.  I am planning to use this material to make masks for myself and a few friends.  The masks won’t be pretty but I think they will work well.  I’m still trying to iron out the remaining details concerning the actual sewing pattern.  I hope to have a working prototype by the end of the weekend.  I may have to send the hubby to the store for supplies.  Hi, sweetie!

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Here’s the link for the Activated Carbon Blankets.  They are expensive but they do work.

Quick Post: New Yarn to Try

I’ve been trying to find organic cotton yarn that has NO dye, i.e. colorgrown organic cotton yarn.  I’d begun to give up hope of finding reasonable priced CG organic cotton yarn until I found this site.  I really want to try this yarn!  I’ve ordered some material to sew a few items for the Yipiyuk from PMOrganics but I decided against ordering yarn for now (I have a LOT of new yarn in the queue).  I’ll update again when I have an opportunity to try this colorgrown organic cotton yarn!

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I placed an order with Green Sheep Shop for their Organic cotton sock yarn.  For the life of me I could not find more organic cotton sock yarn on the web.  Well, there were additional sites but I didn’t want to give up a kidney for yarn.  I really want to make socks for the YIpiyuk that she can wear inside her shoes.  The booties are much too thick and the elastic in her shoes breaks her out without a layer between their layer of cotton (around the elastic).  She really needs two to three layers to block her from the latex.

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Green Sheep Shop has this to say about their yarn:

“Organic, sustainable, recycled, fair-trade, and natural yarns are our focus.  Eco-safe hand dyed and undyed, colorgrown yarns in a wide spectrum of vibrant colors and gorgeous neutrals.”

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Green Sheep Shop does have organic colorgrown yarn that I want to try.  Check it out here, make sure you scroll down to find the yarn.  It’s not too expensive, but it’s not cheap.  I’ll try it out in a few months.

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I found this yarn on EcoButterfly’s site and I will be trying it very soon.  It is chunky, organic cotton yarn, that is hand dyed.  The dyes and vegan and veggie based, which may present issue but I’m hoping for the best.  This particular is discontinued and is a really good price.

Quick Post: Thank You Gifts For Our Farm Friends

We wanted to do something nice for the people who have played a key role in helping to provide safe food for our family.  We recently found out that they know little people (they have nieces and nephews) so I decided to make hats for the wee ones for Christmas.  I was going to make five of the exact same hat but I didn’t have enough yarn so I decided to improvise and use what I had.  It worked out really well.  I will be making duplicate hats for the Yipiyuk when she gets older, because the Yipiyuk needs these hats.  Well, maybe not…but they’re so cute!  Each hat took one evening to make.

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Quick Post: Cottonique Holiday Sale

Hello, All!

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Wanted to let you know that Cottonique, Latex Free Clothing site, is having a huge holiday sale.  Some things are 50-60% off.  And yes…I waited to tell you so that I would have a chance to purchase what I needed.  :-(

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Anywho, some things are already sold out but they still have a few good items in stock.

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Go here to see the sale items.

Quick Post: Sewing Project #1

I have decided to take up sewing.  It was inevitable.  I wasted $XXX.XX on clothing for myself and my daughter and ended up donating most of the items.  I could not get the smell out.  The clothes soaked and were washed at least ten times.  I thought I would just try to wear them and started itching within 10 minutes.  I put a shirt on the Yipiyuk and she started to cry and itch after about 10 minutes.  Not worth it.  So, I scoured the internet for safer fabric and came across a few good sites selling organic material with organic dyes.  Don’t get me wrong, they still stink but the stench dissipates after two or three washes/soaks.

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The first project was a pair of pants, following this tutorial and using fleece.  Fleece hates me.  It was extremely difficult to work with.  More practice is needed to master this fabric.  I thought it was just me until I tried to make the same pants using the flannel.  I ordered both the fleece and flannel from Near Sea Naturals.  Most of their fabrics are organic, made with organic dyes, and some are even color grown cotton fabrics.  I try to catch this site when they are having a sale.

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I’ve ordered some additional fabrics from PM Organics, mostly organic jersey cotton for the stretch.  Again all organics with organic dyes and some color grown.  They also have color grown yarn from Peru that I’m hoping to sink my hook into soon.  I will update when I have receive the order and have a chance to play with the material.

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Please comment below if you have a great site for organic material.  I would love to have a new resource!

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The first project was not that great.  The second project resembled elf socks more than anything.  I am actually proud of the third pair of pants made of the flannel plaid.

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Quick Post: I finally ordered my jeans

I finally ordered my 100% organic cotton jeans from Rawganique.  It took a while for me to depart with that $100.  They better fit, better not make me itch, and better last for a long time.  I should receive them in less than a week.  I’ll post then and let you guys know how they work =).

Quick Post: Crochet Project #3 – Mittens

Do you ever play scenarios out in your head?  I was convinced the mittens would be super easy, even easier than the booties.  I told myself I would whip up a pair as soon as I put my Yipiyuk to bed for the night.  Boy, was I wrong.  My fingers are still numb from making one mitten, not a pair, just one.  That other bad boy is going to have to wait.

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I used Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton Yarn.  According to Lion is it very versatile and easy to work with…my brain obviously tries to make every thing into a challenge.  I find it quite difficult to work in the back loop with this yarn.  Here is the pattern I followed.  It took me a while (about 10 hours) to figure out what she was saying.  I am NOT good at reading patterns, I much prefer watching Mikeyssmail, BobWilson123, and The Art of Crochet by Teresa on Youtube.  They get me… =D

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Anywho!  Let me know what you guys think!

Quick Post: Crochet Projects #2

I wanted to update you guys on my crocheting progress.  The yarn makes my hands hurt after a while and my finger tips raw.  I have to remember to wash my hands after handling it.  I also have to make sure to wash it twice before putting it on the Yipiyuk.  As Michelle from Cornallergyaid reminded me, the yarn still has corn starch in the processing.

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Let me know what you guys think

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Crochet Projects: Booties and Hats

This has been an exciting week!  I think I have finally figured out crocheting and I’m on my way to being able to read a crochet pattern.  Those patterns tricky little buggers for my tired brain.  The Yipiyuk have been having allergic reactions all week.  She’s been covered in a growing rash, dark allergic shiners under her eyes and irritable; I’ve had a persistent headache, sinus congestion, and I’ve been extremely tired.  We could not figure out why and I think my hubby was about to have a mental breakdown, he was convinced it was he that was making us sick.  Michelle from Corn Allergy Aid reminded me of something, even if we use safe, organic cotton yarn it still has corn starch in the manufacturing process.  I had not been washing my hands after touching the yarn and I put the finished projects directly on the Yipiyuk.  BAD MOVE, Momma!  I washed all of the finished products (twice) and I made sure to wash my hands after handling the yarn.  We are improving.  Thank you very much Michelle!

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My first project was a bib.  I needed to start easy.  After I was comfortable doing the stitches I decide to try this pattern.  It was simple enough and it worked out well.  Gave me that little boost of confidence I needed.

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My second project was booties.  I desperately need to make socks and booties for the Yipiyuk for winter.  I have been unable to find latex free socks and all of the shoes I’ve purchased reek of glue (corn glucose) and we can’t even bring them into the house… let alone put them on her person.  So after two attempts at making booties from patterns I turned to Youtube.  Patterns are just not my friends.  I found this initial bootie tutorial to try.  I liked the end result but it wasn’t for my babies foot, it was way too small. Next, I found this tutorial on youtube to try.  It worked better but I still didn’t like the end result so I changed it a bit.  I only did one round for the heel and I double all of the HDC, DC, and TC.  I then reduced the stitches on the heel the next round.  It worked ut well and it’s a much tighter fit for the Yipiyuk’s narrow feet.

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My third project was a hat.  I tried this pattern/video from Mikey’s channel.  It was too small for my Yipi’s head but it was super cute.  I posted some pics of her in the hat to facebook.  The next hat I tried was my most difficult project thus far.  I used my new organic cotton yarn from Lion Brand.  I had to use a different needle because the one called for in the pattern was just too small.  I am VERY happy with the end result.  Here’s a link to Teresa’s video for the hat with ear flaps.  It’s adorable!

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I’ll post pics on the next Crochet Post.

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Sunday is Blog Action Day (#BAD11).  Make sure you visit and read about the terms “Natural” and “Organic” and how they can be misleading on food labels.

Organic 100% Cotton and Hemp Jeans – Latex/Stretch Free

This was an extremely frustrating search that took months.  Granted, I gave up a few times and waited for restocking at other times. I finally emailed Cottonfield USA after months of waiting for them to restock their jeans.  They have supplied me with safe undies in the past so I was hoping their lack of denim jeans was an oversight.  This is the correspondence from earlier September 2011 between Cottonfield USA and me.

 

“When will you all have a new shipment in for your jeans? Are you taking pre-orders? I would love to order 4 pairs of size 6.  Please let me know =)

-Erica

PS I just put on a pair of my jeans and my skin is burning. Really hoping you all carry the jeans again soon.

 

Hi Erica,

We are sorry to tell you that we won’t reproduce the Denim pants we used to do for both Men’s and Women’s.

Thank you.

Yeumei
Cottonfield”

 

Thank you?  Thanks for what: Asking?  You’re welcome?

 

o_O  Blank Stare.  I desperately need jeans.  I can’t wear my Levis at all, even the 99% cotton jeans.  The dyes , non-organic, pesticide rich cotton, and the 1% spandex/latex/stretch make my skin scream for mercy within minutes of dressing.   Good news, I found a company that carries 100% organic cotton and hemp jeans.  Bad news, they’re almost $100 a piece.  The indigo hemp jeans are actually $100.  I’ve requested jeans for my birthday and Christmas.  I can’t in good conscience buy them for myself…  I’m too frugal, but I really need jeans.  Wanted to let you all know what I’d found.  Hopefully this will actually work out for me and in turn help you.  I’ll update when I actually get the jeans, wash them and finally wear them.