New Inventory

Kureyon Colors

Encore d.k.

Encore Tweed

Della Q Needle Cases

Cormollaca

Pygora

-sorry no pic-

New Project Ideas

Eco-wool d.k. ribbed cardigan

Estonian Lace Shawl

Ella Rae Extrafine Merino Shawl

Cooper-Hewitt Felt Show

Through September there is a felt exhibit at this museum in NYC. If you get a chance to go, you should. I posted a few pics on my Blog Hereyesterday.

Save the Dates...

I'm starting to post classes for the fall/winter schedule so keep checking the site. I will have them all listed by July 31st, but for now, at least some dates are up.

Cotton....does organic matter?

I recently read "Big Cotton- How a Humble Fiber Created Fortunes, Wrecked Civilizations, and Put America on the Map". I recommend it if you're interested in history (particularly US) and because I took away from the book such a new appreciation for this fiber and it's impact socially, culturally and environmentally, I thought I'd share some of what I discovered. Plus just a few fun facts about the fiber...

The climate here in Vermont certainly biases my craft related fiber choices toward wool but I usually knit 1 or 2 cotton sweaters a year, so I was glad to be reminded of the bigger picture relating to this fiber. Worldwide the cotton harvest represents 4 times as much by weight than all other natural fibers COMBINED! The use of cotton fibers for textiles represents less than half of the plant's use (the seed represents 65% of the commercial use of the plant and is most known for producing cottonseed oil, used in everything from lipstick to twinkes). But even tho' only 35% of the plant's commercial use is for the fiber, our choices can have an impact on the environment.

The growth of cotton accounts for 10% of all agricultural chemical & 25% of insecticidal use and requires more water than any other crop. In concrete terms that were more meaningful to me, that means that it takes 1/3 lb of chemicals to produce 1 tee shirt (equivalent of a short sleeved summer top) & 3/4 lb to grow enough cotton for 1 pair of jeans! And the diversion of water from rivers for cotton irrigation is creating ecological and social chaos in parts of the world.

So how will this book and the research it inspired me to do impact my yarn choices? Well, I'll certainly seek out more organic/eco-friendly cottons for my projects in the future (I currently stock 2 such yarns: Sublime organic cotton and Bliss Eco Friendly). From a cost standpoint, it means only a difference of around $10 on a project. Since I only knit 1 or 2 cotton sweaters a year, the extra $20 it will cost me annually seems like a small enough economic sacrifice for me to make to feel good about supporting a healthier environment (that is afterall, on a yearly basis, just 8.5 Triple Nut bars by Champlain Chocolates-which surely my hips could do without-or 5 Latte Grandes at Starbucks!). For those of you who come to a different conclusion about the value of organic cottons, I do have some non-organic/eco-friendly cotton options as well as the organic.

Fun Facts:

-there are over 500,000 fibers in a single cotton bol!

-there is a toxin in the cotton seed (gossypol) that is used as a male contraceptive in China

-cotton is stronger wet than dry (exactly the opposite of wool!)

-cotton retains 25 times its weight in water - which is why it's so comfortable to wear in the summer

Silk "Hands-on"

Saturday July 11th 9 a.m.-10 a.m.

Come on by and I'll show you how to knit (or spin) directly from a silk cocoon and share a few fun facts about this fiber's history in the state of Vermont! From the interesting life cycle of the bombyx mori to harvesting the silk and using it in felting, to make yarn, or to knit with (bring your own needles), this free event is a hands on adventure! See Events for more details.

Noro

Having just read Big Cotton, it was interesting for me to read about Noro's attention to the environmental impact of his mills. Noro uses Pima cotton grown in San Joaquim valley in California. It is not organically grown, but they minimize their use of chemicals in the processing of the cottons(some mills use harsh chemicals to clean out the chaff), thats why you sometimes find pieces of grass or plant material in the cotton & occasionally hay in the wool. The cardboard Noro uses in their packaging is 81% reused paper & their labels are 54% recycled material. Noro's mill equipment is slower than the industry's standard, but is more energy efficient: it uses 21% less energy to run compared to the knitting industry's standard spinning mills.

Just a reminder...we'll be closed this Saturday, July 4th.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Happy knitting, spinning, felting and weaving,

Jennifer

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Northeast Fiber Arts Center, 7531 Williston Road, Williston, VT 05495
Phone: (802) 288-8081 Email: northeastfiberarts@gmail.com
www.northeastfiberarts.com