Tips for Eco-Friendly Sewing

Tips for Eco-Friendly Sewing

There's a deep and lasting satisfaction in sewing something. Whether you're making a skirt or hand stitching an ornament, when you finish a project, you have something that you made with your own two hands.

The surge in interest in sewing in recent years goes hand-in-hand with the upswing in popularity of handmade goods. Quilting alone is a huge industry in the United States. According to the 2006 Quilting In America report, quilters spent $3.3 billion on quilting materials, books, magazines, classes, equipment, and other quilting-related items. Then there are the sewers who make clothing and toys and accessories for their homes.

All the sewing we're doing can have a significant impact on the environment. Whether you're a dedicated sewer or a weekend dabbler, here are a few simple ways to make your creations a bit more eco-friendly.

Sew With Organic Cotton

Conventionally grown cotton is one of the most polluting crops, and it consumes a disproportionate amount of pesticides and insecticides. In India, home to one-third of all cotton producers, cotton occupies just 5 percent of farmland, but cotton-growing accounts for 54 percent of all pesticides used each year, according to the Environmental Justice Foundation. Aldicarb, the second most-used pesticide in cotton production, is a powerful neurotoxin—just one drop on the skin can kill a man.

NATURALLY SAVVY NEWSLETTER
Get the latest information, tips & recipes for healthy living delivered directly to your inbox.
Your privacy is important to us.

By sewing with organic cottons, you can help support the organic cotton industry, which is growing every year, thanks in part to the efforts of major retailers and fabric designers who are expanding organic cotton product lines.

Save and Reuse Scraps

Most sewing projects produce a fair amount of usable scraps, and for a long time, those scraps were relegated to the trash. But a lot of sewers are growing aware of waste they produced and they're looking for ways to use their scraps, or at least save them from the garbage bin.

A few simple ways you can use your scraps are to cut them into small pieces so they can be used as filler in small stuffed toys, ornaments and even pillows. You could also use scraps to make quirky patchwork toys for kids, or even dresses for dolls. There are tons of tutorials available on websites and blogs that can provide all sorts of instruction and inspiration for using your scraps.

If you can't use your scraps, consider passing them along to someone who can. Donate them to a school so kids can use them for craft projects, or give them to a friend who's working on a scrappy project. If you have a blog, consider a give-away for your readers—you'd be surprised how many people would love to get their hands on your fabric scraps.

Use Upcycled Materials

Next time you need new fabric, forgo a trip to the fabric store and head to your local thrift store to score some great, inexpensive fabrics. From velvet dresses from the '80s to floral curtains to basic cotton shirts, you can find all sorts of fabrics at thrift stores. Don't forget to keep an eye out for clothing that features cool vintage buttons—a $5 shirt is a steal if it comes with buttons that will make your next sewing project pop.

Using secondhand clothing as a material helps reduces the waste that piles up in landfills, and it affords an opportunity to save fabulous materials that are sadly fashioned into outdated and unflattering styles. Many thift shops also benefit charities, so sourcing materials also does some extra good in the world.

Simply by choosing organic fabrics, reducing waste, and making the most of no-longer-loved clothing, you can indulge your love of sewing and reduce your environmental footprint. Talk about a win-win.

Leave a Comment

Lisa Roth Collins, RHN
Lisa Roth Collins is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and is the Marketing Manager at NaturallySavvy.com. She is passionate about health and wellness and tries her best to make healthier choices every day for herself and her family. Her journey to natural health was driven by her own struggles with digestive discomfort, depression, and anxiety. Lisa returned to school in 2014 to study nutrition at the Canadian School for Natural Nutrition. She threw herself into her studies so she could learn as much as she could to help herself feel better and thrive. Upon completing the program and being certified as an RHN, Lisa began her work at Naturally Savvy where she has been able to help so many people learn to make healthier choices for themselves. Through her work, she has connected with so many incredible people in the industry whether other authors, influencers, or brands. Plus, she is affectionately known as "Techie Spice" because of her ability to wrap her head around technology. Every day she gets up with a renewed sense of energy and ready to make a difference. You can read all of Lisa's content here. In her spare time, Lisa loves to try new recipes, make delicious and nourishing meals, and she is an avid reader. For more information about Lisa, check out her profile on here.