The importance of sustainability when it comes to crafting supplies.
Here at Studio VerSie, sustainability and caring for our planet are top values. I believe that the change needed, starts with you and me making different choices every day. When it comes to crafting with yarn, there are some things to be mindful about. This is especially important when choosing the materials and tools for a project.
But I don't want to just TELL you my values. I want to show you why they matter and how they make a difference to your crafting experience. There are 2 simple things you can pay attention to when selecting a product.
What are the supplies made of?
When looking for supplies for new kits and supplies in general, the first thing I look for, is the material it is made of. Natural materials are key for me. Not only is all of this better for the environment (who needs more plastic and chemicals), but it also makes a difference in the quality of the item.
When it comes to yarn, I mostly like working with wool, but cotton and linen are also among my favorites. Wool is a durable yarn which can give a beautiful texture, that I love seeing in my work. It’s very different from an acrylic yarn, for example. Acrylic yarns are basically made from plastic and have a very unatural sheen to them. Even though acrylic yarns are mostly cheaper than wool yarns, I choose to never work with this material. Unfortunately, with the natural materials, there can still be some problems, like an overage of water use, gmo’s and not all wool is animal friendly. Luckily there are some labels we can look for to know what we are dealing with. GOTS certified yarns, for example, have to be made out of a minimum of 70% organic fibres. Organic agriculture sustains the health of ecosystems, soils and people. Oeko Tex is a label for eco-cotton, which tests for gmo’s and demands a verified chain of custody. You can learn more about those labels here: https://global-standard.org/the-standard/gots-key-features/organic-fibres and here: https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/our-standards/oeko-tex-organic-cotton
For my other supplies, like the hoops, frames and the punch needles, I also tend to look for the kind of material it is made of. The punch needles I use, from Lavorneedles, are made from recycled plastic and steel. The hoops and frames are preferably made with wood and the base cloth is made from cotton or linen/viscose. Of course I’m not perfect and none of this is all completely good. But it is good to do the best we can!
Where do the items come from?
I like working with small suppliers that are based in Europe, as I am in Europe myself. Most of the products they offer are also produced here in Europe. This way I know the working environment is good and there are certain environmental standards that have to be upheld. It also ensures the item hasn’t travelled all over the world to come to me, keeping the chain small. The punch needles I order, for example, come from Portugal. The Panama cotton is made in Germany and the wooden hoops are made in the UK.
When looking further abroad for supplies, like specific yarns, I look for Fairtrade and Eco-friendly labels, like I mentioned before. Some of my favorite yarns, for example, are from Uruguay. They are made by hand by female artisans in the countryside, who can support their families with this job, right where they live. They aren’t forced to move to the slums to earn money. These can also be found in some of my punch needle kits!
Not only will it make you feel better, when working with materials that are better for our planet. These items are usually higher in quality, will last longer and look prettier. This is especially true for yarns; your finished piece will look the part!