NearSea Naturals: Creating the world around us, one stitch at a time

Rachael Reichert's Glamorous Creations

2011-12-19T17:00:00Z

Designer Rachael Reichert uses many NearSea Naturals fabrics in her eco-friendly collections. She designs for "women of the world wanting to dress ethically without sacrificing style," creating with organic cotton, peace silk, and other green materials (including our lace, which looks gorgeous dyed black and edging a chic dress). Her work's lines are unique and eye-catching, don't you think?

See more of Rachael's works in her etsy store.

Get $10 for yourself when you give a $50 gift certificate!

2011-12-15T16:53:01Z

We know the holidays can be stressful. Oh, how we know -- we're filling orders at work, making things to give away at home, worrying about doing things for others while not overdoing it ourselves, etc. We're right there with you, trying to have a sustainable, enjoyable holiday season!

And because we know what it's like to feel like you're doing all this work for little to no reward, we wanted to give you something back. Something that's just for you, that you don't have to share (unless you want to, of course -- we'll never discourage generosity; we just won't require it!). What, you ask? Well, for each $50 gift certificate you purchase by Wednesday, December 31, we'll give you a $10 coupon good through April 1. The gift certificate goes to a friend, who will be able to enjoy working with our wonderful organic and natural fabrics; the coupon is all for you. Use it to try some of our new colored threads, buy yourself a precut piece of fabric, check out some of our patterns... there's so many ways to treat yourself!

The fine print: Type "$10 for me when buying a $50 gift certificate" in the comment field when checking out, and we'll send you a $10 coupon code for each $50 gift certificate you've purchased. (Make sure to tell us where to send that gift cert!) Offer good through December 31, and the coupon is good through April 1. Gift Certificates need to be bought by Wednesday the December 31st to receive Christmas delivery by email.

Click here to purchase a gift certificate!

Aren't Sabrina's kids lucky?

2011-12-09T20:03:14Z

In response to our request for images of things all y'all have made (see? I'm trying to get Southern here!), Sabrina sent some very impressive images. She's been a NearSea customer since 2007, and I envy her children. Here's what Sabrina, who lives in Florida, wrote:

I clothe my four children almost exclusively in Near Sea fabrics. If it's not something handed down within the family it is sewn by me. I take a lot of joy knowing they are wearing the best and that it was sewn with love by their mom instead of shipped from overseas.
Here are a few pics of my Near Sea Creations for my 10 year old son. The short & pants have flat fell seams which gave them a very professional finish. The patterns used were by Simplicity and Kwik Sew.

I'll send some more pics of other creations. You'll probably recognize each fabric, but if you have any questions just let me know.

I've always wanted to suggest the idea of having pics for customers to view for each fabric to help them visualize how the fabric could be used. I know a lot of people, especially those new to sewing, have trouble seeing how a finished product could look. I'd be happy to share what I have so far.

So in addition to having these wonderful pictures, we're looking forward to seeing more of Sabrina's creations in the future!

(By the way, if you don't know how to make flat-felled seams, you can learn how to do so here. Sabrina is, of course, right; they can add a nice feeling of professional quality to your work!)

Sabrina also included pictures of an excellent bathrobe she made for her son, and of a set of pajamas and a nightgown she made for her kids. See why I'm jealous of her kids? Nobody's making things like this for me! :)

Pure Magnolia's Wedding Gowns

2011-11-01T18:14:21Z

Take a look at these stunning wedding gowns, created by designer Patty Nayel of Pure Magnolia Gowns. She combines new eco-friendly fabrics, including cottons from NearSea Naturals, with some vintage materials, other designers' works, and more to create custom, affordable dresses for environmentally-minded brides who want to look gorgeous on their special day.

Making sustainable presents for the holidays and everyday

2011-09-20T20:30:10Z

One of my favorite ways to show love (and save money!) is by hand-crafting presents. I try to make things year-round, to keep on hand whenever I need a gift, but I definitely ramp up the craft process in the autumn! Some inspirations I've been looking at this fall include:

Our embroidery thread. (Have you seen it? So exciting!) There are so many things you can make with embroidery thread, and I'm thrilled that there's finally an organic option. Here are some of my current favorite embroidered projects:

The Embroidered Family Hands project would be excellent for grandparents, spouses, etc, especially if you have small people in your life (and thus differently-sized hands!).

I also love the idea of an Embroidered Love Note -- I made something similar for my 14th anniversary last month, and even my generally non-sentimental husband really liked it!

People with, or expecting, new babies might appreciate this beautiful -- and simple -- Moon Rabbit embroidery pattern; it'd make an excellent wall hanging, design for a pillow, or focal point for a homemade quilt.

And if the people for whom you're embroidering have a more modern, ironic sensibility, check out the Ninja Embroidery Blocks of the Month. They're clear winners, for the right recipients. (My 9-year-old son among them, I have no doubt!)

As a parent, I love getting my kids involved in the present creation process; one thing they've been particularly good at since their early days is decorating. We love making apple designs using eco-friendly paints on placemats and napkins. (When the kids are making the napkins, this is the pattern we use. It's safer that way.) Apple printing works well on hobo and messenger bags also. (When the kids were reeeeeally little we frequently just decorated with their handprints -- either sewn, as in the above embroidery link, painted, or outlined using fabric markers.)

One of my favorite ideas is gift bags made from our organic sateens -- yes, I give sets of gift bags as presents. People tend to really like them. I also give shopping and tote bags, particularly the ones that fold up to fit in a purse, glovebox, or bike basket. I often choose our lighter hemp and hemp blend fabrics for these bags, as they tend to be more durable than a plain cotton would be. Another kind of bag that can make a wonderful present is a storage bag; they can range in complicatedness from these cute Lincoln Log storage bags to much more modest bags out of my favorite light striped flannel to hold fabric scraps, mending that needs done, and more. (I don't use Wonder Under, which shouldn't surprise you. Applique may be a bit fussier without it, but it's also a lot more sustainable!)

(Can you tell that I like to give either very personal presents or gifts that can help people journey farther on the path towards sustainability? Yeah, I'm pretty obvious that way...)

One way many people try to save money and reduce their carbon footprint is by using their climate control less -- letting the house be warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter. If you have friends who are making that choice, and if they have a microwave oven, consider making several Cold and Hot Comfort Bags. Having pocket or neck warmers can make all the difference on a cold day, and when chilled the bags can be very helpful over the summer too. (We don't have a microwave in our house -- they draw too much energy for our off-the-grid lifestyle -- but we love the pieces of soapstone we put on the woodstove that fill essentially the same purpose as a rice bag would.) For another quick, easy, and very welcome warming present, choose one or more of our gorgeous, jewel-toned fleeces (made from organic cotton, of course!) to make a single- or double-layer throw blanket, a scarf (preferably with pockets on the end, for those chilly mornings), or a shawl. You don't even need a pattern for any of these, but here's a pattern from the wonderful Meg McElwee for a similar but even nicer Cradle Song Blanket!

If you want to make a non-fabric gift, I love the idea of this "Remember" box for kids' quotes. It could so easily be made from materials most of us have sitting around -- if you don't have an old recipe box (I don't), consider using part of a cereal box covered with a collage, a cigar box, or simply joining a bunch of cards or papers (recycled, please!) with a loose-leaf binder ring. As a mom who forgets the funny and insightful things my kids say way too often, I'd love a gift like this. (Which kid was it who recently said he couldn't practice his instrument because he hadn't emptied the cat litter yet and really wanted to? Hmmmm...)

And I know I'm not the only person who values my fabric scraps -- I think all fabric is valuable, but I particularly appreciate our wonderful organic fabrics and can't bring myself to throw away anything that might someday be useful. If you're like that, check out this wonderful quilted floor pillow; just looking at it is giving me all sorts of ideas for baby and throw quilts that could combine our organic batting, gorgeous organic thread, and my plethora of beautiful ColorGrown Cotton scraps.

So those are my ideas and inspirations right now -- what sustainable presents are you thinking about?

American Grown-Spun-Milled: Fabric Without A Passport

2011-06-24T20:14:44Z

As you know, we've been strong proponents of domestic fabrics since NearSea's inception almost ten years ago. Our belief that locally-grown, -spun, and -milled fabrics (made from organic fibers, of course!) are better has driven our business, and we're thrilled to announce our new site, American Grown•Spun•Milled, which exclusively features "fabric without a passport" ... the fabrics and notions listed on that site are all ones that have never left American soil. The carbon footprint is better, we're keeping jobs here, and we're supporting the creation of a local, sustainable fabric economy. There's a lot of overlap between NearSea Naturals and American Grown•Spun•Milled, but our already-strict sustainability criteria are even more stringent there, as we add in the need for all steps of the fabric creation process to happen right here.

You can also "like" American Grown•Spun•Milled on facebook (just as we hope you've already "liked" NearSea Naturals), where we'll post information about sustainability, current news, occasional discounts, etc.

AND, because one exciting bit of news per post simply isn't enough, we've also finally found the vibrantly-colored organic cotton thread you've been asking for lo these many years. It's on wooden spools, too, which makes us very happy. Swatches are available, which may help make choosing from thirty different colors a bit easier.

Bamboo, revisited (but nothing's changed!)...

2011-05-02T23:30:31Z

While writing a magazine article, I was reminded that not everyone realizes how bad "bamboo" fabric can be. Since it's been close to two years since I wrote about the topic on this blog, I thought I'd point to that last post. As far as I know there haven't been many changes in the way the majority of "bamboo" fabric is made, which is why we still don't sell it at NearSea Naturals.

So check out my earlier post about "bamboo" fabric.

A Tax Day Treat...

2011-04-14T13:55:17Z

Tax day can be challenging, and we wanted to to do our part to help make it a tad easier. We can't fill out the forms for you (and really, you wouldn't want us to. Trust me on that!), but we can make spending any refund a bit more enjoyable. How? By giving a discount, of course. Using the code TAXDAY will get you an additional 10% off the subtotal of your order through the end of April. Valid for orders over $75, not including shipping.

Yes, we know that what happens in the US isn't necessarily happening all around the world; we didn't think people would complain about a discount code even if their taxes aren't due in April. :)

Should you worry about toxins in your clothes?

2011-03-08T02:25:29Z

I do, obviously -- that's one of the reasons we started NearSea Naturals: because I wanted organic, toxin-free fabrics for clothing my firstborn. But even though I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about possible dangers from conventional fabrics, particularly synthetics, I have to admit that I was surprised and dismayed by much of what I read in a new book. Killer Clothes: How Seemingly Innocent Clothing Choices Endanger Your Health ... And How To Protect Yourself, by Anna Maria Clement and Brian R. Clement, appeared in our mailbox the other day. I think they sent it because NearSea is referenced a couple of times (which we always appreciate), and I found it fascinating reading.

The book covers many different areas within the general framework of a discussion of how and why conventional clothing choices can be dangerous. There's a pretty comprehensive bibliography, which I appreciate because I often want to know more before simply taking what I read as truth. It's good to be able to refer to the original sources. One thing the Clements devote a fair amount of space to is the problem of synthetic fabrics; on the very first page of the introduction, they write:

"Synthetic-fiber clothing is worn with an illusion of safety but hides invisible chemical and other dangers that clothing manufacturers and much of the world's health care industry ignore or attempt to rationalize away."

They discuss how synthetic fabrics have really only been in common use for the past 60 years or so (rayon was introduced in 1924, nylon in 1939, and others following), and describe the various chemicals used in their production and the possible hazards involved. There's a fascinating section that considers a 2001 Polish study that showed that synthetic fibers fatigue your muscles, even when only worn for a few hours. I'd thought that there might be a measurable short-term effect to wearing or using these fibers, though I've long wondered about long-term hazards. Nanoparticles and the use of nanotechnology in fabric is considered, as is fabric care (what's in your detergent? do you use fabric softeners? do you know what's in them?).

This was a telling quote, from page 10:

"The vast majority of clothing items produced in the world today -- constituting a $7 trillion a year industry -- are either manufactured or the fabric fibers are grown, using synthetic chemicals, many of which are toxic to human health. As a further challenge to health and safety, most of the cleaning agents used to wash or dry-clean clothes contain chemicals that can trigger adverse physical symptoms. These effects on health should be particularly worrisome for parents with babies and young children -- who often place clothing in their mouths and then chew and suck on the fabric -- because the natural detoxification systems of children's bodies aren't fully developed enough to quickly or completely eliminate fabric chemicals.

According to The Ecologist magazine, an estimated eight thousand chemicals are employed to transform raw materials into clothes, a process that involves bleaching, dyeing, scouring, sizing, and finishing the fabrics. Synthetic clothing now commonly contains such toxins as formaldehyde, brominated flame retardants, and perfluorinated chemicals like Teflon fibers to give trousers, skirts, and other apparel "noniron" and "nonwrinkle" durability. "

Killer Clothes also includes random bits of only somewhat-related information that I can see being useful at various times. For instance, pages 121 and 122 cover the burn test, one way you can determine whether a fabric is natural, synthetic, or a blend. I knew the basics of this, but I'd never even tried to distinguish between nylon (melts and smells like burning plastic), polyester (burns and melts simultaneously, leaving an ash that adheres to surfaces), and other synthetics. I'd also never considered using either nail polish remover or Fiber-Etch to determine fabric type. (The Clements cite fabrics.net for information about the burn test.)

One section of the book that really concerned me talked about how long many chemicals remain on conventional fabric. I'd always believed that when I didn't have the time to sew something from organic fabric and couldn't afford to purchase a new, organic, item, buying used clothes was fairly safe, that repeated washings would have dissipated many of the nasties. I really didn't want to learn that I was wrong on that front, but that's just what happened. I learned about the difference between free and bound formaldehyde in garments, and how free formaldehyde washes away while bound stays fairly constant through many many washes and ironings. Apparently many school uniforms are made from fabric coated with chemicals to give stain and wrinkle resistance, and these chemicals, released through washings and wearings, can be absorbed by kids. That's a dismal thought!

As disturbing as parts of this book were, though, it's ultimately hopeful; the Clements write:

"...all of us retain the power to minimize risks to our health by taking simple precautions and practicing mindfulness about our clothing choices and the buying options that we still have..."

Killer Clothes is a good way to begin to develop a knowledge base that'll help you make wise clothing choices. And like I said, the fact that they recommend NearSea Naturals is a definite plus!

Caveat: the book really could have used a better copy editor. Also, there are some parts that set off my wacko meter. I ignored them, and focused on the other parts. That didn't bother me, but it may you. So be forewarned. It's somewhat like reading about autism -- my aforementioned firstborn has Asperger's, very likely from being born at 24 weeks' gestation -- and seeing something in an otherwise very good publication that says "fully 93 percent of all children with autism were diagnosed after receiving vaccinations." I'm not even discussing the validity of the idea that vaccinations cause autism here -- simply the fact that yes, the vast majority of babies and children in the US receive some amount of vaccinations, generally starting as infants, and the vast majority of cases of autism are diagnosed once children are at an age to at least be babbling, interacting with parents and the world, etc. So of course that statistic is true, since vaccinations happen early and diagnoses happen later. Correlation does not equal causation! But I digress, which shouldn't surprise anyone.

What do you do in the shortest month?

2011-02-01T06:04:59Z

When I was young, February simultaneously thrilled and depressed me. (Yes, I was clearly a strange child.) See, it was the only month with fewer than 30 days, so there wasn't as much time to get things done in February as there was in the other eleven months. That was disturbing if I had a deadline -- a paper due, a room to clean, something like that. But it was exciting, too, because I knew that February would soon be over and then came March, which was almost spring! So I could legitimately start looking forward to warmer weather. (Living in upstate New York, I was half-frozen all winter; the thought of thawing out was very appealing!)

My poor mother, though -- I would pester her beginning in early February, wanting her to make sure that everything was ready for spring. I needed to know that we'd have plenty of outside toys, that I still had a swimsuit, that any pants I'd worn the knees through on would work for cutoffs. (Cutoff shorts were one clothing item I could make all by myself, especially since I didn't care if the cuts were a bit more crooked than was necessarily desirable.) My mother would indulgently get out spring and summer things and involve me in the preparations. We would make over old clothes, turn some of her worn-out items into things for me and my siblings, and generally make at least one new item for every family member too. As a girly-girl, I loved twirly skirts and all things ruffled -- but then would generally tear everything nice when I insisted on wearing it while riding bikes or climbing trees! My brother loved anything with pockets -- he would have adored the Woodland Shirt and Pocket Pants, while my baby sister wore as little as possible. Things like the One-Piece Sundress were perfect for her. My mom and dad didn't care as much about the styles they wore as they did about the fabrics they were made from; my mom loved bright colors and patterns, while my dad preferred more durable choices.

Looking back, I realize now that the Februrary Flurry was probably more a way to keep busy through the winter doldrums than anything else, but every year I was thrilled nonetheless. It's a tradition I try to maintain with my kids, too -- helping them be involved in caring for and creating our clothes and our house, and anticipating summer even in the depths of winter.

How do you spend February?

January happiness

2011-01-14T20:52:52Z

It's cooooold here, and I can't think of a better way to spend my time than sitting in a nice warm room sewing something nice and warm. (Note, please, that I didn't say this is how I actually spend all my time -- just how I'd like to do so!)

Just in case you, also, would like to to be crafting, we wanted to give you a little post-holidays present to encourage your creativity. Through January 31, you can get 10% off all orders that total at least $90 pre-shipping with the discount code JANUARY. (Enter the incredibly difficult to remember code when you check out, in the "discount coupon" field.)

Combine the discount with our already-reduced Yard Sale items, including some great patterns, and you can save a bundle ... and won't that make sewing even more fun?

Have you seen the ML Marsh Collection: Organic Designer Fabrics?

2010-11-16T17:38:39Z

Yes, we're making a big deal about the ML Marsh Collection: Organic Designer Fabrics, but there's a reason for that: we're excited! These are beautiful fabrics, created around a core palette of winter-inspired colors, and they will invigorate your sewing options. Created with designers and small businesses in mind, but there's absolutely nothing preventing home sewists from taking advantage of the offering as well. (I certainly plan to!)

Just looking at the fabrics is inspiring -- I want to make my son a raglan-sleeved shirt from the Espresso/Charcoal Stripe and the Espresso 1x1 Rib Knit, and he will undoubtedly try to convince me to make a pair of sweats using the Espresso French Terry as well. He likes to match, that boy of mine! And the Cranberry is such a vibrant, intense color that I have to make something nice for myself; I'm considering a very simple scarf like this one but a bit wider and possibly with a nice design on it too. They're easy enough to make that I could even do something seasonal if I felt like it -- snowflakes, maybe. I know ML Marsh particularly likes the Ribbed Thermal because it "does not look like long underwear," but I'm still considering making a set of longjohns for my mom out of the Burnt Umber Ribbed Thermal -- it's a gorgeous fabric and color, and I think it would be wonderful used for warm winter clothes, baby blankets, and other basics. (That said, click on the image above and see ML Marsh's layered skirt using Embers Ribbed Thermal -- I may not come up with creative designs like that, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate them!)

We should have a preview of the spring/summer 2011 ML Marsh Collection in February -- you won't want to miss seeing what her fertile mind comes up with!

Organic Wool Batting back in stock, and check out our wonderfully warm sale fabrics!

2010-10-26T22:40:34Z

We're thrilled to announce that Organic Wool Batting is finally back in stock. When the Vermont Organic Fiber Company went out of business (though you can still purchase their wonderful O-wool yarn), we weren't sure if we'd ever find a US company that met our sustainability standards and could produce the quantity of batting (and stuffing, of course) we needed. But we're so happy to say that we've succeeded in that quest. As a celebration, the stuffing is even on sale for the next few weeks.

There are other wonderful fabrics on sale, too -- we tried to pick ones that were good for chilly weather, so we've included flannel, hemp canvas, and just a few of the wonderful fabrics from our brand-new ML Marsh Collection: Organic Designer Fabrics. Expect more fabrics to join the collection over the next couple of weeks, as they arrive from the mill. These fabrics are so splendid; expect to learn more about them, and ML Marsh herself, over the next month.

Have you started holiday crafting yet?

2010-09-22T17:15:11Z

It seems like the holiday season is earlier every year ... or perhaps it's simply that I have more people on my gift list each year, so the amount of time I have for each present is diminished. Either way, it's generally in October that I really have to kick my crafting into high gear, if there's to be any hope at all!

Do you give homemade presents? We try to buy as little as possible, focusing instead on handmade items, repurposed goodies, family treasures that can be given to someone else who will appreciate their history and usefulness ... anything except brand-new, mass-produced things that will probably end up breaking quickly and being thrown away anyway! This year I'm particularly loving the 1920s Clothespin Apron, which is quick to make and a wonderful gift for anybody who does laundry. (Yes, conveniently enough, that's almost every adult I know!) If I'm giving it to someone who's never hung out wet clothes before, I may pair it with a pack of clothespins and even a laundry line, to make the process particularly easy. And sometimes including directions for tying clothesline knots can be a good idea, too!

(As a side note, if you know anyone even slightly handy with tools, a knot board is a wonderful gift for almost anybody above 6 or so. The concept is similar to this Boy Scout project, but is designed for practice instead of display. The simplest version is simply a piece of wood with metal loops on each end and two holes in the wood as well, given with two differently-colored pieces of rope or thick string and directions for tying several different kinds of knots -- these directions can be found in many places online, in various books, and elsewhere.)

The Protect and Serve Apron makes a wonderful gift also -- can you tell that I really like aprons? The name is splendid, of course, but the apron itself is wonderfully useful. I love pairing an apron with a set of cloth napkins or a couple of dishtowels. And it almost goes without saying that I make all these things with either organic fabric or reclaimed material from clothes that aren't useable any longer. Any fabric pieces too small to use for other projects become gift bags, continuing our tradition of not using wrapping paper through the holiday season. (I love knowing that the bags are part of the gift, and that they'll be used and passed on in the future.)

People with babies generally get either receiving blankets (quite possibly the easiest and most useful gift in the world) or one-piece bodysuits (what were called onesies before the term was patented). Some exceptionally lucky babies might get both, but that's fairly infrequent!

The Reading Pillow is another of my go-to gifts this year, as it works for all ages. I can personalize my fabric choice for each recipient -- a "manly" black hemp/tencel is perfect for my dad, while Corn Maiden's been Winnie's favorite fabric for quite some time now and Debbie is definitely a Cream Clara kind of girl. My youngest just might get one made from pieces of worn-out jeans patchworked together, as he needs the extra durability and doesn't care as much about how it looks!

Those are my plans and works-in-progress at the moment; what are yours?

We're back!

2010-08-26T18:36:28Z

I think it was Winnie who ceremoniously plugged in the last computer at our Asheville location, and we are now open for orders again!

Things are still changing a bit as we work out all the kinks, and we're awaiting some shipments to restock some items we're out of (organic cotton batting is one of the big shipments, both in terms of customer demand and because of the sheer amount of space it takes up), so please bear with us as things straighten out. We're delighted to be back with you, and thank you so much for your patience!