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Thursday, January 3, 2008

Eco-Friendliness

We've started to use all-bamboo and bamboo-blend yarns, especially for the baby wear, because it's so soft and easy to work with, plus we've learned that it wears well and has natural antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties. There's even ultra-violet protection in the yarn. Bamboo actually is a grass that is harvested and distilled into cellulose that is then spun into yarn. It's also a renewable resource because it can be harvested without killing the plant, and it only takes a few months before the plant is ready to be harvested again. I love working with it because it has a good luster, similar to mercerized cotton, and has a great drape. Even though it needs to be handwashed, which I haven't had to do yet, they say items made from Bamboo yarn are strong, flexible, and can be softer than silk. Even though it's more expensive ($10.50 in DC) than some of the other bamboo yarns out there, I really like Be Sweet 100% Bamboo yarn (http://www.besweetproducts.com/) because it's beautiful yarn in a lot of color choices, and it's hand spun and dyed in South Africa by a disadvantaged women's empowerment group. I've also recently discovered a bamboo-wool blend yarn that's really nice too and has a bit more heft to it, Moda Dea Bamboo Wool.

Today's Thought: In an effort to start off the new year eating more healthfully, we found this great recipe site, http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/, and have discovered Quinoa (keen-wah), a great alternative to rice or other grains as a side dish.

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