Organic Sewing: Show and Tell with City Chic Country Mouse

Meet Jamie of City Chic Country Mouse. Today she is going to tell us a little about what she sews with organic cotton fabrics:

Modern Organic Fabrics: What do you make with organic cotton fabric?

Jamie: My Mom (Country Mouse) and I (City Chic) are using organic fabrics for handmade items we sell in our Etsy shop including ironing board covers, sewing machine covers, oven mitts, towels and aprons. We'd love to make the time to sew ourselves a nice quilt as well, but there is never enough time when we get together!

Modern Organic Fabrics: Which fabrics are you using?

Jamie: The number of organic fabrics is growing so there are a lot of beautiful fabrics to choose from, but we fell in love with Cloud9's Beyond the Sea and My Happy Garden collection when we saw it at Spring Quilt Market. We were so happy when the boxes arrived at our doorstep just a few weeks after Market!

Modern Organic Fabrics: Why do you like to use organic cotton fabric?

Jamie: Aside from all the gorgeous designs that are available, we know organic is important to people who also support handmade. We are happy to be a part of the effort to produce fabric responsibly and in an environmentally friendly way.

Modern Organic Fabrics: Tell us about your products.

Jamie: My mom and I love designing handmade items to make those boring household chores (like ironing!) a bit more fun! We started our shop just over 2 years ago and love spending our weekends together in the sewing room. In addition to sewing we enjoy stopping at estate sales to hunt for treasures that we can recycle and re-purpose. We just finished new aprons, oven mitts, and towel sets incorporating vintage doilies and linens from estate sales with some of the Cloud9 fabrics. 

Thanks for sharing, Jamie! You can find Jamie and her mom, Carmen at:

City Chic Country Mouse Etsy Shop

City Chic Country Mouse Blog

Have you made something with organic cotton fabrics? Would you like to be featured here? Email me using the link over in the right column!

Happy Monday Giveaway!

Today's Happy Monday Giveaway is a selection of four pink and green fat quarters from Free To Grow by Nancy Mims of Mod Green Pod for Robert Kaufman.

To enter to win, leave a comment below telling me which websites or blogs you love to visit for sewing inspiration, projects and/or tutorials.

Comments close this Friday at midnight. Good luck!

Winner: Chairs Fabric

Congratulations Beth, who said:

Sewing room! Yay, I love this fabric!

I really loved reading about where everyone sews! Thanks to all who entered.

Fabric in Action: More Marine and Beach Mod

In anticipation of these two new lines (expected in the next few weeks, I hope!), more pictures from Birch Fabrics. This time, owner Cynthia's boys modeling clothes made from Beach Mod and Marine.

Clothing made using fabric from Marine by Dan Stiles for Birch Fabrics

Clothing made using fabric from Circa 60*Beach Mod by Monaluna for Birch Fabrics

Organic Sewing: Show and Tell with Christina

Meet Christina of Icewerks. Today she is going to tell us a little about what she sews with organic cotton fabrics:

Modern Organic Fabrics: What do you make with organic cotton fabric?

Christina: I tend to make clothing, especially for my 4 year old daughter.  Both she and my husband suffer from allergies and eczema and so are sensitive to fragrances, dyes and scratchy fabrics.   I want the things that are on her skin or close to her face to be as chemical free and natural as possible.

Modern Organic Fabrics: Which fabrics have you used?

Christina: The cotton gingham has such a wonderfully soft feel but I'm really finding myself drawn to the organic knits.  They're a smoother, heavier weight and sew up so beautifully.  I made a long sleeved tee out of the Storm hemp and organic cotton for my husband and he wears it constantly.  He says it breathes better than a plain cotton shirt.  Right now, I'm really looking forward to using the herbal dyed cambric.  I've just started using natural dye plants to color my spinning and knitting fibers and being able to extend that into my sewing is very satisfying. Ed. note: Christina has since finshed a shirt for her daughter using the peach herbal-dyed cambric and Oliver + S's Music Class Blouse (below).

Modern Organic Fabrics: What do you like about the fabrics?

Christina: Organic fabric lines just feel so good!  I think that's partly because more care is taken in their growth and processing and partly because the designers who opt for organic also tend to opt for a nicer quality finish too.

Modern Organic Fabrics: How do you make your projects?

Christina: I'm a fly by the seat of my pants sewer.  I like to sew fast and I use my serger, especially with knits, when I'm looking for instant gratification sewing.  With a young child at home, I need to maximize my sewing time too.  I should use my iron more, though.

Modern Organic Fabrics: Do you use patterns? If so, which ones?

Christina: I find my inspiration in Japanese craft books -- I have... um.. quite a few -- and small designer or European pattern sources.  Ottobre, Citronille, Oliver +S, Farbenmix, Burda, and Onion are a few of my favorites.  Not always being able to read the instructions has helped me understand sewing in a spatial way instead of a list of written steps.

Modern Organic Fabrics: Anything you'd like to add?

Christina: Thank you, Melanie, for providing a go-to place for organic fabrics.  I'm a busy mom and I'd rather use my free time making something than endlessly searching the 'nets for organic materials.  I especially appreciate your upfront info on certification and processes so that I know more about what I'm choosing.

You're welcome, Christina and thanks for sharing! You can find Christina at:

www.icewerks.blogspot.com.  (At least, when real life lets me...)

Have you made something with organic cotton fabrics? Would you like to be featured here? Email me using the link over in the right column!