My Brand Name

Okay I have been thinking about my label for my knitting and I think that EKO is good, but will not be my only label. I just can't be tied to organics as much as I want to knit in only organics for right now I have to be broader. So I was thinking also I might not just sell knits. I think I will start with something like... Millcreek Boutique or Emasue's Boutique, or I don't know. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

Emily Knits Organic

Recently I have been designing my own knitting patterns, very exciting for me. It all started when my husband told his co-worker who had shaved her head for Locks of Love, that I would knit her a beenie. So I thought oh hats especially beenies are easy, I will just make it up. I wanted to practice my cabling so I did a cable rib, which turned out kinda cute ( I will post a picture). My husband was impressed by my speed and told me I should sell them and he will make me a website. Well I am a sucker for a compliment and I was inspired. So far I have designed a purse, a raglan sweater for my 1 year old Sophia, a pair of glove /mittens, & the hat of course. I will be attempting a swim suit for Sophia as well. I know all my patterns probably are in need of some tweaking, as I am just learning all of this. As I knit I think of the possibilities and what I could do with all of it. I want to knit my designs in organic yarn, I just want to do my part in keeping the earth clean and healthy to live in. So I was thinking for a label, Emily Knits Organic ie. EKO, like eco friendly only with a 'k'. I don't know it's just a thought and I probably won't be selling anything until fall so I can build up a line of something worth selling. Anyway tell me what you think!

A Train To Potevka, Review

I just finished reading a book that my Dad recommended, called A Train to Potevka by Mike Ramsdell. Altough it is a novel, in the fact that he had to change or not be specific in dates, names, and some certain details; it really is a true history of his experiences not only in the USSR during the early nineties, but also his experiences leading up to the life changing days spent in Potevka . A Train to Potevka, An American Spy in Russia is more than meets the eye. Mike Ramsdell's book is more than your typical spy novel of espionage, near misses and getaways. It is a story of realizing the importance of faith in our lives. Realizing that faith, in not just the hard times, but in our everyday life. No matter who rules the land where we live, what is inside us, faith, hope, and love, can not be truely be taken away! As Anne Frank said, "In spite of everything I still believe people are really good at heart."

Okay I just posted this huge thing on bamboo, I still think it is important to see if your bamboo fiber product is tested, but I just went to the website of the lady, who seemed to be telling the person with the bamboo sheets that cotton is safer, has a list on her site for organic retailers and there were quite a few for bamboo. So maybe she changed her mind about bamboo or something. I don't know I am still waiting to hear from bernat; although just just because product says organic cotton, linen, or whatever that doesn't mean that it had an organic conversion process that just means it was organically grown. So until next post.

Is Bamboo really green?

Recently I purchased the most incredibly soft yarn. It's made mostly of bamboo 89% and 11% arcrylic. SOOOOOOO soft, comparable to cashmire. Softer than cotton althought I do still like cotton. So I was curious what the process of converting bamboo into fiber would be becuase the label says it is made in the USA and packaged in Canada. (Interesting tidbit, it is a Canadian company) Anyway I wondered is it made into to a fiber with chemicals somewhere else and just spun here? Is it laden with chemicals? So I have been looking it up and couldn't find much, most websites just talk about the breaking it down into a pulp that "chemicaly"(what chemicals) changes to a spinable fiber. Then I found a blog where people ask questions of this sort. Someone had asked a similar question to mine only she had purchased sheets made from bamboo fiber (also were super soft). People commented things like we can't trust China, they don't have regs and so on then a person from Bamboosa, a company that sells clothing made from bamboo fiber said this "The bamboo fiber that we use (and, as far as I know, what almost everyone uses) is Oeko-Tex 100 certified. For an in depth analysis of what that certification is, go here: See www.oeko-tex.com/OekoTex100_PUBLIC/index.asp?cls=02. Basically, it says that the fiber has been tested for any chemicals that may be harmful to a persons health and has been found to contain no trace chemicals that pose any health threat whatsoever. So, based on that, we can say that we, and others in our industry, start with a raw material that is not contaminated. In the case of Bamboosa's manufacturing model, all other processes are done in S.C., so we are fully aware and in control of what, if any additional chemicals are use on the product downstream. "

So I looked at the link and if we can trust this company than we are probably okay with bamboo products certified by this company. So I have emailed Bernat the company that sells the yarn. Hopefully I will hear from them soon. If anyone has any insight to this please post.