An update about the NY Fiberscape Dress that I wrote about earlier in the summer. I knitted some swatches with stockinette and cable stitches to figure out the knitting gauge. I liked how they both turned out, so I decided to make the dress in stockinette stitches, and create the cables in a knitted cowl made of…
Tag: altruism
Solace project
Earlier this year I wrote about India Flint’s Solace project that promotes international peace. It welcomed everyone to send a flag with a message for a “collective impromptu poem recorded on cloth to sing in the winds.” I sent a fiber flag made of wool, alpaca, and mohair fibers. Today received the postcard, and also…
New York Farm Sanctuary
Today I visited the Farm Sanctuary headquarters in Watkins Glen New York. It rescues and provides a high quality of life for animals that are donated, abandoned or were previously abused in factory farms. On a tour, I got to see, touch the animals, and also hear about their life histories before and after coming to…
Tour De Fleece 2015
Over the past month, I’ve been spinning along with the #spindlers Ravelry group during the Tour de Fleece (July 4 to July 26). The Tour de Fleece is a nod to the bicyclists in the Tour de France. As they spun their bicycle wheels, fiber spinners around the world spun their wheels, or spindles. It was…
Community Empowerment with Sewing, Recycling, and Textiles
GLOBAL IMPACT WITH NAJA The woman-owned lingerie brand Naja reflects ideals of social responsibility and environmental sensitivity. Naja aims to foster a culture where women help and support each other. Naja established the Underwear for Hope Program, and supports an entrepreneurial sewing program that provides single women opportunities to earn an income to support their families in Colombia. A percentage…
Engagement with Fiber Animals- Connecting to New York City
Animal fibers are “living” extensions of the animals they come from, especially as the animals live long lives on farms. Community members are increasingly being exposed to fiber animals such as sheep, alpacas, and angora goats as farmers bring them to local festivals and provide updates on social media. Farmer’s physical and virtual visibility induces a climate for community and fiber animal…
Call for support: Jullien Gordon to Speak at alma mater Los Angeles High School
We would like your support to bring an inspiring educational and leadership speaker, Jullien Gordon to our alma mater, Downtown Magnets High School, May 2015. He is a renown speaker that engages with students and budding entrepreneurs nationwide during speaking tours and TedTalks. In 2007, Jullien received two Masters degrees from Stanford University—his MBA and Masters in…
Fiber Farm Community Supported Ag
I recently became a virtual farmer in support of Sweet Tree Hill Farm in Virginia. The farm has Shetland sheep, angora rabbits, and cashmere goats. I was excited to learn where the the funds I provided would go. They helped pay for 1 month’s worth of hay for the fiber animals. I’m glad I can contribute in…
Support Aspiring Knitwear designer/ Master’s Student to show in NY Fashion Week!
Jasmine Gonzalez is currently a Master’s Student in the Academy of Arts University in San Francisco CA. She hopes to show a 6-piece collection during NY Fashion week in February 2014, and is raising funds to cover costs of yarns and knitting machinery to create hand-knit and machine made garments and accessories. Please see full…
Fixing our Apparel Industry
The global apparel industry has provided an influx of economic opportunities in developing countries. An issue is the disconnect major apparel brands have with workers in their supply chain. The complexity has led to neglect and limited action towards ensuring that human rights and social welfare are not violated. There has been a proliferation of news…
HELEN TREJO 