Healthy Fabrics

Hemp Canvas Fabric

One of my favorite hemp fabrics is the versatile 11 or 12 oz. semi-bleached canvas. It’s the ideal weight and texture for so many home décor applications: pillows, cushion covers, upholstery and shades. Hemp canvas is durable; wear and tear softens the hand over time but the fiber remains strong. The milky natural color has a subtle yellow cast, like pale butter. It's one of those goes-with-everything neutrals. No dyes are used to achieve it, just hydrogen peroxide. And, here’s a tidbit that might surprise you: the color deepens slowly with age and sunlight exposure resembling a tea stain. Get it at Hemp Traders.

Organic Linen Resource for Curtains

Simple organic linen panels are the perfect eco-alternative to polyester sheers. Make your own with GOTS and IMO certified organic linen from Pickering. This flax fabric is semi-sheer, lightweight and has lovely body and drape even after washed. It does a great job at filtering light no matter the season. The soft-white color and subtle texture looks beautiful when layered with decorative curtains. Cold wash and warm dry this fabric before sewing to give your panels a soft crumpled, casual appearance and to minimize shrinkage. Expect 2” shrinkage per yard length. Note: Pickering is a wholesale fabric supplier and welcomes small business purchases of 10 yards or more. For retail purchases please contact me. 

Hemp Corduroy: Tips for Making Curtains & Covers

 
When you think of corduroy it might conjure up images of grandpa’s trousers, a child’s romper or elbow patches on an old tweed blazer. More than likely it’s not one of your trendy favorites for interiors, right? Well, here’s an eco-corduroy I hope will give you an entirely new appreciation for the plush stuff and inspire you to make your own curtains, pillows and cushion covers.

Hemp Summercloth Curtains

The snow is melting and the sun is shining! That’s all it took for me to change out my curtains today. Down with the heavy winter drapes and up with light, breezy curtains made of Hemp Summercloth.

These aren’t anything like the narrow, wimpy cotton panels you typically find at retail. You know, the ones that come in a zippered plastic bag, reek of chemical orders and shrink 4” in length even when you wash them in cold water.

The hemp curtains I make are anything but wimpy, or stinky. They are a generous 55” wide. (That’s 5” to 13” wider than what you’ll find at Target or Pottery Barn.) And, they include a 1” double rolled hem on the side edges and deep 3” hems at top and bottom.

Hemp Summercloth is similar to flax at first glance but has more body and more texture. I love how it drapes, with or without lining. Even though the weave is somewhat open it still filters light and provides privacy. This eco-friendly fabric is my favorite for making Spring/Summer curtains.

 

Click below for resources and more photos. Spring is on the way!