What Are You Really Wearing? A Guide to Fabrics, Health, & Sustainable Sewing Have you ever paused to consider what your clothes are truly made of? The fabric resting against your skin, the sheets you sleep in each night, the tote bag you carry through your days—these everyday textiles quietly shape your comfort, your health, and your relationship with nature. In a world dominated by fast fashion and synthetic materials, it’s easy to overlook an important truth: many modern fabrics are saturated with chemicals, derived from plastic, and designed for speed rather than l...

What Is Organic Fabric? A Clear Guide to Healthier, More Sustainable Textiles The fabric we live in is rarely questioned.It wraps our children, rests against our skin, holds the warmth of our beds, and follows us quietly through ordinary days. And yet—so much of it carries a hidden story. If you’ve ever felt a quiet nudge to look closer at what your clothes, sheets, or handmade projects are made of, you’re not alone. Organic fabric isn’t a trend or a buzzword—it’s a return. A return to cleaner fields, safer hands, and textiles made with intention. Let’s slow down and u...

What You Put on Your Body—and In It—Matters | Why Equip Prime Protein Has a Place in a Low-Tox, Intentional Home At Organic Fabric Company, we talk often about what touches our skin—organic cotton, linen, wool, and natural fibers chosen with care. But living thoughtfully doesn’t stop at fabric. It extends into the kitchen, the pantry, and the small daily choices that quietly shape our health. What we wear matters.And so does what we consume. That’s why I want to share a product that aligns beautifully with the same values that guide this shop: Equip Prime Protein. Clean Living Is a Whole-Home Practice M...

Artisan Cotton by Windham Fabrics: Timeless Yarn-Dyed Cotton for Slow Sewing I’ve been thinking a lot about how some fabrics feel so cozy… just the colors alone give warmth. I’m so excited to introduce Artisan Cotton by Windham Fabrics—a collection created for makers who love depth, softness, and color that is bold, but not necessarily loud. Artisan Cotton is a yarn-dyed woven cotton, which means the color is woven into the fabric itself rather than printed on top. The result is rich, dimensional color with a gentle texture—perfect for garments, quilts, home projects,...

10 Simple One-Yard Sewing Projects for Slow, Joyful Making There’s something quietly magical about a single yard of fabric — the way it folds in your hands, full of possibility, waiting to become something useful and lovely. A yard feels approachable, friendly… like a small window of time that invites you to pause, breathe, and create something with intention. Today, I’m sharing ten simple one-yard projects that bring beauty into the home without overwhelm. These are the kinds of makes you can finish in an afternoon while the children play nearby, or...

Giving New Life to Old Wool: 5 Projects for Sweater Scraps There’s something beautiful about holding an old wool sweater in your hands — soft, time-worn, carrying the quiet memory of cozy winters past. When it finally unravels, pills, or stretches beyond repair, it can feel wrong to simply let it go. Wool has this wonderful ability to be reborn. Even in scraps and sleeves and frayed cuffs, there’s still so much life left to give. Here are a few beautiful ways to transform those leftover pieces into something fresh, useful, and heartwarming. 1. Felted...

112: The Hidden Cost of Recycled Polyester - What Sewists and Upcyclers Need to Know Recycled polyester is everywhere—in athletic wear, fast fashion, and even eco-conscious sewing lines. But is it truly the sustainable hero it’s made out to be? In Episode 112 of Beyond the Fabric, I explore the hidden downsides of recycled polyester, especially through the lens of sewing and upcycling. While it promises to reduce plastic waste, recycled polyester can also shed microplastics into waterways and has limitations when it comes to true recyclability and durability. As sewists, we’r...

A Beginner’s Guide to Fabric Types & Materials: Choosing the Best for Your Sewing Projects The Fabric of Our Lives: What Are You Really Wearing? Have you ever stopped to think about what your clothes are made of? The fabric against your skin, the sheets you sleep in, the bags you carry—each is crafted from a material that impacts not only comfort but also health and sustainability. In a world dominated by fast fashion and synthetic textiles, it’s easy to overlook the reality that many of these fabrics are steeped in chemicals, microplastics, and environmental harm. But what if you ...

111: "The Whisper of Linen - Beauty, Breath, and the Frequencies of Fabric" There’s something sacred about linen.Its texture, its breathability, the way it cradles the body with softness and strength—it’s more than fabric. It’s a companion to slow living, a keeper of calm. In this episode of Beyond the Fabric, I share the story of a humble thrifted linen sheet that found a new life on my king-sized bed, and how it became one of the most beloved pieces in our home. From there, we journey into the ancient history of linen, explore how it's made (a process as revere...

105: The Birth of Motherhood - Crafting a Whole Self In this episode, I invite you into a heartfelt reflection on the journey of motherhood, beginning with the powerful moment that births not just a child, but a mother. When our firstborn arrives, we undergo a transformation that forever reshapes who we are, welcoming a new self alongside the new life in our arms. Today, I explore how this shift is not a loss but a beautiful fulfillment—a crafting of a truer, more complete self. I talk about the dual birth of mother and child and the lifelong p...

103: From Wool to Cotton to Polyester – A Journey Back to What’s Real n this episode, I’m reflecting on a line from the classic movie Annie, where the orphans sing about having cotton blankets instead of wool. That small moment got me thinking about how our standards for fabric quality have changed over time. Wool, once prized for its warmth and durability, and cotton for its accessibility, have been joined—and sometimes overshadowed—by synthetic fabrics like polyester. Join me as I explore: The history and richness of wool and cotton, and the way they were v...

Introducing 'Beyond the Fabric' – Our New Podcast! Bite-Sized Inspiration, Right in Your Ear! Hello! I'm so excited to share this new project with you today! Our podcast, “Beyond the Fabric!” 🎉 Each month, we’ll be diving into cozy, bite-sized episodes on topics like sustainable sewing, mindful living, and creating a wardrobe that truly reflects who you are. Whether you’re stitching on a project or just enjoying a quiet moment, these short episodes are perfect for a little inspiration! Here’s what you can expect from “Beyond the Fabric”:🌿 Practical tips for sustainable sewing and...

106: Slow Living in Winter - Savoring Seasonal Rhythms, Rest, and Renewal | Beyond the Fabric Podcast Welcome to the show notes for this cozy episode of Beyond the Fabric, where we dive into the beauty of winter’s slower rhythms. Today, I’m reflecting on what it’s like to settle into the colder months here in the Greater Salt Lake City Area, where snow brings both beauty and a chance to pause. Winter invites us to change our routines, honor the darker mornings and shorter days, and find comfort in rituals like baking bread and making stews that warm our homes and our hearts. Just as the earth...

Instagram Giveaway! Hi friends! In case you haven't seen, we are running a giveaway on Instagram this week! It ends on Sunday, March 17th! Be sure to visit Instagram to enter! In other news, we have some restocks of some Made by Rae favorite patterns along with some new selections! Things have been seeming like they are warming up here and then we get hit again with an unexpected snow! I am so eager for the warm weather! I have seen some little blooms on a couple of our trees and some of our perennia...

Christmas in July: Embrace the Joy of Summer Sewing for the Holidays While the summer sun warms our days, the thought of Christmas might seem distant. However, there's something magical about embracing the spirit of the holiday season in the midst of summer. By purchasing Christmas-themed fabric now and starting your festive sewing projects, you can enjoy a stress-free, delightful experience that brings joy to both you and your loved ones. Here are my top 6 reasons you should start that Christmas sewing now! Less Stress: Picture this: a cozy summer afte...

The Stories of Textiles: The Importance of Sustainable Fabrics for the Environment & Our Health Fabric is more than just material. It holds the stories of the earth and the dreams of creators. It is a way to connect with our past, protect our present, and weave a brighter future for generations to come. The Stories of the Earth Fabric is made from natural materials, such as cotton, wool, and linen. These materials come from the earth, and they tell the story of the land where they were grown or raised. For example, cotton is a crop that is grown in warm climates, and it tells the story...