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Okay, I have three kids who are total urbanites, which means they are willing to pay big money to get back to nature - they just don't want to actually LIVE there!

Two grandbabies due in March. I'd started on two quilts, leaving open the predominate color because we don't know the sexes, yet. I'm using fabric I've been saving for just this happy event(s).

One daughter just told me she wants ONLY 100% organic materials so her baby doesn't get bad toxins. COMPLETELY organic clothing, sheets, quilts, blankets, food, etc.

The other says NO GIFTS, PERIOD (including a baby quilt) because they have no space.

The no gift mama already has a child who plays on the spat on sidewalks of NYC with everything going into his mouth. She is right that they have no space. But still - a baby quilt?

The second mama (also NYC) is still waiting on her little bundle of joy and is of the notion that she can wrap him/her up in (organic) cotton (no pesticides!) to keep her/him safe and well.

Ugh. Ugh.

So I think I will just go ahead and make the quilts (and also one of 100% organic material) and wait to give them to the babies when the time is right. I figure the one who doesn't have space for a quilt may or may not change her mind and I'll take my cue from her - but I expect the 100% organic mama will quickly blow past the notion that a quilt that can be washed, thoroughly, will poison her baby. Sorry - I can't help but feel like a snake oil salesman got to my daughter!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Penny Quilts,

quote:

Originally posted by Penny Quilts:
and also one of 100% organic material!

I know there are a lot of batting choices these days, but I'm confused -- did you find "organic" quilting cotton fabrics, too? Is there such a thing? I never thought about it, if there is.


Re being "organic" or "non-tox*c" in NYC...do these people breathe the air there?? At street-level (which is also baby stroller and toddler level), it's some of the worst air I've ever encountered. Traffic is heavy. You have idling bus fumes & taxi fumes & truck fumes at every corner. People smoke c*garettes all around you on the sidewalks. Street vendors are grilling food & sending smoke everywhere. I never need my asthma inhaler when I'm out & around at home, but I need it every time I walk the streets of NYC!

OK, off my soapb*x. Trying to stay healthy is not a bad thing. But unless you want to move inside a bubble, you can't always control everything that you're exposed to. Something's gonna getcha. And NYC is a very likely place for that to happen, at least air-wise. Love that city, but they need to air it out!

Oh yeah. Just make the quilts. I'm not certain that I'd even buy the 100% organic fabrics. We have to remember that that cotton was fertilized with manure which in simple terms began as a 4-letter word. Multiple washings in an "organic" detergent should suffice.

When stepD was on the ogranic meat kick I went to the local meat processing plant and asked if they had any organic meat. I then put my hands over my ears and started humming so that I wouldn't hear the answer. When I took my hands off my ears, I told her what I wanted. She started to comment on the organic meat. I put my hands over my ears and told her to just cut the steaks. I could truthfully tell stepD that I asked about organic beef and the lady picked up a chunk of meat to cut. (StepD went from vegan - but still ate shrimp because it was more like an insect to her...to vegetarian...to organic...to eating everything she can get her hands on. And that's just been about 10 of the 15 years I've been married to her DD.)

Yep. I'm a snake oil salesman too.

Make the quilts, Penny. You aren't going to hurt that little one for anything, and you can wash the heck out of that quilt beforehand so that's ready to be loved when you DO give it to her.

Oh, you're gonna have fun making those two quilts. And, congratulations, by the way.

Congratulations, Penny! More grandbabies is a blessing to be sure.

How do they think they can go 100% organic in NYC? Bless her heart for trying, but like StarrySky said - does she breathe the air there? Especially in the summer - eww!

I'd make the quilts - the time will present itself for you to gift your grandbabies with them. Quilts don't take up much room and babies love them.

In my humble opinion, the important part is just honoring someone's wishes. If she/they have beliefs about their babies, that is close to their hearts, and it must be honored, as much as posible. Just think if you felt strongly about something, and strongly about something connected to your baby, you would be hurt if someone did the opposite or ridiculed it. I know this space is for venting, but I would hope we all would try to do what someone wanted, even if it is silly or not what we believe. Twenty years ago when I had a baby, I had relatives ridicule me for not allowing them to smoke WHILE holding the infant, ashes dangling on the end. I made some of my own babyfood, ridiculous to some, now it is common. Some people believe in the bonding and health benefits of brea*tfeeding, others think it is gross or ruins your figure or limits your career, so they use formula. I was a vegetarian even as a child (and still am). My mother used to try and SNEAK meat into my foods, even when I was a teen and adult, which I think is disrespectful and cruel.
I say make two quilts and I am sorry for my rant. I just think, even if something sounds silly, that we try to respect it.

Part of the appeal of organic anything is that the workers in fields are not subjected to the chemicals. A quick read will show the damage to the workers, biodiversity, insects, etc.

Penny, if they still don't want a quilt from you when all is said and done, I'd gladly take one when my new baby comes...

But, seriously, I'm sad that you don't know your quilts are wanted. They are all so beautiful.

The quilts can be used when they visit!

I am soooo sorry this has happened to you. I cannot imagine how you must feel when quilting is your passion but just use the quilts when they come to your house and enjoy them that way. Thank goodness my daughter AND DIL are both so accomodating and at least act like they like what I make. I made both their wedding dresses and Im sure they will never know how special that was to me.

i looked up organic fabric and thread and here are a couple links and info.. there were lots..

Web Results


NearSea Naturals: Everything you need to sew, Naturally ...

NearSea Naturals, your source for organic cotton and natural fabric and notions.
... Are able to produce fabrics, from thread to finishing, within 100 miles of that ...
www.nearseanaturals.com/
http://www.nearseanaturals.com/


Common Thread Fabric Store - Austin, TX - Fashion Fabrics

The Common Thread Fabric Store in Austin, Texas offers designer fashion fabrics
... The Common Thread stocks hard to find organic fabrics such as hemp and ...
commonthreadfabric.com/
http://commonthreadfabric.com/

The first link was the only link I found prices. WHEW! That stuff is costly. Many of the woven/printed cottons were 110" wide though.

Do you remember in your history lessons about the boll weevil? If not, do a little research. That is one bad little bug. It pretty much desimated the cotton industry in the late 1890s through the depression in the 1930s. It is controlled, but not eradicated. It is only a matter of time before it hits the organic gardeners. They better hope that their farmer neighbors are spraying their cotton crops...

We sang the Boll Weevil song in elementary school (with corrected grammar of course!)...part history...part music class...

Be sure to click on "intro" in the link below for the audio.
http://bettylou.zzruss.com/bollweevilsong.htm

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KeepYouInStitches,

I love history and what a great little song. I think every generation has kid songs they sang about whatever was important at that time.

I think with organic anything (growing) they use other methods to keep bugs or diseases in control. They don't just do nothing. Growing one kind of corn or potato, or using too many pesticides, causes a whole other problem. Diversity is essential. Pesticides cause problems with insects and water pollution. More and more chemicals are needed to control insects who become almost resistant to it. A major city around here has plumes of chemicals in the water table under the city, which a year or so ago finally reached a small local lake.

Things have definitely changed since the "more is better" years. They had some really bad poisons back then. Many kids from farming families had/have serious health concerns now.

Like so many things - there are "in between" solutions. When I plant tomatoes, I've been out early many mornings looking for those horned worms that can "decimate" (correct spelling) a tomato plant almost overnight. Find the worm(s), pluck off plant, drop on ground, stomp and grind into the dirt. Job well done! But you can't do that with acres of plants.

(Isn't it funny how you can type a word and think it's correct...then the next time you see it you give yourself a head-thump knowing that you KNOW better than that?!)

First, I'd tell you to follow your plan. Sounds like a winner. The quilts will be ready when they are.

We took a tour of a bourbon distillery that is near our home. They used to put on their label that their bourbon was organic. They had to take that off because of the yeast. Yeast may or may not have the tiniest percentage of something in it that does not allow it to be called organic. So, all because of that, they had to remove the term 'organic' from the label.

All I'll say is that they have attributed the rise in asthma to the germ free world we try to keep our children to keep them safe. They never build up a resistance to anything... chris

I agree kids should play in the dirt. It is the overuse of antibiotics in soaps, medicine and meat used to eliminate germs and disease that creates the super germs.
Smog, pollen, all sorts of things are supposed to contribute to asthma.
Certainly pesticides, meant to k I l l organisms are unhealthy for the workers to breathe etc. ever read the label on round up? Known carcinogen.

My poin is ONLY to respect the momma's wishes. If it is impOrtant to he momma, why argue? Even if someone doesn't agree, but the momma wants organic, why not respect it rather than pooh pooh it or cite facts? She's the momma of that baby.

20 years ago or so, the practice of making quilts with only 100%cotton fabric, thread, & batting would have been viewed as a little extreme. Ideas change.
Make a quilt for your grandbabies, and save them, if you must, for some unknown time in the future, when they may be allowed to use them.
I can imagine how bad I'd feel, faced with this dilema. Maybe a special fabric toy wouldn't be objected to.
They are trying to be the best possible parents, and that's not bad.

I agree that ideas change and I agree they are tying to be the best parents.
Summed up very well and that is sorta the point I was trying to make.

I looked on Etsy and there are over 3,000 listings for organic cotton fabric - it is soooooo cute - it's the softest cotton fabric ever, and used with bamboo batting, you'll have the softest quilt ever. They also sell organics at fabric.com too
My DD is expecting in Dec and I hated the fabric she chose for the nursery but now it's all made, it really looks awesome.
Here's the Etsy link for organic cotton
http://www.etsy.com/search/sup...ip_to=ZZ&min=0&max=0

Interesting thread! I'd never heard of organic fabric before. The whole term organic always throws me- in chemistry, doesn't organic mean carbon based?

It does make you shake your head, to have someone live in NYC, who wants organic things. Maybe they need a big bubble, LOL.

Holly SJ - DHs same argument.

Ladies, thanks for all your comments - I really appreciate them and it gives me some things to think about. I will, of course, honor my kids' wishes.

I think I am like a lot of people in that I think it is a bit odd to live in a big city that has that much pollution and - frankly - filth - but still insist on organic materials for clothes. It is like they are protecting the skin and destroying the lungs. But it is what it is and I suspect a lot of it comes from living in a germ filled place and wanting to create as safe and healthy an environment as they can for their little one. And I think it is also a lot about the only thing they know about "nature" is what they read in a glitzy upscale magazine aimed at people with discretionary income who like to do Yoga. When you are surrounded by mamas who all insist you "must" have 100% organic, it is hard to think you are anything but a bad mom if you don't do the same. Looking back, when I was a new mother, I am sure there were things I was "supposed" to do or I would just be a bad mom.

I certainly don't mind making a 100% organic quilt - it isn't like I won't make him or her several quilts. I admit that I sort of feel like I am buying snakeoil but if it makes mother-to-be happy, I can live with it. I think the part that is hardest, for me, is having special fabric I've been saving but in the big scheme of things, that is no big deal and it will all work out. Truth be told, I think the 100% organic need is a passing phase on the part of mother-to-be and I don't want to worry too much about it.

Just an aside, I've started working a couple of days a week at a quilt shop and the push and pull between mother-to-be and grandmothers to be on quilts is NOT unusual. I've had grandmothers come in trying desperately to match the fabric their daughter or DIL wants - completely angstridden about getting the right color because the recipient is "so pickey" - and I've had a number of mothers-to-be come in looking for fabric because, according to them, the grandmothers will make something with awful colors and they are trying to find something they will both be happy with.

Wondering what exactly the criteria is for organic fabric would be. Certified organic food producers have a really difficult standard to meet. Would it be all white, or unbleached, as in PFD? Simply Quilts had an episode showing a woman who produced wool batting and if I remember correctly she raised the sheep. Sounds pretty organic to me.
Do we have any cotton farmers here, that might know what's involved? I'd think the processing & finishing steps might be the bigger issue, especially if those steps are done in other countries.
How do your mothers to be define organic as it relates to quilts?

If you search the web- bamboo batting is not at all "eco friendly" or antibacterial/antimicrobial as sometimes claimed. The processing of the plant fiber uses harsh chemicals and results in rayon. Several years ago there were cotton plants which were bred to have natural earthy colors, and grown in the US, woven in the US. Don't know if they still are. Almost all fabrics are imported these days. I worked in NYC- took a shower as soon as I got home to the country. I think many folks try desperately to control what little they can to stay healthy, but toxic environmental exposures in a big city far outweighs organic cotton fabric. They already know this, but aren't willing to move to a safer home. All you can do is try to accommodate their wishes, and what the grandchildren snuggle with when visiting is your treat.

Well.. I guess I have just gotten cantankerous in my older age... but if my daughters gave me "orders from headquarters" of what they did or did not want.. I would tell them if they wanted some specific high priced fabric in a quilt I was making for one of my grandchildren...to go pay the extra money for it and I would gladly make the quilt.

They forget that we have raised them... and they have not died yet of germs and toxins...

Toxins are everywhere... They better build a bubble to live in if they are that picky.

I have family members who requested all-natural products for their first born. Nothing synthetic, plastic or disposable in their shower gifts. They provided a list of websites and stores, along with gift suggestions as alternatives. They preferred US made wood toys and books that encouraged ethnic diversity and open-mindedness. Nothing wrong with that. We all were happy to comply. I made a "normal" cotton quilt and had all the shower guests sign it with well wishes. The child dragged it around for years and I was ecstatic.

Thirteen years and two more babies later, they are still a vegetarian, organic food-co-op family but balance their lives quite well with the "real" world.

I agree with Shogun. It's not going to hurt anyone to respect the parents wishes. They are only doing what they can to make their immediate environment as perfect as possible for their newborn. If not a crib quilt how about a stroller cover or diaper bag? Then plan on a quilt for later on. That way everyone is happy and there's no friction or hurt feelings.

ETA: I have friends who are organic vegetable farmers who grow green beans and peas for Gerber baby food who holds them to high standards (which they appreciate). Gerber comes out and picks the vegetables themselves and schedules the picking to coincide with available processing times so that the crop doesn't sit waiting at the factory (about 75 miles away). Ah, Pure Michigan!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quiltinnana,

Well, it probably isn't very nice of me, but I always get a little laugh over things like this. Their intentions are so pure and ernest, but their information is less than complete. You can raise the cotton, linen, wool, or silk organically, but there is no way to avoid the harsh chemical treatments that go in to making those fibers into fabric. They are cleaned, scrubbed, combed, stripped, smoothed, bleached, rotted, mercerized, dyed, etc., etc., etc. All done with harsh detergents and chemicals. Unless you want to buy or raise the fiber itself and then process it, spin it, and weave it all on your own, you are going to get a fabric that has been exposed, bathed, agitated, and soaked in chemicals that none of us would ever want to expose our babies to. These chemicals are used at every step of the process of turining a natural fiber into a usable cloth. That's why, as someone said earlier, the best thing for a parent to do if they are concerned about going wholly "natural" is to use a natural fiber cloth, buy a laundry detergent they approve of, and wash the clothing/quilt well to get rid of any chemical residue. Or I suppose you could just go na ked. But even then, your backside is going to come in contact with a synthetic chair at some point!

From what I have read, organic fabric does not use the same chemicals and dyes as conventional fabrics.

Quiltinnana - thank you. I like what you wrote.

As for the daughter who has no room, what in the world will the baby lay or sit on without a baby quilt? I would still make a baby size quilt and give it to them anyway. That is Just rediculous(sp?).

quote:

Originally posted by Shogun:
From what I have read, organic fabric does not use the same chemicals and dyes as conventional fabrics.

I've read this, too, but the funny part is that the companies that say they aren't using dyes made from plants using pesticides go on to say their 200% organic products use dyes made from petroleum products and tout that as better! Just think it is funny.

quote:

Originally posted by dd quilts:
As for the daughter who has no room, what in the world will the baby lay or sit on without a baby quilt? I would still make a baby size quilt and give it to them anyway. That is Just rediculous(sp?).

They have several quilts from the first baby. It is daughter-in-law so I step lightly. When that mandate was issued, it came in the midst of a meltdown taking place as she was frantically trying to convert a tiny bedroom for the baby (measures, I kid you not, 5 X 8) to a bedroom for a two year old and the newborn to share. Literally, she was hauling out furniture and getting more freaked out by the second. She hauled out the bookshelf and - amazingly - there still wasn't room for a toddler bed and a crib. I honestly don't know what they are going to do with two babies besides move and for some reason, until they've actually sat down and tried to figure out how that was going to work, I don't think they realized what a problem they have. They have a very expensive apartment in NYC in a great part of town but the location is what makes it so expensive - not the size. The baby will get a quilt - sometime - but at the moment, they are dealing with reality shock. I am not sure how nearly forty year old children could have overlooked this little snafu but I imagine they will work it out once the shock of reality passes.