Organic Wool and Fabrics: Is That Important to You?

Dear community,
do you make a point of buying organic wool and organic fabrics, or not so much right now?
Mod tip: You can find some great patterns for working with them here.

If I’m going to wear something against my skin, it has to be organic. Otherwise, my skin can’t tolerate it. In any case, it also has to be breathable.

When I sew or knit something for my grandchildren, I’d rather spend a little more on organic-quality wool or fabric. The kids have very sensitive skin and react quickly with redness or irritation. You can’t just use anything because it looks nice.

Right now, I’m sewing light, airy summer dresses for my granddaughter out of old cotton bedsheets. It’s been washed a thousand times—and that’s a good thing! No more chemicals in it. And I don’t use fabric softener either; I always let everything dry outside in the fresh air. From all that washing, the cotton has become soft to the touch over time and is naturally breathable to begin with. For me, that also falls under “organic.”

Warm regards, Ina
 

In any case, I prefer natural fibers, if only for environmental reasons. The material releases fiber particles during washing and drying. Particles from natural fibers break down fairly quickly and cause little harm. Particles from synthetic fibers, on the other hand, persist for a long time (or even forever) and harm the environment and all living things.
Also, synthetic fibers tend to get musty, whereas with wool, simply airing it out is enough to make the clothes smell fresh again.