Sustainability Resources

PGHW member Gigi Matthews’ is known for her sustainable fiber resources. PGHW and Gigi Matthew’s have resourced local sustainable choices for our fiber arts projects:

Sustainable Yarn Resources (mostly local)

Wild Hand in Mt. Airy, organic offerings

https://wild-hand.com/collections/fiber

Weaverhouse in the Bok Building in South Philly also has a wide selection of natural and sustainable yarns:

https://www.weaverhouseco.com/fiber-yarn

NJ Fibershed has a listing of yarn produced at local farms in NJ:

https://njfibershed.com/producers/

Silk City Yarns in Carlstadt, NJ has an EcoCotton that can be found here:

https://www.silkcityfibers.com/products/ecocot

Though not traditionally local, Echoview Fibermill in Weaverville, NC focuses on sustainable fiber:

https://www.echoviewnc.com/shop?category=Yarn

Tin Can Knits has a beautiful tutorial on how to recycle yarn from a sweater:

https://blog.tincanknits.com/2021/02/04/how-to-recycle-yarn-from-second-hand-sweaters/

Support your local farmer

NJ Breeders of Gotland Sheep https://www.smiling-dog-farm.com/

NJ Breeders of Coopworth Sheep https://www.winterspastfarm.com/

Where to find rare sheep breeds for their fiber https://www.livestockconservancy.org/

Fibershed is a non-profit organization that develops equity-focused regional and land regenerating natural fiber and dye systems.
https://fibershed.org/

Natural Dyeing Resources

Exploring regional mushroom and lichen dye palettes https://www.mycopigments.com/

Natural Dye and Supplies https://maiwa.com/

Here is a list of resources Gigi has given in many of her national talks. This is from a list originally posted on the MAFA (Mid-Atlantic Fiber Assoc.) site.

The Big Picture – How the Fiber industry is contributing to Global Climate warming
https://www.unep.org/
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/

Traditional sustainability
https://handwovenmagazine.com/sakiori-rag-weaving/
https://weavearealpeace.org/

New fibers and processes
https://www.cooperhewitt.org/
https://oakandlaureldrygoods.com/
https://www.algaeing.com/
https://www.ananas-anam.com/
https://www.viennatextilelab.at
https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen