The Result of a Journey: Betz White’s Organic Fabrics

A little more than a week ago, my mother and I pulled the sewing machine out of her closet, where it had been hiding literally for years. My daughter’s preschool had requested that the students bring in small pillows, rather than full-size bed pillows, this year to save storage space. So I needed to cut down some old pillow cases to fit the decorative pillow she’d be taking to school. That project took me a total of about 5 minutes (minus the sewing machine setup, which took a lot longer than that while we tried to remember everything). But those 5 minutes were long enough for me to catch the sewing bug. I now have an urge to create something — anything — from pretty pieces of fabric. And Betz White’s fabrics can be described as nothing less than gorgeous.

I found her beautiful organic prints via Tiny Decor, and I can’t get enough of them! I’m also loving her slogan: “Stitch beautifully…tread lightly.” Isn’t that perfect for a woman who makes organic cotton fabrics? And the story behind her line is inspiring. She couldn’t find a large fabric manufacturer who shared her commitment to print on organics, so she decided to produce the line herself. That’s the kind of eco-ingenuity that paints a positive picture of our future.

The fabrics are available exclusively through her Etsy store. My personal favorites are Sprig & Sprouts in blue and green and Wood Pile, which features colorful concentric circles that look very much like the ends of cut wood. Now if I can just decide what to make…

Any suggestions?

Why It’s Green:

• Printed in the U.S. on an organic cotton/hemp blend fabric
• Digital printing process uses water-based, non-toxic pigment dyes and minimizes waste and water consumption
• Heat and pressure used to finish the fabric instead of harsh chemicals
• Printed on demand to prevent fabric waste

Price: $18/fat quarter, $68/yard