These hulls have been a popular stuffing option for pillow stuffing in Asia for centuries, often used to relieve pain in the head, neck and shoulders. Buckwheat Hullsīuckwheat hulls are a byproduct of buckwheat milling and are naturally hypoallergenic, water-resistant and pesticide-free. Kapok is suitable for pillows, blankets or any other projects that typically use cotton or polyfill.
Because it’s wild grown, Kapok is naturally pest-free and requires no pesticides to grow, and it’s also hypoallergenic and mold-resistant. It’s a vegetable-based fiber that’s made from the seed pods of the Kapok tree.
Kapok is one of the most popular eco-friendly fillings on the market. Because it’s essentially cotton, organic cotton can be substituted for conventional cotton in any project.
Organic cotton, however, is grown without the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers. It’s also free of heavy metals and chemicals, as well as being fair trade. Organic CottonĬonventional cotton accounts for 25 percent of the world’s pesticide use and has significant health and environmental impact. Recycled fluff can be used for external parts of projects as well because it’s fluffy and voluminous, and comes in a variety of colors. It’s machine washable at low temperatures, making it ideal for children’s toys like stuffed animals and cloth dolls. This 100% eco-friendly cotton filling is produced from recycled textile waste. Recycled fluff is about as close as you can get to polyfill stuffing without the harmful chemicals. It is a popular choice for Waldorf style dolls. Like polyfill, carded wool holds its shape well. Once carded, the wool can be used for a variety of craft projects, including needle felting, punch needle, quilting, thrumming, and filling dolls or stuffed animals. The sheep’s wool has been carded, or brushed, to organize the fibers. Made from 100% pure sheep’s wool, carded wool stuffing is an excellent alternative to polyfill stuffing. That said, alternatives to polyfill are still the best decision you can make to protect the environment. The one benefit of polyester is that it can be made from recycled plastics or recycled polyester, which limits the impact on oceans and reduces manufacturing byproducts. Polyester also releases VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, and its production excretes formaldehyde and benzene into the atmosphere.
The main chemical in polyester is ethylene glycol, which is absorbed by the body through inhalation and skin contact and has been linked to kidney and central nervous system problems. It’s believed that synthetic fibers, like polyester, are the biggest source of microplastic pollution in the oceans. More than 70 billion barrels of oil are used to make polyester each year, and it takes more than 200 years to decompose. Because polyester is cheap and versatile, it’s become a popular option for a variety of uses, including crafting. Polyfill, or polyester fiberfill, is a petroleum-based, nonrenewable resource that is energy intensive and contains toxic chemicals.
Standard Presser Foot, Overcasting Presser Foot, Blind Stitch Presser Foot, Buttonhole Presser Foot, Manual Buttonhole Presser Foot, Zipper Presser Foot.īuttonhole foot, Manual buttonhole foot, Overcasting foot, Blind stitch foot, Zipper foot, Standard Foot, Walking foot,Patchwork foot,Open toe foot, Quilt foot, Smooth foot and Edge Sewing foot.With so many exciting craft projects for children’s toys, upcycled pillows and stuffed animals, it’s time to break away from the petroleum-based polyfill and find organic alternatives that are eco-friendly and non-toxic.Ĭheck out our picks for alternative stuffings to add to your growing list of organic art supplies.