Fast Crafting, The ‘Fast Fashion’ of the Crafting World
When it comes to things being handcrafted (Knitted, crocheted, sewn, beaded, etc), we tend to think that they are always more eco-friendly than their factory-made cousins. But, in fact, they can be just as bad at best, and at worst even more wasteful. So let’s look at a few of the things that are common when crafting that can be harmful to the environment, or lessens the quality of products
This product is the bane of my existence. It does not work well for crafts, and in reality, it is not even good as a glue. I often see tutorials on YouTube for making pretty much everything with hot glue.
Hot glue is awful to use for any crafting, due to the fact that it often makes something look worse, and does not last very long after a product is crafted. This is especially true if you are making something that is meant to hold some kind of stress, such as a tote bag.
Crafts made with this is often made for one-time use before they are tossed out, which is the biggest issue with them. Glues like e6000 glue lasts much longer. That being said, glue should never be used as an alternative for real crafting work, such as sewing.
Nylon, Elastic, Polyester. All plastics.
These materials are often unbreathable, fairly thin, and cheaply made, so they do not last for very long. They are also not the most comfortable fabrics to wear.
And once you are done with them, they go straight in the landfill, making textile waste an even bigger issue. These fabrics will never biodegrade. So what is there to do?
Well, buy fabrics in natural materials, such as 100% cotton, hemp, wool, cashmere, linen, etc. These might cost a little bit more, but at the very least your end product will be biodegradable.
The same said about plastic fabrics can be used for acrylic yarns. These yarns are cheap to buy, but they often make the end product feel cheap as well. Over time, it starts to stiffen and become more uncomfortable.
And again, it is not biodegradable. Maybe instead opt for a natural yarn choice, such as linen, hemp, wool, etc.
There is definitely more, but I will write about them in a later post.
My Etsy shop for upcycled bags, jewelry, and crafting supplies.
My poshmark for reclaimed clothing.
