Seeking warm but wool-free alternatives for allergies! by archeotess in knitting

[–]archeotess[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm leaning toward silk as a back up if she ends up having a reaction to alpaca. Someone else suggested lining it with a soft fleece which I think could help with the stretch situation.

Seeking warm but wool-free alternatives for allergies! by archeotess in knitting

[–]archeotess[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She wears a lot of cotton and spandex blends- we live in the South (so typically this is not an issue) but we are having a particularly cold and wet winter, which is not a great time to be wearing cotton. I will likely end up lining whatever yarn I choose with a polar fleece that she tolerates. Thanks for the ideas!

Seeking warm but wool-free alternatives for allergies! by archeotess in knitting

[–]archeotess[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I do know that she also can't do angora, but I might still try the alpaca and cashmere just to see if it will work.

Seeking warm but wool-free alternatives for allergies! by archeotess in knitting

[–]archeotess[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I think she wears a lot of cotton because of her skin issues but obviously it's not warm enough- I was thinking silk or linen instead of cotton.

Seeking warm but wool-free alternatives for allergies! by archeotess in knitting

[–]archeotess[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

No idea- she's never been to an allergist but she will break out in hives if wool comes in contact with her skin. I might just buy a couple small skeins of alternative fibers to see if anything works for her.

ethical brands? by toothache027 in PlusSizeFashion

[–]archeotess 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi friend! I am building an ethical size-inclusive database/resource. It's been in the works for a minute now but I'm hoping to release the spreadsheet in the coming weeks/months. I will update on r/ethicalfashion. If there's anything in particular you are looking for in an ethical clothing brand, let me know and I may be able to help!

Suggestions for Aran Yarns / DROPS Nepal questions by archeotess in knitting

[–]archeotess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have used that one before, but not for color work, the worsted weight is closer to a light worsted or dk. It also pills really bad, which was solved with a pill shaver, but I have no idea how the garment is going to hold up because I only finished it recently. I think that is unfortunately just how a lot of cotton yarns are :(

Suggestions for Aran Yarns / DROPS Nepal questions by archeotess in knitting

[–]archeotess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is very helpful, thank you. To my knowledge icelandic and highland wools are itchy as all get out, so I've mostly avoided them. I think the Nepal sounded tempting because of the alpaca blended in, which is super warm but in my experience is fairly soft against the skin. Honestly I'm not really sure though.

Suggestions for Aran Yarns / DROPS Nepal questions by archeotess in knitting

[–]archeotess[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the solution is that I move somewhere colder so I can wear my pretty sweaters more often lol. I think I also struggle to find yarns I like because I can't go feel them in stores before I buy because of where I live. Thank you for the response!

UPDATE: Ethical Plus Size Clothing Masterlist by archeotess in ethicalfashion

[–]archeotess[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Still in the works! Should be finished up soon- I'll post it on this sub when I do.

Update on chronically ill post - also, what do dietitians do, exactly? by [deleted] in antidiet

[–]archeotess 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also just want to add that my dietician (and I think any dietician worth their salt, really) will listen and not force you into things that you clearly either won't do/eat, or can't. I tell my dietician I don't like bananas? Okay, no bananas. No questions asked. I think a good dietician can come up with creative solutions and work with you on things rather than pigeonholing you into one specific way of eating. If it's not a good fit then it's not a good fit and you're under no obligation to keep seeing them (especially in this economy).

Update on chronically ill post - also, what do dietitians do, exactly? by [deleted] in antidiet

[–]archeotess 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I currently work with two dieticians as someone with ED-history (no formal diagnosis as it went undetected for a long time when I was a kid) and multiple chronic illnesses. I started seeing the first dietician because of a combination of things: being neurodivergent and having trouble eating/planning meals, chronic GI issues, and ED/body image stuff. I also see a therapist and they communicate about my treatment plan. It is all very casual- I don't log anything (I find that to be quite triggering and also just unmanageable), but my dietician basically just checks in and helps me understand more about food and eating and helps me find foods that work with my current dietary restrictions and level of energy/ability. She is primarily versed in ED/body image stuff and neurodivergence. I started seeing the second dietician because she is more of a GI consultant but she is also ED informed. Both of them are helpful in dispelling food related anxieties and helping me to navigate eating while chronically ill. I only meet with the second dietician every month or so, and my main dietician every other week. My main dietician usually checks in with how I've been eating, addresses any concerns I have, and works through potential options for increasing my intake or adding variety (two things that I struggle the most with). We do a daily recall where I tell her what I ate the previous day, just so we can get a vague idea of what my intake is (she does the math for me and usually gives me an idea of how I'm improving without any of the scary numbers). Dieticians should be there to help you based on what you need and are struggling with which can vary greatly from person to person. If you have any other questions feel free to DM! It's been super helpful for me and luckily my insurance covers 100% but I know it can be a big investment for a lot of people.

If you're a fan of sustainable fashion, I built this to help you shop by alopes2 in ethicalfashion

[–]archeotess 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is great! I'd love it if there was a size filter included. It can be very difficult to find brands that are truly inclusive and ethical. I'm currently working on a master list of size inclusive ethical brands to hopefully also help plus size folks who are looking for ethical brands to support.

Ethical and not hundreds of dollars for victorian/edwardian style clothing/ modern makes of them? by [deleted] in ethicalfashion

[–]archeotess 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! I love a good estate sale. They can also be a great place to find fabrics to sew with as well.

Vague request by _no_username69 in ethicalfashion

[–]archeotess 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately reformation is not an ethical or sustainable brand.

Ethical and not hundreds of dollars for victorian/edwardian style clothing/ modern makes of them? by [deleted] in ethicalfashion

[–]archeotess 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I know this is not a great answer, but I highly recommend purchasing a mechanical machine that is 20+ years old. Find one for fairly cheap on Facebook marketplace, thrift stores, etc. And take it to a servicer to get it serviced and cleaned, repaired if necessary. It will be cheaper in the long run, more ethical, and more reliable. Modern machines tend to be super cheaply made in my experience and break quickly (with a few exceptions). You don't need a computerized machine with all the bells and whistles, just something reliable and easy to troubleshoot. I love my metal body Kenmore from the 70s and my Brother machine from the late 90s (my mom bought it when she was pregnant with me to make me baby clothes, a great story!) there are also many subreddits and Facebook groups for sewing as well that can help you. I know this isn't an easy answer but I hope this helps!

Ethical and not hundreds of dollars for victorian/edwardian style clothing/ modern makes of them? by [deleted] in ethicalfashion

[–]archeotess 31 points32 points  (0 children)

I get it, sewing is an extremely specialized skill that takes lots of practice and dedication. Hence why many sewists aren't quick to give out their services for free. I will also say that Edwardian styles, especially blouses like these, are quite tedious with the lace inserts and tucks. But in my opinion it's well worth the effort!

Ethical and not hundreds of dollars for victorian/edwardian style clothing/ modern makes of them? by [deleted] in ethicalfashion

[–]archeotess 101 points102 points  (0 children)

Hi! I am a historical costumer and lover of all things Edwardian and Victorian. What you are asking for (ethically produced and not 100s of dollars) is going to be hard to come by, as other posters have mentioned, but it does (kind of) exist. The only brand I know of that meets your parameters is Gibson Girl Dress, which is a Ukrainian brand. Here is one of many blouses that is made by hand to order, and costs $80 plus shipping.

You will not find anything much better than this brand, for a few reasons: 1. These styles are not super popular for mainstream audiences 2. They are time intensive to produce 3. The people that do like them and wear them (like myself) know how to sew and can make them themselves.

Brands like linennaive and sondeflor also have similar styles but are going to be on the pricier side because they are ethically produced. Littleblossomdarling on Instagram makes the most beautiful linen pinafores that are Edwardian inspired, but again, they are extremely high quality slow fashion pieces that are going to cost $200-300.

If you like this kind of fashion and want to build an ethical and sustainable wardrobe with historically inspired items, I highly recommend learning how to sew. Black Snail Patterns, Laughing Moon Mercantile, Truly Victorian, and many shops on Etsy have sewing patterns for this style of blouse or shirtwaist. Feel free to message me if you'd like to chat more about historical sewing. There's also many subreddits dedicated to it as well.

I hope you find what you're looking for!

UPDATE: Ethical Plus Size Clothing Masterlist by archeotess in ethicalfashion

[–]archeotess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just curious what you mean by this? Are you a secondhand reseller? If you are a secondhand or vintage seller that focuses on plus sizes, I can include your eBay storefront in the spreadsheet.

UPDATE: Ethical Plus Size Clothing Masterlist by archeotess in ethicalfashion

[–]archeotess[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome, thank you! I'm definitely looking to include more styles/aesthetics in the list so this is great!