We recently connected with Sara Ermisch and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Like most millennials, I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of inspiration via Instagram and Pinterest. A few simple searches of textile waste and upcycling led me to see how much textile waste is generated each year. As someone who has been a knitter since I was twelve, I started to see that all the projects I was making could be misconstrued in this way. The sheer amount of new yarn I was going through was just so much. I found an amazing supplier who sells upcycled kantha blankets that were made in India. These women would take old cotton or silk saris and sew them together using the traditional kantha stitch pattern. I knew I wanted to incorporate these gorgeous and colorful blankets into my next knitting project. For the other side of the blanket, I ended up ripping apart some of my old knitting projects that I didn’t have a use for anymore. It was so fun to find new uses for something I didn’t find purposeful anymore. Thus my textile blanket knitting pattern came alive. I was lucky enough to even have this blanket pictured in Vogue India! I still cherish the original blanket that came from this pattern. Others who are inspired by this, can purchase my pattern to make themselves!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
Like most artists, I got my start selling at local craft fairs and markets, as well as on Etsy. My shop is still going strong on Etsy! My main focus when I started was on baby swaddles and other newborn projects. I shifted my focus to upcycled blankets when I started to see a high demand for them. I’ve had so many customers come back and tell me how my weighted blankets are like magic and how easy it is to fall asleep once you wrap yourself in one. I love being able to use sheets, pillowcases and other fabric that is deemed trash is the ultimate joy when I can turn them into special one-of-a-kind blankets.
My main goal with Leo’s Lovely Treasures is to spread knowledge about textile waste and to turn as many unwanted linens into works of art.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I wish I would have started using recycled materials much sooner! There will always be an over abundance of unwanted linens and textiles that I can breathe new life into.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Two of the books that I adore in terms of textile waste and how it affects the global economy are Unraveled: the Life and Death of a Garment by Maxine Bedat, and Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale by Adam Minter. They really shed a light on minimalism and how the textile and resale industries have affected the planet.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leoslovelytreasures.com
- Instagram: leoslovelytreasures
Image Credits
Lededamelissa and leoslovelytreasures