Sewing Green (STC Craft | Melanie Falick Books) will be released March, 2009.

Here’s a sneak preview and a little bit more about the author.

White is not new to the craft scene.  Her first book, Warm Fuzzies — 30 Sweet Felted Projects was published in 2007.  Betz has a passion for wool felting and walks us step-by-step (patterns included in the back of book) on how to transform second-hand sweaters into some unique craft items.  Projects include a bonbon journal, messenger bag, scarves, a hand-puppet, and some delicious felted cupcake pin cushions.

White’s newest book, Sewing Green — 25 Projects Made With Repurposed & Organic Materials , is all about taking an existing item (think cashmere sweater found in a thrift-shop, or a dress shirt that’s been hanging in the back of a closet forever) and turning it into something ‘new’ and functional.  White will show us twenty-five projects that all start with re-purposed materials.  Cashmere sweaters are deconstructed, then re-constructed to become a warm and cozy blanket.  Men’s dress shirts are transformed into an apron AND a wallet.

An old shirt becomes a new apron.

Raised in a crafty family, it was Betz’s mom who taught her to sew and knit.  It was her grandmother that encouraged Betz to pursue her creative interests and to think about fashion design as a college major.  Betz fell in love with wook, knitting and felting and the rest is history.  Felting (fulling) became her focus.

After graduating from college, White worked as a designer for labels like Carter’s and Lands’ End.  Busy with her career, her felting was pushed into the background.  She was married and had children in her thirties.  With all her ‘mom’ responsibilities, the knitting machine was put into storage  When the kids were a little older, she resumed her knitting and felting activities.  She quickly figured out that she could save a lot of time if she would buy sweaters and run them through her washer and dryer.

In 2005, Betz decided to participate in a Holiday craft show in Minneapolis, MN.  She sold felted pillows, baby blankets, felt-covered journals, and (on a last-minute whim) designed, made and sold her ‘trademark’ item:  the felted cupcake pin cushion.

Betz says:

“My husband is [a] designer and artist and our kids definitely take after us! The kitchen table is used more for art projects than it is for eating. I love seeing them create as it reminds me of my own childhood spent with my family “making stuff” at the kitchen table.”

Betz has been featured in several magazines, and in 2007, appeared as a featured guest on the Martha Stewart Show.

You can read more about Betz and her felted creations on her website.

From the publisher of Sewing Green:

“Along the way, White dispenses tips on everything from how to deconstruct old garments for reuse in new creations to how to wrap gifts with resusable fabric scraps instead of paper.Inspiring profiles about well-known leaders in the eco-stitching movement are sprinkled throughout, and a complete resources section helps crafters make eco-smart choices.”

When you’re ready to start your next ‘green’ craft project, make sure you get Betz White’s newest book, then make a trip to the thrift shop.  Have a great time re-purposing someone’s castoff into what might just become a family heirloom.

Images courtesy of STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books.