Wool for stuffing a doll - how can I be sure it is ethically produced?

[TooTickyDoves]

Really struggling with this one!

it is quite difficult to unethically shear a sheep

what do you mean exactly?

sheep aren't given to batteryfarming or anything - you can generally buy in confidence

Some sheep are better looked after than others. Some are sheared too early in the year and die from exposure. In Australia they do mulesing which is revolting.

Does it need to be wool? Can you recyle a pillow by re-using the stuffing?

How about purchasing some old wool jumpers in a charity shop and using those?

There's a company here that makes bears out of old Fair Isle jumpers.

anyone who shears a sheep so early in the year that it dies of exposure is an idiot. talking about killing the golden goose. I don't believe that happens!

I think there are better things to worry about, in fact I think almost anything else is more worth worrying about, frankly.

Tell me more about the Fair Isle bears Expat!!!
PPH, it does happen and I care about animals.

They're sold in a local shop here for £££, Ticky.

But they are made from old fair isle jumpers. They're called Barra Bears, after the island of Barra.

I couldn't find an exact one online, but here's how they look in general and what a GREAT way to re-use old jumpers! They're stuffed w/old jumper, too.

acoolproject

Charity shops are full of old jumpers this time of year, too. Was just indulging in our fav Saturday activity of charity shopping today and there was LOTS of jumpers for sale.

[and we scored a hardback copy of Return of the Naked Chef for a fiver ]

I like the old pillow idea, too - nicked it from our copy of Too Precious to Waste.

Cool, expat! (And we are charity shop addicts too)
FF, I know it sounds crazy, but it does happen

I'm proud to say 90% of our furniture is out of a charity shop.

There's one, a St. Columba's Hospice shop, that's a treasure trove for knitters, sewers and crafters.

Ah, but presumably that's in Scotland? A little far to go I think. I have a friend who moved to Edinburgh but we've not visited because the train fares are prohibitive!

Yes, the shop that sells them is in Edinburgh, and they sell them for a bomb! Seriously. Make your own!

Apex tickets? Those can be pretty inexpensive.

How about a coach? I've found coaches cheaper than trains and you always get a seat b/c they're not allowed to have people standing - not the city bus, but a coach company.

A coach with 4 children aged between 10 and 16 months?

I hate trains here, though. Have had to stand up w/a child WAY too often to use them anymore.

And the Scottish ones suck eggs.

Everytime I get on them I can't help comparing them to Continental Europe, which is just wrong I know.

I remember standing all the way from Lancs to Bristol with dd1 and ds1 coming back from my dad's funeral. Miserable it was.

I've stood more times than not on trains here.

It came as a shock after living in France, which has such a good train service. I mean, there were actually enough carriages on most of the time to accommodate people.

I once went as far as Moscow by train - it was fab (although for some reason the loos were very odd-smelling).
Here, can't get a seat for love nor money. Even when heavily pg.

ticky-is this for the doll? did you get my email? did you look at the myriad stuff? like I said (I think...christ, did I?) I may well have to buy more and if I do, I can post you some? would that help? Its organic wool...

I dunno what else to suggest really. cotton wool? (am not joking, i think it would be fine but sprayed with crap unless organic). texere sells cotton "tops" I think.

Yes it is Filly and yes I did get your email (started this thread before I'd asked you). Oh, hang on, I'll email you...