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For home sewers, businesses, retailers, and anyone who gives a scrap!

No vinyl, that’s final! (my small step)

11/9/2010

10 Comments

 
I have an odd shower.  It is the width of a tub shower but extra tall since you step down into it.  Finding a shower liner has always been a bit of a challenge.  I refuse, I mean REFUSE to buy a vinyl shower curtain.  (True confessions: in my previous life I use to design them.  When the samples would arrive at the office you could smell them for days.  I knew then it was not healthy.  At that point in my life, I didn't realize how unhealthy.) 

I am not a particularly crafty person but when our shower needed a new liner I decided there had to be a non-vinyl solution. . . I considered fabric but was concerned about mold, didn't want any creepy finished fabric, and didn't want polyester.  I decided to create my own Tyvek® shower curtain.  Tyvek® is that material that the USPS priority mail bags are made out of.  They are cradle to cradle silver certified.  They are made partly from recycled plastic milk jugs and water bottles in a closed loop system. 

I sewed two pieces together to make one wide and long enough piece.  I folded one side over and sewed a section at the top.  I thought I would need to add grommets but discovered a simple hole punch did the trick.  There are no seams on any of the other 3 sides so water runs right off and nothing gets trapped.  No fraying.  About 6 weeks into the experiment and it is working really well.  I think I will even be able to throw it in the washing machine if it needs freshening.
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The one small draw back is that it is a bit loud!  No, it isn't as LOUD as the SunChip compostable bags and frankly I will take a bit of noise getting in and out of the shower over breathing toxic, cancer causing fumes. 

Unlike here in the USA where Frito-Lay caved to complaints of their compostable  bag being too loud, the Canada division is standing their ground.  Three CHEERS to our SunChip neighbors to the north.  The company's campaign slogan is: "Our bag is loud, our bag is different, our bag is good for the environment, and our bag will remain on store shelves."
10 Comments
Jen link
11/9/2010 11:31:39 am

Tyvek- that's so genius... I wonder what other waterproof goodness can be made out of that... if only there were more than 24 hours in a day!

Reply
Laura link
11/9/2010 07:50:20 pm

Ha - that is funny about the chip bag! I heard they were getting a lot of complaints about it but didn't realize they decided to keep it here in Canada!

Love that slogan, a little klunky, but if it works, it works!

Reply
jan link
11/9/2010 11:11:37 pm

How ingenious!!! We are on the no-vinyl-shower-curtain rules here as well, with a tub that is open on 2 sides (1 long and 1 short). We opted for a fabric hotel-style liner - boo to the polyester though. Thanks for the idea!!

Reply
Beth
11/9/2010 11:23:19 pm

A word of warning about washing Tyvek: I work in a lab and we use Tyvek lab coats to protect us from bleach and other chemicals. After wearing a few times, they become thin and frayed and don't last as long as other disposable coats, so I would only hand wash them and be very gentle. Once compromised, they rip pretty easily.

Reply
Teresa Van Hatten-Granath link
11/13/2010 12:05:23 pm

Hey, how about I make you a fabric shower curtain to go to over the tyvek on the outside and it won't be so loud and it will be your fabric! :)

Reply
Janette Derrick link
11/14/2010 06:48:37 am

Congratulations to you Harmony and to Tyvek! Have always known Tyvek is a lifesaver for protecting rolls of fabric being shipped all the way out to Australia but what a brilliant application in the shower! Am currently realising this could well be the solution to a few other projects I have on the go at the moment!!!

Reply
Jan Carter link
11/15/2010 12:35:06 pm

What a great idea! I second Teresa's suggestion: sewing a fabric outer curtain so it looks real pretty. I'm offering to do it for you, too.

Reply
Harmony link
11/16/2010 05:30:56 am

Beth - thanks for the tip. I believe the weight of the Tyveks I used is heavier than the fabric used in clothing, but I will report back after I wash it.

Jan and Teresa - YOU are SOOO good to me! The good news is I do have a nice fabric curtain on the outside. I really appreciate your sweet offer but for now, I have a fine and functional solid white one which goes well with the inherited wallpaper in my bathroom. BUT... THANK YOU!!!!!

Reply
Harmony link
2/25/2012 11:45:36 am

2012 UPDATE: Well, the Tyveks shower curtain experiment failed. It kept water in the shower very nicely but in a matter of a few months the "fabric" began to mold. I washed it several times but the mold was there to stay. My next experiment was with organic cotton sateen. Stay tuned...

Reply
Harmony link
2/25/2012 11:47:02 am

Here's the newer post about my ongoing shower curtain saga... http://harmonyartblog.weebly.com/3/post/2011/10/shower-curtain-success.html

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  • Fabrics
  • Ordering Fabric
    • Fabric Calculator
    • USA Ordering >
      • Organic Cotton Plus
      • Honey Be Good
      • Silver Needle & Thread
      • B2B (business to business)
      • Whoelsale Application
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    • EU B2B
  • Who's Using our Fabrics?
    • Featured Designer
    • Accessories
    • Apparel
    • Baby
    • Bedding/Home
    • Children
    • Pets
    • Service Providers
  • Press
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Why Organic?
    • Why Organic?
    • Textile Truths
    • Organic Evolution
    • Organic (r)evolution
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • GOTS Certificate
    • History of Harmony Art
    • Artist Statement
    • Speaking
    • Trees Talk
  • Fabric Glossary
  • FAQ
  • BUZZ