I haven't posted in awhile but I really feel the need to speak my mind on this subject. I recently saw a mention of "vegan yarns" while browsing through some sharings on LinkedIn. I thought at once to ask the person about it but decided instead to Google it. As I supposed it is a non animal fiber. Now I'm not saying that I have something against Vegans, but depending on why you are vegan I kind of do.
I'm all for the fair and proper treatment of everyone and everything. I don't think you should willfully abuse anyone or anything. That aside sometimes we do harm and don't mean it, but I'm disregarding that for now. If you choose to be vegetarian or vegan, so be it I have no issue with that afterall it's your personal choice. But if you're choosing it because you don't want to hurt that cute cuddly animal I can't say I think too highly of that. First off (and this is likely a popular argument) if it came down to survival and you were evenly matched with an animal, were they starving they certain would eat you. I'm not saying to eat Fluffy or Fido, but realize that it's natural to eat meat if you're a carnivore or omnivore. And for point of fact if you look at your teeth you will see that you were biologically designed to eat that way. If you don't want to eat it because you just don't want to fine whatever, as I feel that's another matter. Also if you are choosing this path to get away from the chemicals and all that or because you disagree with the treatment of the animals okay, but that's still a little shaky. There are farmers and such that do not mistreat their animals and allow them as much freedom as a kept animal will get, like free rangers. There are also plenty of farmers who do not "zoop up" their meatstock. So really if that is your only argument I suggest you look a little harder because it does exist. Finally, if it's for health reasons that I won't fault. There are a number of people who have specific dietary needs that suggest certain kinds of diet for their optimal health.
Now don't get me wrong, I eat meat as much as not. In fact for myself I rarely buy it. I'm not against eating meat, I just do so infrequently. I have kept hens before just to have eggs, and as a gardener I love horse manure. I believe if you keep such animals you should do so fairly and humanely. Keep them as you would like to be treated. Obviously when it comes to butchering, there are only so many "nice" (if you can call it that) ways to do that, but it is what it is.
My big problem with the whole vegan issue is that you are still harming something. The fact that your banana doesn't have a face doesn't mean it wants to be eaten anymore than Bessie does. As a gardener I have a much greater affinity for plants than animals or people. And yes I love to eat fruit and vegetables, but just like animals were I to die they would take nutrients from the soil I was decomposing in. To me the bottom line is that we're all connected, so there really is no way to truly never harm anything or anyone else. In order for you to receive sometimes someone or something else doesn't get to. Sometimes it's a drastic circumstance, other times not so much. To try and thwart this natural order to me is wrong. After all, you're not butchering the animals to use it's hair, you're not even hurting it. So as long as you don't opt to shear them in a cruel fashion or when it's cold out (without adequately arranging for them to be warm otherwise) what does it really matter?
...sew many things, sew little thyme for ewe and eye...
Recently I received some donations of yarn and some other crafting supplies from a fellow artist. She had been coming through my area for a funeral and received some leftover supplies from a relative who no longer had use for them. The bulk of her donation was a lot of yarn - most of it not too much but ranging from half a skein to full skeins. I made a collage (as she requested pictures of all the yarn) and posted it on my store's Facebook profile. But as I went through the mass of yarn I came across a curious set of objects that I at first couldn't identify. They were various squares and circles with a post sticking out from the middle on one side and a small top that turned. When turned small metal pins spiraled out from the circle or square. Not one to throw anything away I set the first aside and discovered more as I went along. By the time I had finished sorting and winding yarn I had accumulated 3 square ones and 2 circle ones, as well as instructions (thankfully).
While I haven't tried it out yet it's on my to do list of projects. There were a number of projects included with the instructions and I'm sure with a bit of practice I can get the hang of this odd object!
...sew many things, sew little thyme for ewe and eye...
