Lupus and Hair Loss

               Since opening My-S-Cap.com in 2010, I have become aware that hair loss just isn’t the result of going through chemotherapy.    Cancer is what usually comes to one’s mind when someone purchases a turban.  The reality is that there are a number of illnesses that result in hair loss.    One of these diseases is Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) SLE , a serious auto-immune disease that can affect any organ in the body.   Although anyone can develop Lupus, it is most common in women of childbearing age up to around 45 with African, Asian and Native American ancestry

      .        At the onset, a woman might not even realize that something is wrong.    Symptoms such as fatigue, joint and muscle pain, painless mouth sores, and slight fever might be attributed to being a mom.   What mom doesn’t feel tired and have aching muscles?     Concern usually doesn’t occur until she notices an unusual amount of hair loss, skin sores, and rashes that often take on a butterfly pattern.   

      The hair loss can be caused by both the Lupus disease and the treatments prescribed.    Sometimes the hair is shed all over the head; other times the hair loss is patchy.  The shedding of hair usually stops once the disease is under control; but the patchy hair loss associated with damaged hair follicles is permanent.

      The Mayo Clinic recommends: using sunscreen, getting plenty of rest, exercising 30 minutes daily, and eating a diet rich in whole grain, fruits, and vegetables.      Sounds like good recommendations for all of us!

      This blog was inspired after reading the review that Cheryl wrote recently:  

 “I love all My-S-Cap items and have been buying from Pat off and on for years. Now that my Lupus is getting to the severe stage, I’ve lost my hair and these snood caps and the different types she makes are perfect. You're awesome Pat and I'm so glad I found you years ago. You own one of my favorite shops and will keep coming back for more!” - Cheryl

        Below is a email Cheryl sent after she read the blog.     I thought it was important enough to share.  Like cancer, Lupus not only plays havoc on the body, it also tries to rip apart one’s self esteem

“The looking good part is something I try to do every day, freshen up, put some make up on and decent clothes but it's all an act during flare up times. During a flare up, I can barely move because my joints are so red and very swollen. My back is in pain all the time because the Lupus has already damaged my kidneys. There's 3 types of Lupus.  I believe I have is SLE which is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and it's the type the damages your organs, mostly you kidneys, your joints, and even as fatal as you brain and heart. My kidneys are already close to failing. During a flare up I sleep 2 days straight. Joe has to wake me up, carry me to the potty, get me back to bed and make sure I drink or I'll get extremely dehydrated.  I've been to the hospital for that. Anyway, let me know if you want pictures of me bald- thank you Lupus, because I can take whatever pictures you need or help yourself to my album on my facebook page.”

Cheryl, along with the many other women I've come to know, are my heroes and keep me humble.

Helpful links: Facebook: Cheryl Remington Kearney      www.lupus.org      www.my-s-cap.com

 

 

 

 

MY-S-Cap Snoods

     In 2012 I created a new turban design for MySCap.     Making it was the easy part.  Giving it an appropriate name was much more of a challenge.   As with naming my two sons, I tried out many different names….. taking months to finally have the perfect name pop up.

      This design needed a name that would convey a bandana look in the front, yet a closed-in look in the back.    I thought of using the term “bustle” like ones seen in French impressionist painting.   The design puffed out in the back and was flat in the front, and so was a “bustle”.  The more I thought about it, the more I didn’t think the image of having a “bustle” on your head would be very appealing.  “Bouffant” was my next choice, which I did use for a while.   The problem was that a “bouffant” reminded me more of a shower cap, but it was the best word I could find at the time.

     Out of desperation, I expressed my dilemma to my dear etsy penpal/fellow artist at SoftShelterHats      She suggested “Snood”.    I had never heard of the term before, so I decided to look it up.   To my shock and delight the image that I pulled up was my design!    I found the correct name at last!

     Historically a snood is a type of headwear that looks like a bandana in the front, yet is closed in the back to contain the hair of a young unmarried Scotland or Northern England peasant girl while she went around doing her daily work.    Snoods were and are made today using cloth and yarn.     It is a very practical design.  Put it on and forget it!

      You will see snoods made out of beautiful macramé designs.  Since every turban/headwear item listed on MySCap is made first with a cancer patient in mind, they are made out of soft usually jersey rayon blend knit.    The ladies that purchase the snoods on MySCap, share the same needs as the young peasant girls, plus they are dealing with other issues such as chemo therapy, alopecia, other hair issues, a full time job, raising a family etc.    They need a design that they can “put on and forget it” and still feel pretty!   The last thing they want to deal with is adjusting their headwear.

     Every snood that is listed on MySCap has to past my “feel good” test.   I literally close my eyes and feel the fabric’s softness and weight.   Each snood weighs less than 2oz or 1/8^th of a pound.   I believe a feather might weigh more.   Once the fabric makes it into my home it must pass the second test, which is the washing machine and dryer.     All of MySCap’s fabric is prewashed, to remove any chemicals, dyes etc., and to eliminate shrinkage.

     With over 500 snoods sold, I feel that it is a design that works!   Presently over 150 different snoods are listed at www.myscap.etsy.com.    I only make a small number of each offering.    I do this because for one thing I would go crazy stitching up the same fabric over and over, plus I love working with different fabrics.

2015 Fall Fashion colors

 

   

 

       After I finished purchasing all the fabric I could possibly fit into my carry-on luggage from the NY Garment District, I decided to scout out what was being shown in the stores and on the streets.    What better place to look than Macy’s, where I could easily spend all day!   It definitely is the largest department store in the States and maybe the world.

        While looking, I struck up a conversation with a buyer.   Not being shy - I asked her what the 2015 Fall Fashion Colors were.    I explained that I was from Kentucky and that I made turbans for ladies dealing with cancer, alopecia etc.    She was so nice!  She whipped out her phone and showed me Macy’s 2015 fall color palate!      Although she couldn’t give the app, what she did show me was enough for me to do some net surfing and find the colors.    

      Every color in the color wheel is present, but they are all muted/darkened or softened.    No bright true colors.  Below is  just a sample of MySCap headwear using these colors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 Seams: https://www.etsy.com/shop/myscap?section_id=11262095&ref=shopsection_leftnav_6

 

Snood: https://www.etsy.com/shop/myscap?section_id=14584562&ref=shopsection_leftnav_4

 

Scarf-Turbans:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/myscap?section_id=11267230&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3

 

At  www.myscap.etsy.com.  you’ll see the complete listing of over 450 headwear items.

2015 Fall NY Fashion Visit

 

 

    While in New York City, I not only visit the “garment district” to find unique fabric for MySCap, but I also try to get a feel of upcoming fashion trends.    This visit was no exception.

       The garment district is located between 7^th & 8^th Avenue starting around 34^th Street and ending at 38^th Street.   It seemed like every 3^rd shop window had “over the top” colorful sequins fabric displayed.  I could imagine the beautiful gowns they would be made into for the holidays.    I feel safe to say that “bling” will still be making a fashion statement for a while.

        Along with the flashy sequins, I also noticed velvets and    velours.     What was interesting about the velvets and velours was that the fabric was stretchy, soft, did not crush, and “washable”!     The “old velvet”- although beautiful - had no stretch, would definitely crush if sat upon, was saved for formal wear or winter weddings, and had to be “dry cleaned”.  This velvet was being worn for everyday wear on the streets of New York.   I saw it in casual long straight skirts, and jackets.   As soon as I felt the new velvet, I knew it would make awesome looking snoods!     I ended up purchasing a Tumbleweed Camel and Plush Rich Vanilla.  

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/237985838/stretchy-velvet-hair-snoodplush-rich?ref=shop_home_active_18

       

 

 

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/251131374/velour-hair-snood-turban-tumbleweed?ref=shop_home_active_13

https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/myscap/tools/listings/section:11262095/251132296 

     Since most of my headwear ends up on a sensitive scalp of a lady dealing with chemo, I always wash every piece of fabric.     I also do it because I hate hand washing or dry cleaning anything!  I was amazed at how beautiful both pieces of fabric looked when I took them out of the dryer!

     Another fashion fabric design that I noticed popping up on the racks was what I would describe as “Aztec”.   I actually fell in love with the fabric first and then started seeing it in the stores.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/250293273/hair-snood-turban-black-bone-aztec?ref=shop_home_feat_1

     Because I buy my fabrics from many different sources and, if left unchecked I would buy the whole store, l limit my New York City  fabric purchases to what will fit in my carry-on luggage.    It is a challenge that I love!    I am usually able to return to Kentucky with about 8-10 treasured fabrics.    I went on this trip purposely to bring back rayon or cotton jersey knits for my snoods and scarf-turbans.   Thankfully that fabric is so lightweight that it took up little room in my carry-on.   

https://www.etsy.com/listing/229409795/butterfly-hair-snood-turban-with-cap?ref=shop_home_active_6

   The jersey knit that I just had to buy was 100% cotton with small butterflies.     About once a month I get a cap request for a small child dealing with cancer.    These requests always tear at my heart.    Being a mother and grandmother I can feel their pain.    I purchased this fabric for those little girls.   The sales lady was so sweet.    When I told her what I was going to use the fabric for, she gave me a special deal.   I think she was a mother and grandmother too.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

Organic Cotton

What Does It Mean???

Is it Better?

 

           Aside from organic cotton feeling awesome against you skin, it is also great for the environment and the farmers producing it!    It takes 1/3 pound of synthetic fertilizer to grow 1 pound of raw cotton in the U.S., and it takes approximately 1 pound of raw cotton to make 1 shirt.   Regular cotton crops cover 2.5% of the world’s cultivated land, yet it uses 16% of the world’s insecticides.    This is more than any other single major crop…..definitely not good for “Mother Earth”.

         Organic cotton is grown in subtropical climates around the world.   For any cotton to be labeled “organic” in the USA, it must meet the standards established by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990.  Organic cotton growers are required to use farming techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control.    Synthetic petrochemical fertilizers, pesticides, human sewage sludge, and plant growth hormones are prohibited.

           Since 1990 the yearly production of organic cotton has continued to increase rapidly, going from 3.2 million pounds in 2004 to over 9 trillion pounds in 2014.  The six largest organic retailers in North America in 2011 were: Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Super Target, Subway, and Whole Foods Markets.    Walmart is the largest grower of organic cotton in the world.

     Although the production of organic cotton has increased, it is unlikely that you’ll find organic fabric at your local fabric store.   I have searched many avenue and back streets to find organic cotton - to no avail.   Finally, on the internet I found the organic interlocking knit that I use for My-S-Cap’s 3-Seam turban caps.   It complies with GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification guidelines, and only uses low impact dyes.     It has a 40% stretch across grain which means it will move when you move, making it ultra-comfortable against any scalp.    For many chemo patients, this is extremely important.

        Lastly, not all “organic cotton” is the same.   The OTA (Organic Trade Association) standards have four levels of organic labeling ranging from 100% organic, with all components including sewing thread be organically certified, to less than 70%.    Whenever possible, look for terms such as: “low impact dyes”, no chemical finishes or fiber-reactive dye, & GOTS.  Finding organic cotton items is a challenge, but well worth the effort!

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 See other 3 Seam Organic Cotton Headwear at  www.myscap.etsy.com in 3Seam section.  The red organic snood on the right is in the Snood Section.                                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NY City's Garment District

       Most people visit NY City for the big stores, awesome museums, the theatre etc.   Although these are wonderful, the real gem for me is the “Garment District” located from 34^th to 40^th street between 6^th and 8^th Avenue.

        My first brief glimpse of the garment district was in the late 80’s.   It has changed!    The days of seeing racks of manufactured garments moving quickly from showrooms and warehouses across the busy streets are gone.   It’s much quieter now, but still has the charm of days past.

      The stores are long, narrow, old, and stuffed full of every type of fabric you can image.   For the serious seamstress…it is a shopping paradise!   Think of the direct opposite of fabric chain stores like JoAnn’s.   It is a treasure hunt.  No signs directing you to neat displays.  No computers to ring up your sales, and mostly likely not even listed prices.  I was lucky enough to be escorted by a native New Yorker who had attended the fashion magnet high school nearby.    

       We began our outing at the FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology fashionmuseum.fitnyc.edu/ ), located at 27 Street, which is one of the few “free” museums in the city.    The exhibits change often.  From there, we walked up grand 7^th Avenue.  During the brisk walk, my friend tried to give me a crash course on how to “bargain” in the garment district.    Her first words of advice were…… never accept the first price you’re quoted.

        The real excitement began when we left the wide busy 7^th Ave and turned on to 34^th street.  It was like walking through a Harry Potter’s “porthole”!    The little stores didn’t have flashing neon lights or beautiful window displays.   In fact, it was just the opposite.    It was almost as if they were hiding on purpose.  Sort of like……  “If you’re not smart enough to find us ………. Too bad”!

         There is so much fabric crammed into these little stores that you honestly can’t tell what color the walls are painted.    I am usually a very take charge person, but in the Garment District, I let my guide do the talking.  She was a pro!

       After visiting the little shops from 34^th to 38^th St, I decided that I found what I was looking for and the price I was willing to pay back on 35^th St. at MODE FABRICS.   When the nice man asked what I wanted, I smiled and said…”all of it, but I can only buy what will fit in my carry-on luggage”.    I ended up purchasing fabric for the snoods and jersey scarf-turbans that you see on MysCap.etsy.com.    I will definitely be back!

    

Just a sample of my New York City Garment District treasures!