Here’s my latest sewing project for solo backpacking: graphene sun hoodies!
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Sewing
I’m an amateur sewist living in St. Paul, Minnesota, and I enjoy sewing practical items, such as everyday wear and clothing for solo backpacking.
I originally started sewing my own clothing because I have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), and I can’t tolerate wearing certain fabrics on my skin. I’ve found that natural fabrics, like Merino wool, work well for me, and one of my favorite fabric stores is Discovery Fabrics, which specializes in speciality and technical fabrics.
My color palette is jewel tones in blue, purple, and especially fuchsia. It’s been fun sewing my own clothing using the fabrics I can tolerate in colors I love!
Sewing graphene sun hoodies
I found a new stretchy fabric at Discovery Fabrics called graphene, which is touted to offer an SPF of 50, as well as antimicrobial properties. I sewed up three different sun hoodies, and this fabric has blown me away because it also seems impervious to mosquitoes and biting flies.
I used the Learn MYOG Alpha Raglan Hoodie pattern (I’m not affiliated with Learn MYOG) with the overlapping hood for the first one, with fold-over elastic for the cuffs. For the second one, I used FOE on the cuffs and hood to save more weight. And for the third one, I added a drawstring to the hood, and I made a version with long cuffs with thumb holes to cover my hands. After my recent solo backpacking section, trying it out, I love the hand covers, but decided to actually make graphene mittens and attach them to the cuffs with the option to push them inside the sleeves if I don’t want the mittens. I also sewed a bug head net to the hoodie, with the option to cover my face, or stuff it into the hood when I don’t need to.
I used graphene fabric at Discovery Fabrics in the “silver” color, which appears to have gone out of stock. It is between white and very light gray. I like it because it reflects light, and is cooler than a darker color. I also love the stretch and fit. It’s very easy to cut and sew, and it’s almost as though the edges of the fabric want to stay together when you sew seams, rather than slip. The only downside I’ve found with this fabric is that, though it’s anti-microbial, it is not anti-odor, and after a few days on trail, it truly stinks. But I’m willing to put up with that for the sun and bug protection because I can’t wear chemical sunscreens or bug sprays with my chronic illness, MCAS.
My next project is sewing graphene cuffs onto my rain pants to bug-proof my ankles. I’m also ordering more graphene to make leggings.
Here are some more photos:
Version one: Overlap hoodie with FOE on cuffs.
Version two: Overlap hoodie with FOE on cuffs and hood
Version three: Overlap hoodie with bug head netting, and attached graphene mittens using the Tova mitten pattern (I’m not affiliated with The Last Stich).
The bucket theory
The bucket theory simplifies understanding symptom reactions with MCAS. Imagine your body as an empty bucket you don’t want to overflow. Reactions to various stimuli fill the histamine bucket at different rates, forming the total histamine level (how full your bucket is). More histamine means more symptoms. By managing triggers, reducing exposures, and taking medications and supplements, you can control your bucket’s level.
Know your typical symptom progression
Understanding your symptom progression during a flare is key to developing your rescue plan. This post discusses how to recognize symptom progression so you can be prepared to address them.
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Check out these circadian health tools!
I’m an affiliate with Bon Charge, a company that makes tools for circadian health, and you can receive 15% off your order with my coupon code BETSYL.
Bon Charge offers tools such as yellow– and red-tone blue-blocking glasses, red light therapy devices, PEMF mats, infrared saunas, and EMF-blocking products.
Sign up for the SSP!
I’ve found the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to be the most helpful bottom-up healing strategy if your nervous system has been overloaded with toxic exposures, including mold or non-native EMFs, chronic infections, concussions, stress, or trauma. The SSP is a passive listening therapy that helps heal nervous system dysregulation. Many people with MCAS and other chronic conditions have nervous system dysregulation stemming from infections, toxic exposures, concussions, and trauma. The SSP is an easy-to-use app that lets you listen to specially filtered music for 30 minutes each day as part of a 5-hour cycle. Studies show the SSP has a profound effect on mental health and chronic conditions. Here’s a short podcast describing the Safe and Sound Protocol.
You can sign up for the SSP here!
Heal your mind!
While the SSP is a bottom-up, somatic therapy for healing the nervous system, the Sacred Self-Healing Method I offer is a top-down nervous system-healing modality that focuses on cognition, attention, perception, and emotion, using the mind’s higher functions. The SSP and the Sacred Self-Healing Method complement each other and together produce lasting results. Here’s a short podcast on my self-healing practice.
I provide one-on-one in-person and remote chronic illness and caregiver coaching, as well as Sacred Self-Healing Sessions based on the Sacred Self-Healing Method, a proven, novel co-creative healing modality detailed in my Books.
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Here’s a short podcast highlighting my five books.
My latest book, Living In The Light: Healing with Forgiveness, Sound, and Light, is all about the tools that have been most helpful for me to heal: forgiveness, sound, through nervous system retraining using the Safe and Sound Protocol, and light, through entraining my circadian rhythm with the energy of the sun. Living In The Light is available here!
Rocks and Roots chronicles my solo backpacking journey on the Superior Hiking Trail and my efforts to overcome nervous system dysregulation, gut dysbiosis, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome symptoms to complete the 328-mile hike successfully.
The Sacred Self-Healing Method ebook is available here and in most ebook retailers!
The Sacred Self-Healing Workbook is available for purchase here!
Betsy’s first book, Sacred Self-Healing: Finding Peace Through Forgiveness, is available here
Companion Recordings
The companion audio recordings of chants, guided meditations, and sound healing demonstrations that accompany the Sacred Self-Healing Method are available for free on my YouTube channel here
What do you think?
I’d love to have your reply below!
Disclaimer
The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure, or treatment.
