Shannon sent photos of fabric that she wanted to date and/or identify.
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Introduction to Terial Arts http://www.terialarts.com This video looks at what Terial Arts is all about and how Terial Magic solution can turn your fabric into a workable piece to creat… Have you ever wished you had a fabric that wouldn’t fray, could be ironed into shapes…..all without the use of a sewing machine?!? Well look what Terry is doing with her Terial Magic spray. Described as a Dimensional Fabric Art, the Terial Magic Spray works on most fabrics. You can use the patterns from Terial Arts to create your own unique flower or design your own pattern. You want new patterns? We got em! | Terial Arts http://www.terialarts.comFri, 26 Jul 2013 03:40:04 GMT Terial Arts just launched three new patterns for you all! The NO SEW (yep, no sewing machine needed!) Hibiscus flower, great for adding a little tropical flavor to your wardrobe. Hibiscus Fabric Flower made with Terial Magic … Please let us know if you have tried this new product! Judith Judith@fabrics.net Judith has been studying and writing about fabrics for over 50 years. Passionate about textiles, she explains that researching is like collecting clues to build the full picture of each subject. Judith always looks for the sunny side of life. We do not accept reimbursement of any kind for our reviews.
Stop, don’t throw that stained shirt away! Try soaking the shirt in Biz first. Have you ever washed a shirt and put it in the dryer before checking to see if the stains had washed out? Stains that aren’t removed in the wash are further set in the dryer. Don’t throw the shirt away, try soaking in Biz detergent. Biz is an enzyme detergent that breaks down the protein stains like blood and grass as well as starch based stains most commonly found in food. More about enzymes at The American Cleaning Institute. Do you have trouble removing odors from your laundry? Biz removes the substances causing the odors and thus removes the odors. I have had people in performance sports write me asking how to remove body odors in their performance clothing. I always suggest Biz and they write back that it works! Many fabrics cannot be bleached with either chlorine or oxygen bleaches. I have Polartec blankets for my dogs (See “A Feel Good Manufacturer”) My dogs are wonderful but they can be stinky and their blankets smell just like they do. Polartec fleece cannot be bleached by chlorine or oxygen bleach but Biz removes the odor. Last year my dogs played with a skunk then wiped their faces on their blankets. Yes, Biz removed the skunk odor from the blankets, thankfully! Oxyclean can do many things but can also remove color. Chlorine bleach can be harsh on fabrics as seen by the chlorine bleach experiment in the article “Mystery Fabric Identification Part II”. I have a friend who colors her red hair at home but the last time she did, she spilled some permanent hair color on her bra and blouse. She used a towel to clean the mess and decided that instead of throwing the bra, shirt and towel away, she would try Biz and it removed permanent hair color! Now that Biz comes in liquid I am going to put some in a spray bottle for pretreating stains before washing. I haven’t found any warnings about any fabrics or fibers not recommended to use with Biz but one section of the Biz Stain Fighter web site recommends always doing a color test before using Biz. I rarely wash my wool garments and for my silk garments I use the same shampoo that I use to clean the silk garments. For more ideas on ways to use Biz to make cleaning easier, go to Biz Stainfighter. Don’t miss the stories of how people are using Biz…
Image via Flickr In November 2012 I wrote an article on “Help Is Here For Shocking Static Electricity” explaining about how the 100% wool dryer balls eliminated static electricity. Now almost 6 months later I am happy to report that they still work. During the really cold months when the houses in the Northwest are heated and have very low humidity, I put two small safety pins in one of the balls as an added insurance. In addition to eliminating the static electricity problem, the clothes and linens come out of the dryer with fewer wrinkles. I am very impressed! The Internet Store where I purchased mine is The Stoney Mountain Farm. I see that they now have kits for Do-It-Yourself Wool Dryer Balls for a lower price. Stoney Mountain also carries wool yarn, roving and wool batting for quilts. Enjoy! Judith Judith@fabrics.net Judith has been studying and writing about fabrics for over 50 years. Passionate about textiles, she explains that researching is like collecting clues to build the full picture of each subject. Judith always looks for the sunny side of life. We do not accept reimbursement of any kind for our reviews.
Some time ago I picked up a millinery book on making old fashioned silk flowers. There were some nifty little ideas that I have put to use in other forms. One of these ideas is to use wired ribbon to make ruching for trims and inserts. While this technique didn’t work for the current project it is a good idea and very easy to do. Just take wired ribbon and poke the wires out of the end of the ribbon so that you can get a hold of them and then evenly gather the ribbon by pulling. Depending on how tight you want your ruching a good rule of thumb for figuring out how much ribbon you need for your project is to measure the length of whatever it is you want to attach the ruching to and then times it by three or five. Multiplying by three will give you a loosely gathered ruching and by five a tightly gathered ruche.
Many people may not think much about tablecloths until they need them. Events such as weddings, parties and family dinners are the perfect opportunity to dress up the table of the home. Tablecloths add spice and variety not just to the table, but to the atmosphere and the occasion it’s being used for. Although tablecloths are mainly used to protect tables from wear and tear, they are also used to provide style and variety to not only the table but the room as well. Tablecloths are manufactured from different kinds of materials, including cotton, vinyl, linen and silk. The type of material used will mostly be determined by the occasion the tablecloth will be used for. Some tablecloths work best for certain events and in certain locations. However, each type of tablecloth has its advantages and disadvantages. Cotton This is one of the most popular types of material for tablecloths. For those who use tablecloths often to protect the table for everyday wear and tear, cotton is ideal. Plus, it’s the most often used. Cotton is used for mostly informal occasions. The material is easily manufactured, which keeps the cost of the tablecloth relatively inexpensive. Most cotton tablecloths can be washed or soaked in warm water to clean them. As far as durability, cotton tablecloths last longer. Cotton tablecloths can come in different colors, patterns and sizes for almost every occasion, room design and décor. The cotton tablecloths can also be used outdoors for outdoor eating. The biggest disadvantage is that cotton will shrink. Cotton tablecloths work best in the kitchen area, dining room or outdoors. Polyester Polyester is similar to cotton and has many of the same advantages. One difference is that polyester has more shine and silkiness to it. It can be used more for formal occasions and doesn’t cost much more than cotton. The biggest disadvantage is the chemicals used to make polyester. Some people are allergic to polyester, so this could be a huge problem. Polyester tablecloths look best in the kitchen, breakfast area or outdoors. Vinyl Vinyl works best for outdoor eating, such as picnics and other outdoor events. It also works great against rain damage, and it’s easy to clean when stained. The biggest advantage is that vinyl has great resistance against weather, stains, and sun. The biggest disadvantage is that vinyl does not work well for formal occasions. It’s pretty cheap material and it will look cheap at formal events. Vinyl tablecloths work best outdoors. Silk Silk is definitely better for…
There is a new fabric on the market and no, I don’t know where to get it in it’s raw form, I am still looking, bare with me. What I do know is it’s benefits and who is selling it in the form of clothing. Produced by a Taiwanese company (Singtex/S.Cafe) the formula for it’s production is patented and a big fat secret. The fabric is essentially antimicrobial much like bamboo and can be washed without detergents, but also has an odor eliminating ability because it is made from recycled coffee grounds. That’s right! RECYCLED COFFEE GROUNDS. Some of it’s other abilities are natural UV protectant and fast drying as well as wick away properties. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this fabric and I am itching to get my hands on some to play with. The company claims that from just one cup of coffee two Eco-friendly t-shirts can be made. Do you have any idea how many t-shirts that means I could make? Currently the tried and true Brassier brand Wacoal from Japan is using the S.Cafe fabrics to make a fantastic bra and undergarments that by their sheer construction are form fitting and controlling in those areas some of us gals would prefer had a little more control naturally. They are also naturally cooling for those of us that have the occasional “personal summer”. Other companies using the material are Mountain Khakis in a polo shirt for men, North Face, Puma and Timberland are also using this new fabric and a company I just found called Virus Action Sportswear. ~ Kirsten Longly
