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Stash enhancement

OK, so I have always said I didn't want a stash, other than leftovers and things I am getting ready to make up. However, what with the local "fabric stores" carrying less and less fabric, and it being of very poor quality, and the one "gourmet fabric" shop being so darned expensive, I just have to move with the times.

Recently, Fashion Fabrics Club had a half-price sale on a lot of items, and as they are a discount house anyhow, the bargains were fantastic.

I ordered (and received): charcoal shantung, 60% wool, 40% silk, 65" wide, $4 a yard. I wanted four yards, but my ordering finger slipped and it came out a five. As they always cut generously, it came out to 5.3 yards. A suit, maybe? The rest of the fabric all has at least some stretch, as I am trying to make pants which will "recover" after wearing for a while, rather than stretching out the way jeans do, so:

grey gabardine, 97% wool 3% Lycra, 62" wide, $5 a yard - expensive stuff that one! Again, accidentally odered five yards, not four, got 5.3

fuchsia pink twill, 97% cotton, 3% Lycra, 54" wide, $2.35 a yard, 4 yards (actually 4.25)

dark brown twill, 98% cotton, 2% Lycra, 55" wide, $2.60 a yard again, 4.25 yards

dark khaki twill (they called it sage green, but it looks more a

greenish khaki to me) 97% cotton, 3% Lycra, 48" wide, $2.60 a yard, 4.3 yards

light beige twill, 95% cotton, 5% Lycra, 60" wide, $2.60 a yard, 4.5 yards

PLUS, I bought 2 yards of dark blue Slinky, 93% acetate, 7% Lycra, 62" wide, $2.85 a yard, just to play with as I have not yet tried Slinky.

The total bill, including postage - the package weighed 18 pounds - came to just over $100.

I figured that just to edge stitch it before I wash it, that was close to 20 yards of stitching, so I again threaded up the machine with old thread, and the first two lengths are in the dryer right now, having been washed while I ate my lunch. Better go and edge the rest of them, then while they are in the washer perhaps I can tidy up the studio a little.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

Reply to
Olwyn Mary
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Whee! We've corrup... CONVERTED another one! ;P

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

Sounds like you got some nice pieces of cloth to keep you busy for awhile! Barbara in FL

Reply to
Bobbie Sews Moore

Excellent haul.

Reply to
Pogonip

Dear Olwyn Mary,

I went to that sale, too. I got brown and navy wool flannel, and some prints for tops. The only pieces I was unhappy with were a grey that was supposed to be wool and silk; turned out to be more poly than wool and no silk. And another piece that was supposed to be flannel and turned out to be gabardine. I also ordered several yards of "china silk" for linings that turned out to be poly. When my students shopped there I don't remember having problems such as this. Maybe they just have people on the staff that don't know fabric and mis- identify it. Anyway, on the whole, I like their fabrics and order often. I'm almost always satisfied.

Teri

Reply to
gjones2938

Hallo Olwyn Mary This looks facinating ,,, I really won`t buy any cloth this year, but i am working my way through my `stash` ,, to finnish new things ,, or more likely repair change stuff . mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

AAUI, they go by what the bolt says for fabric content. With all the fabrics that come in, there's no way they can test them all. Most of the china silk is identified as polyester. There is some that is silk, but it's priced accordingly.

I think they buy in job lots from sample makers, and go by what the bolt/tag on the fabric says; and if that's been lost, or the fabric misidentified....

It's entirely possible that the person typing the data into the database for the website hasn't even seen the fabric, so all it takes is one person mis-identifying a fabric, and it goes up that way.

jenn

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net

Reply to
Jenn Ridley

Dear Teri: I'm so glad you posted this. The grey wool gabardine didn't really feel like wool to me, so I went back and gave it a burn test. Entirely synthetic. No natural fiber at all. I cannot wear such fabrics here in the "Sticky South", so I called the company and they said to send it back. I plan to get it sent off this morning, and will let you know what transpires.

OTOH the shantung, 60% wool 40% silk, is a dream. A burn test showed it to be all natural fibre, although I have no way of testing the percentages. I washed it (gently) and dried it in a cool dryer, and it came out beautiful. Moreover, it must be the fabric blend, but it did not wrinkle at all. When I do make it up, I think I will cut it on the corss as I don't need horizontal lines on my bod, but I will have to research what kind of pattern and lining will be best. Silk organza to underline it will probably cost more than the fashion fabric!! Oh well.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

Maybe just a little more, depending on what width you get:

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love thaisilks.com. NAYY,

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind for whenever I get around to making it up.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

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