Reviews & Guides
Misty Fuse - Great new Fusible Webbing for Art Quilts!
Show Guide... MISTY FUSE - WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO I USE IT?
Misty Fuse is a fairly new product developed by Esterita Austin, an art-quilt artist. This ultra thin fusible webbing is perfect for layering fabrics without adding bulk. Misty Fuse is an environmentally friendly fusible that is solvent-free and recyclable. This new fusible works well with a variety of fabrics from velvets and cottons to delicate tulles and organzas. If you use multi-textured fabrics in your art quilts, this product should work well for you.
Misty Fuse is available in white or black, by the yard. It has no extra adhesive to gum up your needles or scissors (I know that has been a problem for me with other products!). The fusible is made of 100% thermoplastic adhesive polymer resin and can be used with all types of fabric.
This product is easy to use. Simply layer your freezer paper template, fabric and fuse. Place the layers between sheets of parchment or Teflon. With a medium hot iron, lightly fuse the 3 layers together. Use just enough heat and time to allow layers to fuse. Allow to cool. Remove from parchment, trim following your template edge and peel template off. You will then pin or place the trimmed piece into position on your quilt-top. Cover it with parchment or Teflon to protect your iron from any excess fuse. Use a hot iron and firm pressure to permanently fuse the piece down. Excess fusible is removeable from your iron using your favorite method.
If you are interested in trying this product for yourself, you'll find it in my ebay store, as well as many art quilt patterns to try it out with!
Show Guide... As I am sure you know, there are zillions of kinds of fashion fabrics out there. In this guide, I am just going to focus on fashion knits, which is where I concentrate my research and buying for our store, Lucysfabrics.
First of all, when buying knit fabrics be sure that you are buying fabric appropriate for the application. If you are sewing activewear such as a swimsuit, dance costume, or leotard, be sure that the fabric is intended for activewear. It should be sturdy, and have good stretch and recovery. It should have spandex in it (Lycra is a brand name for the elastic fiber, spandex). With the exception of sweats or hoodies, activewear fabric should dry out quickly when wet. Some activewear fabrics can also be used for fashion if the pattern calls for a stretchy knit, but knits intended for fashion only do not work for activewear -- even if they do have spandex in them. Of course, if you are making an accessory such as a swimsuit coverup or flowing skirt for a dance costume, you have a lot more leeway -- just be sure it can be laundered as you would like.
Here are some knits that are essential for fashion sewing. These are my own definitions, (except where otherwise noted) so I am not sure how scholarly this is, but this is how I find it easy to differentiate them. Customers often ask about -
Fleece - Fleece, the #1 best selling fabric in the US, is most commonly seen in fabric stores as printed or solid, 100% polyester, brushed on front and back, and usually used for blankets or outerwear. This differs from fleece used for sweats, which is brushed on the back only, usually made of cotton-poly, and has some give. Only "stretch fleece," with spandex, is stretchy.
Matte Jer...
Testing Fabrics for Fiber Content
Show Guide... Testing Fabrics for Fiber Content
Today, with modern technologies and the blending of many different fibers, a microscope and chemicals would be needed to really test for fiber content. However, the burn test is easy enough to do at home and fairly reliable.
Burn tests cannot identify blends. Therefore, this chart is limited to single fiber burn test. To test for acetate the acetone test would be more appropriate. Burn tests are dramatic in the sense that fire is involved and the test destroys the fiber you are testing.
Performing the test. Cut a small piece of fabric or ravel a few yarns from a place that will not affect the original piece. Hold the cut piece or yarns with tweezers, tongs, pliers, (anything but your fingers) over a sink. Ignite samples with a match or lighter.
Fibers and Their Reactions to Flame
Cellulosic Fibers (Cotton, Linen, Rayon)
Burns rapidly, with a yellow flame and continues to glow after it is removed from the flame. Smells like burning paper or leaves. Produces a soft, gray ash.
Protein Fibers (Silk and Wool)
Burns slowly, sizzling and curling away from the flame. Sometimes self-extinguishing when removed from the flame. Smells like burning hair or feathers. Produces a crushable black ash.
Acetate
Buying Fabric Online. Tips and Terms
Show Guide... Buying fabric online can be easy and enjoyable if you go into it with some basic information. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that the color being presented on your moniter is most likely not going to be perfectly accurate. Believe what the description says and not so much what the photo looks like. If you need to ask which way a stripe runs, the legthwise direction is called the Warp, and the widthwise direction is called the Fill. Great deals can be found all over ebay with very little effort. Happy shopping and please visit our eBay store for a good start. Studio Fabric
Looking for an Unusual type of fabric that waterproof
Show Guide... Oh me Oh my..Why can't I find that Oilcloth of days past. I can tell you why, really I can. There is a new name for this fabric and it is called Laminated Fabric. It is a very hot item out west! Leave it to those Californians to be in the know about everything. So how is Laminated Fabric like the old timey oilcloth..they share only one similarity really..They can wipe clean with a damp cloth. Those oilcloths didn't come in a very large selection of colors and you kinda settled if you catch my drift.
NO MORE SETTLING..as they say on the EBAY commercials Get IT Here.
Nowadays you can get beautiful designer fabric that is not a synthetic but 100% cotton, it is laminated with a thin coat of vinyl. Some styles and patterns are laminated on the front only , still others are coated only on the back...then there are some fabrics that are coated on both front and back..talk about unique and weatherproof. So don't settle for the synthetic old timey vinyl coated fabric with limited designs come to where it is.
So now that I know where IT is...you ask, what do I do with IT once I have IT???
Well besides the obvious tablecloths of old..now people with kids and pets are looking for colorful decorative vinyl to cover barstools and kitchen chairs..I know a few restaurants that could sure use help in this department. Our customers have made boat cushions, outside patio furniture cushions, tote bags diaper bags, raincoats for everyone from pets to adults, placemats, golf shoe bags, Ballet bags for your precious darlings tap shoes etc, rainbonnets to sell at the church fair, ponchos, pergolas for the back yard, I covered an old counter top for my store with a beautiful rich brown paisley..it's the talk of the town. Check ...
Magic Stamps Formerly Known as Penscore
Show Guide... Magic Stamps
Magic Stamps are approx. 3" x 4" and can be heated and molded to create your very own one of a kind stamp.
Here's how:
1. To begin, select something to mold and place it in front of you. This could be a pile of rubber bands, a rubber stamp, artwalk clay molds, the bottom of your shoe or anything else that has a nice deep texture or design.
2. Set the Magic Stamp down and with a Crafter's Heat Tool** heat the surface for approx. 1 minute - 1-1/2 minutes. It is important to keep the tool raised at least 1" from the Magic Stamp and that you keep the tool moving to heat the surface evenly. Heating in one place for too long and too close may cause the block to scorch.
3. Stop heating and quickly lift and press the heated side of the block down onto what you are molding. Press firmly and lift after 15 seconds.
4. Check your design. If it looks like a nice impression you are ready to stamp. If it doesn't look like much happened you can reheat and remold the Magic Stamp.
5. When you are satisfied with your design you can ink it with any type of ink (I prefer Vivid Dye Ink*) and stamp the image. Experimenting with different amounts of pressure when you are stamping will change the image greatly. It is also fun to ink the Magic Stamp with several colors at one time.
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CARE And Cleaning SUNBRELLA UPHOLSTERY Fabric
Show Guide... For Sunbrella Fabric UPHOLSTERY series (the 54"wide Fabric series), here are the different aproaches which can be taken, as recommended by the mills... ~ Vote Below, after reading ~
Casual Furniture
SUNBRELLA Series fabrics should be cleaned regularly before substances such as dirt and food particles are allowed to accumulate on and become embedded in the fabric. The fabric can be cleaned without being removed from the piece by simply brushing off any loose dirt, etc. and cleaning with water and a mild soap solution (no more than 100 degrees F).
If the fabric can be removed from furniture, it may be cleaned in a mild soap and lukewarm water solution (less than 100 degrees F) in a washing machine and dried in an environment also less than 100 degrees F. When washing or cleaning, do not subject to excessive heat as the fabric will shrink. Do not steam press or dry in electric or gas dryers. Allow fabric to air dry.
Cleaning Solutions
Our recommended cleaning solution for most stains consists of 0.5 ounce (half-ounce) of antibacterial dishwashing liquid to 22.5 ounces of water. For stubborn stains please consult the SUNBRELLA Stain Chart (View my other Guide for Stains).
Cleaning Method
Remove any residual soil by lightly brushing or scraping the stain. Attempt to remove stain by sponging with water.
If further cleaning is needed, apply light mist of our recommended cleaning solution using a spray bottle.
Work the solution into the stain by light...
Measuring Fabrics, Linens, Textiles
Show Guide... How to measure fabric......is something I never learned to do until I began buying and selling it. I once thought it took a mathematician to figure out plain old yardage. Unfortunately I still do have a hard time so I grab the nearest calculator. My point is not really to give advice on how to measure yardage but what to expect when you buy it or sell it. I only learned recently (close to mid-life) that most people are quite good at figuring it out so I generally leave it to the seller when I buy. If I were to buy 3 yards of fabric, you'd probably say, "well 3 yards is what you'll get." That is usually true. However, I did find out to my embarrassment that 3 yards is exactly 3 yards, not an inch short or long. Well, long is ok but short.....NOT! I have sold literally thousands of yards on eBay in the past 9 years and my impression was the same...3=3. What is so nice about these tidbits on measuring is that most women, (men too!) will usually give you that extra inch or so. Why? Well, for the most obvious reason is that all measuring devices may be just a hair different from each other. So if I am a seamstress sewing a one-of-a-kind wedding dress, it must be EXACTLY what I ask for, therefore I would like to think that the person I buy it from is sending me that extra inch just in case my device is off a fraction from theirs! In other words, please do not short the fabric, a thousand dollar dress can be ruined by just that very fraction of an inch, just ask any seamstress! So what I'm saying is that if you are a seller and you sell lots of fabric, please include that tiny inch "just in case" and if you are buying you can expect an extra inch from me.
&...
Sewing Laminated Fabric
Show Guide... I sell laminated fabric in my store, Odieworld, and have discovered that many people have never sewn on this type of fabric. First, laminated fabric is just normal fabric that has been sent to a professional company that puts a coat of clear laminate on 1 side of this fabric. This makes the fabric waterproof and weatherproof and it lasts for years by just wiping it off.
We made diaper bags and purses, totes, bags from this fabric for a large company and had to learn how to sew it. Here are the best ways to sew this. , Use of a Teflon Foot for your sewing machine makes the fabric feed evenly. When you are sewing an inside seam with right sides together as normal, it sews fine with a regular foot but when you do the topstitching, sewing wrong sides together, that is when the teflon foot comes into play. It keeps the fabric feeding right into the machine the way it should.
OILCLOTH
Show Guide...    
Oilcloth is a wonderful product. Easy to look after and extremely practical.
Remember the old fashioned oilcloths that our grandmothers made. Yuk. Now we have new oilcloths that are really beautiful printed fabrics with a pvc or vinyl laminated layer on top. There are also the mexican printed pvc oilcloths which are just a pvc layer with reinforcing threads. The new oilcloths are strong, waterproof, stain resistant and come in a wonderful range of colours and patterns. They are perfect for tablecloths, but also make up into fantastic totes and bags, aprons and purses. Easy to look after, just wipe over with a damp cloth. However DO NOT MACHINE WASH OR HAND WASH BY IMMERSING IN WATER. DO NOT IRON YOUR OILCLOTH. Do not store damp.
If at all creased just leave in the sun or a warm spot and they will flatten out. If you would like to see some examples of items made out of oilcloth follow the link below to my ebay store where I sell totes and bags made out of oilcloth.
My ebay store CHILL DESIGNS
FEEDBACK A MUST , BUT PLEASE....
Show Guide... HELLO AND THANKS FOR READING
FIRST OF ALL, FEEDBACK IS A MUST. PLEASE ALWAYS LEAVE FEEDBACK IT LETS OTHERS KNOWHOW YOUR BUYER/SELLER IS DOING.
BUT ALSO MAKE SURE IF THERE IS ANY PROBLEMS CONTACT BUYER/SELLER FIRST BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK SO THEY CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM . TO LEAVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK AND NOT GIVE THE PERSON A FAIR CHANCE IS UNJUST.
AS FAR AS THE DETAILED SELLER FEEDBACK GOES, WELL HERE IS A TIP:
AS FAR AS SHIPING TIME - YOU CANNOT HOLD SELLER RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING DELAYS DUE TO THE POST OFFICE. CHECK THE LABEL TO SEE EXACTLY WHEN THE PERSON PHSYCALLY MAILED YOUR ITEM. IF ITS ONLY 1-2 DAYS THEY DID THEIR PART, THERE JOB AND YOU CANNOT HOLD THE PERSON LIABLE FOR SAY A 2 WEEK DELIVERY WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 4-6 DAYS. KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SHIPPING CHARGES? FOR OR UNFAIR?
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY - READ IT - IT SAYS SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES NOT SHIPPING CHARGES!!!!!
HERE IS YOUR ANSWER - $15.00 FOR $4.00 ACTUALL SHIPPING IS UNFAIR HOWEVER $3.00 FOR $2.00 ACTUALL SHIPPING FAIR.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER ACTUALL COSTS FOR THE SELLERS. THERE IS LISTING FEES, EBAY FINAL VALUE FEES - PAYPAL FEES (IF PAYED THROUGH PAYPAL) - PACKING SUPPLIES - ENVELOPES - BOXES - AND IF YOU PRINT YOUR OWN SHIPPING LABELS YOU HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR INK AND PAPER AS WELL. PACKING SLIPS, USE PAPER AND INK TOO. IF YOU DRIVE TO THE POST OFFICE, YOUR TALKING GAS AS WELL. MOST PEOPLE ARE GOOD AND FAIR AND ONLY CHARGE $1.00 UP TO $2.00 EXTRA THAN WHAT IT COST FOR ACTUALL SHIPPING, WICH IS TOTALLY FAIR. HOWEVER YOU HAVE OTHERS WHO DO NOT AND CHARGE WAY MORE SAY $10.00 TO $20.00 EXTRA TO RIP YOU OFF IF YOU ASK ME ,EVEN $4-$5 IS STILL TO MUCH
SO WHEN CLICKING ON THE STARS PLEASE DO BE FAIR AND TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION NEXT TIME.&...
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