[Bryn-gwlad] Fabric Woes

[Stefan li Rous]

Just in case anyone is new to fabrics, especially synthetic vs.  
natural ones, the reason Claire wanted a lighter was to do a burn  
test on the mystery fabric. Synthetics, made of petroleum products,  
melt, while natural fabrics don't. If you know what you are doing you  
can tell a lot more about the fabric than just whether it is a  
synthetic or natural material with a burn test and by feel.

For more info:
fabric-ident-msg  (24K) 12/30/04    Identifying unknown fabric w.  
various tests.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/TEXTILES/fabric-ident-msg.html

I've had trouble with linen before with Hancocks having a "linen"  
sale and then finding out that their idea of linen was synthetics or  
linen blends meant for table or bed "linens". In at least one case I  
was able to ask them over the phone before I took the time to drive  
there, whether the linens they were advertising actually contained  
linen.

These labels though, IMHO, are bordering on fraud. The textile  
wholesaler would probably say the wording was just a brand name.  
Makes me wonder if these fabrics might have originated in China.

Stefan

On Feb 1, 2008, at 3:41 PM, Elizabeth Crouchet wrote:

> So I was just in Hancocks down south for their Grand Reopening sale.
>
> They had lots of fabric on special.
>
> I found a bolt of  "100% Silky Wool". It was a linen kind of weave and
> felt nice so I got some cut. As it was being cut I noticed the  
> selvedges
> had writing woven in, it said "Donegal  Linen Ireland". But it did not
> feel like linen. So I found a lighter and did a burn test on some  
> pulled
> fibers. They melted and it stank. No burnt hair smell, no burnt paper
> smell, just chemically and no ash, it all melted. Ick!
>
> I found another bolt in another color, marked "100% Silky Wool". It  
> was
> woven in the selvedges with  "Silky Wool England". A burn test on  
> those
> fibers and they also melted.
>
> No one who worked there knew what it was all about and I admit I was
> very confused. I declined to buy the piece I had had cut because it  
> was
> not what it advertised itself to be.
>
> They even had all of their  Linen on sale. It was all polyester
> content,  but it was labeled as Linen.
>
> How are we supposed to know what fabric is made of anymore?
>
> Just beware and carry a lighter when you shop for fabric.
>
> Only one of the sales staff had any idea why I wanted to borrow a
> lighter or what I could tell about the fabric by burning the fibers.
>
> Buyer really beware!
>
> Claire

--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas           
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****