[Northkeep] Buying wools online

Sun Jul 26 14:38:32 PDT 2009

That might explain the issue I had with shipping the last time I ordered from them.  I knew they had sold the company, but not to whom.

Talana

> From: betsy at softwareinnovation.com
> To: northkeep at lists.ansteorra.org
> Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:32:28 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Northkeep] Buying wools online
> 
> Actually- I think Denver fabrics was bought bought by fashion fabric club-
> they kept the DF page templates, but went to the FFC fabric choice display..
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: northkeep-bounces+betsy=softwareinnovation.com at lists.ansteorra.org
> [mailto:northkeep-bounces+betsy=softwareinnovation.com at lists.ansteorra.org]
> On Behalf Of Jennifer Carlson
> Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 2:24 PM
> To: northkeep lists.ansteorra.org
> Subject: [Northkeep] Buying wools online
> 
> 
> Mistress Caitrin asked about wool fabric sources online. Here are two I
> have used, and been generally happy with.
> 
> 
> 
> The first is DENVER FABRICS - denverfabrics.com
> 
> The website has a nice page of descriptions of some of the more popular
> kinds of wool fabrics, and the difference between a "woolen" and a "worsted"
> wool fabric. They have an entire section labelled "Italian,", which
> includes wool/silk blends as well as wool solids. Checking the prices on
> the Italian wools and blends, you can tell the recession is global indeed,
> and the prices are as good as I've ever seen. Many $22.00/yd fabrics are on
> sale for as low as $7.00/yd.
> 
> 
> 
> The other site is FASHION FABRICS - fashionfabrics.com
> 
> Under their Wool section, they have separate catagories for flannel,
> gabardine, suiting, lightweight, and tropical wools. Like Denver Fabrics,
> they tell you what garments a particular fabric is suitable for, and what
> other fibers are blended into it. They too, have many fabrics deeply
> discounted.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> When looking through their offerings:
> 
> 
> 
> "Light weight," "tropical," "summer weight," and "suitings" are the key
> words to look for. Suitings for the most part will be lighter weight
> fabrics than coat wools. Exceptions will be novelty weaves like boucle.
> 
> 
> 
> Each fabric will list what kind of garments it is suitable for:
> 
> Wool suitable for coats will be heavy.
> 
> Wool suitable for coats and jackets, not as heavy as coat wool but probably
> too much so for summer wear (though that is what Diarmaid's brown Venetians
> are made of).
> 
> Wool suitable for jackets and slacks will be in the range of warm-weather
> wools.
> 
> Wool suitable for jackets, slacks and dresses will be yet a bit lighter.
> 
> Wool suitable for blouses and shirts will be very light.
> 
> 
> 
> If you are in doubt whether a fabric is the right weight, you can often
> order a swatch, or give them a call and let them know what you want to use
> it for and see if they recommend it for that purpose. If their customer
> service is any good, they'll try to find out for you.
> 
> 
> 
> Some of the gabardine descriptions may specify "worsted gabardine," but
> nearly all gabardines are worsteds, because the defining visual effect of
> the twill weave of a gabardine relies on a smooth yarn, which woolen is not.
> 
> 
> 
> A note about wool flannel - it's not like cotton flannel, though made the
> same way - the fabric is woven, usually with a twill or tabby weave, then
> the surface is roughed up through a process called "teasing" to pull up
> fiber ends into a fuzzy nap. For wool flannel, this nap is then shaved
> down, giving it a "sandy" texture. For cotton flannel, it's left long, for
> a "peach down" feeling. Wool flannel is not necessarily a cold-weather
> fabric.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Warning: many wool fabrics are blended with 1% to 3% lycra (spandex). This
> helps the fabric keep its "heft" and if you machine wash it, the texture can
> change completely. This blend makes for fantastic woolen hose, like
> Diarmaid's gold-colored ones, but it will not look like it did before you
> washed it. If it is a lycra blend and says "hand wash or dry clean only,"
> follow the directions.
> 
> 
> 
> Many pure wools and woolens labelled "dry clean only" can be washed, and
> some can be laundered without shrinking or felting. The only way to know
> for sure is to wash a piece and see what happens. Usually what happens is
> you will lose the smooth finish that the manufacturer put into the fabric by
> heavy-roller pressing and/or the addition of sizing, and you may not be able
> to get it back no matter how much you iron or starch the fabric afterwards.
> It's not really possible to tell what will happen beforehand, but you are
> less likely to have this problem with a worsted than with a woolen, and
> woolens are far more likely to shrink when laundered.
> 
> 
> 
> Most wools, even woolens, can be safely washed by hand in cold water. I can
> provide instructions for anyone who's interested.
> 
> 
> 
> Of course, if you're wearing body linen (and you ARE wearing body linen,
> right?) you may find you never have to wash your wools, as the shirt or
> chemise captures all the body dirt and oils, and the linen (not cotton)
> fibers get rid of the moisture before the soils can migrate through the
> underclothes to deposit on the wool outer garments. Diarmaid's gray
> doublet-and-Venetians suit has been washed only once in fifteen years, and
> you don't see me trying to stand always upwind of him, do you? People need
> frequent bathing, but a good airing out is usually the only cleaning wool
> needs. Wool stockings excepted, of course.
> 
> 
> 
> Before I end this, let me add that the manager of the Hancock's Fabrics in
> the Farm at 51st and Sheridan uses her discretionary powers to order more
> wools than is normally allotted for her store. Last year I scored several
> pieces of very good quality wool and woolens, including some wool flannels.
> The autumn fabrics should be arriving any day now, so get on their coupon
> mailing list, watch for sales, and strike when you find a good buy. They
> more we buy, the more they're likely to stock.
> 
> 
> 
> Hope this helps.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> In servicio et humilitate,
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Talana
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
> BingT brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it
> now.
> http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_M
> LOGEN_Local_Local_Restaurants_1x1
> _______________________________________________
> Northkeep mailing list
> Northkeep at lists.ansteorra.org
> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/northkeep-ansteorra.org
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Northkeep mailing list
> Northkeep at lists.ansteorra.org
> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/northkeep-ansteorra.org

_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Store, access, and share your photos. See how.
http://windowslive.com/Online/SkyDrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_SD_photos_072009