printer friendly version

November/December

Andy, My name is cheryl I am looking for a company who will custom make a iron on transfer , wholesale, Please help!!!!
Dear Cheryl: visit your local craft store. There are computer kits that will help you create an iron on transfer on your computer. Exactly how many do you need? it may be less expensive to do them on the computer, than for the great expense of making a custom design. Good Luck, Andy

Hi Andy,
I working on developing a new clothing line, but I'm having a hard time finding a talented seamstress who can handle mass production in Nashville, TN. Any suggestions where I can find someone?
Dear Shelly-Ann: broaden your search. All the seamstresses in Nashville have taken other jobs. Visit www.seams.org. Happy Holidays and Good Luck, Andy

How can I remove brown spots from old pieces of linen?
Dear Howdy: brown spots? Try Stain Stick which can purchased in your local Supermarket or bring the linens to a good professional dry cleaner. Good Luck, Andy
Dear Howdy,
Joan Kiplinger, our Vintage Fabric Columnist has a column on selection, care, cleaning and storage of vintage fabrics at http://www.fabrics.net/joan300.asp
Hope this helps!
Judith

Hi Andy,
I know that you can make my dream come true. I am 42 years old and have always dreamed of opening my own fabric store. I don't even know where to began. I have found a location and do not know what the next step is.
Step 1 - The Dream
Step 2 - The Location
I have some investors who are waiting on me. They know that I can do it but I don't know how. Please give me contacts, I would like to open this store in 2003 late August. Help me please! Thanks, desperate Cyndi.
Dear Cyndi: follow your dream. I will tell you that the number of fabric stores in this country has decreased by vast numbers in the last 20 years. Less women are sewing, and more than ever they continue to join the work force. With clothing coming in from all parts of the world, it is less expensive to buy ready made items than the cost of buying the fabric and sewing your own garments. With that said, the location of the store should be in an area that has women that are interested in sewing. It would have to be a diverse ethnic area. You may be better off starting a store on the Internet. There are several wholesale fabric trade shows you should attend. Visit www.fabricshow.com for info on the New York and Los Angeles Show. There is also the Home Sewing Textile Show in Las Vegas. There is the Hobby Industries of America trade show, which will be in Anaheim at the end of January. Visit www.hia.org for information on attending. Spend a lot of time before spending your money. You have to have a reason to be in the marketplace. Good Luck and follow your dream(s). Andy

I have a sport coat that was stored in a closet with a window. The top of the exposed shoulder has faded. The appearance is very much like the common build-up of dust that you see on wool coats, with one important difference-- it cannot be cleaned. (Yes I have tried).
Do you have a recommendation for redying or otherwise restoring this otherwise perfect sport coat?
Alexander
Dear Alexander: Do your part for the economy and treat yourself to a new sport coat. Happy Holidays and Good Luck, Andy

Hello Andy,
My daughter has a coat trimmed with faux fur and I have washed it a few times letting it air dry. The problem now is the faux fur seems matted-is there anything I can do to make it fluffy again? I appreciate any advice!
Sincerely,
Karyn
Dear Karyn: try brushing it with a hair brush and a hair dryer on "cool". Brushing may bring back the look you want. Happy Holidays and Good Luck, Andy
Dear Andy,
Thanks for your advice. I tried using a hair shampoo brush and it worked beautifully. Thanks again! Sincerely,
Karyn

Dear Andy:
We have a wicker sectional sofa in our family room in Florida. It is covered in blue denim. We have had the sofa for only 3 years and it has faded very unevenly. We keep the blinds closed when the sun shines in. Our house has many windows so it is very bright throughout the whole living area. Is there any spray dye that might work for this sofa. My husband is not about to reupholster it since it is so new.
Thanks. Mary
Dear Mary Beth: try turning it over. Other than that, enjoy your good fortune to live in a nice home with nice furniture in a beautiful place. Seasons Greetings and Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy,
My company will be attending several trade shows this winter, and we are looking for flame retardant fabric to cover our booth tables. This fabric is required by law. Since it is required, we assume it is available, although we cannot locate any in southern Wisconsin. We also need to show documentation by the manufacturer that the fabric is flame retardant/resistant. Would you know of such a manufacturer?
Thanks,
Doug
Dear Doug: visit www.RoseBrand.com. They have exactly what you need. Good Luck, Andy

Hi Andy,
I was hoping you could help me out. Recently, I purchased a faux fur lined winter coat made out of polyester ultrasuede. The coat is wonderfully warm, but I have come across a problem...the fabric in the pockets stains my hands and the coat is black! So, my hands end up looking bruised.
If I get the coat dry cleaned, will the excess dye go away, or am I better off just returning the coat. Your wisdom and insight would be greatly appreciated...
Take care and have a great day!
-Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth: return the coat. You should not have to pay for the manufacturers problem. Good Luck, Andy

This may seem like a ridiculous questions but…is there any way to shrink suede? I have three suede skirts that would require major alterations to fit properly (happily I lost 15 pounds, unhappily, now many of my clothes are too way to loose). None of the skirts were terribly expensive so I don't want to invest a lot of money in having them altered but I do love them and if there were some way to shrink them they would probably be wearable.
Jean
Dear Jean: the best way is to have them altered. After all the money you saved on NOT eating, and how fabulous you look now, spend the money. After you get the skirts back, you won't be thinking about the small cash outlay, only how GREAT you look! Enjoy the New you and Good Luck, Andy

Hello,
I would like to ask you.
I'm looking for a job as fabric agent or in fabric trading company.
Can you advise me how can I find a job in this line?
Regards,
RA
Dear Rafi : attend any of the wholesale fabric shows. Visit www.fabricshow.com. Fabric companies are always looking for commission agents. More folks have been leaving that job, as it becomes increasing difficult to make a living selling fabrics these days. Good Luck, Andy

Dear Andy,
Where can I send my knit fabrics to be laminated to make it fluidproof (Polyurethane Laminated) ? Sincerely,
Cathi
Dear Cathi: visit www.customlaminations.com or call them at 973-279-9174. Happy Decorating and Good Luck, Andy

hi Andy ,
i am so glad that i came across ur site . i have been hunting and surfing the web for a few days now and haven't been able to find a supplier for goose down .
i work for a outer wear company based in India and we are trying to do research on goose down .also we are trying to find out the machines that would be needed to start such a project. so far we have only been able to find some articles on goose down and it's quality control . could you be able to guide me as to where and how shall i go about this research on goose down suppliers and machines needed for the same .
thanks and regards
shweta
Dear Shweta; visit www.comfortace.com. They have the Goose Down that you are looking for.They are located in China. Ask them about the machines as well. Good Luck, Andy

Andy,
I am doing a textiles project that involves the making an item of clothing that uses style from the 1940s and I wanted to know if you could tell me what fabrics they had available at that time and if any fabrics were more commonly used than others.
Thank you. s
Dear Hannak most any natural fabric such as cotton or silk. There weren't a lot of synthetics around then, especially in the early 40's. We have a fabric historian here at Fabrics.Net. Perhaps she could help. Good Luck, Andy

Hi Andy-
I am looking for the discontinued pattern called carnegie hill from Ralph Lauren. Any idea where I may go to find some bedding pieces?
Thanks
jennifer
Dear Jennifer: write to Ralph at www.polo.com. Maybe they can tell you. Good Luck, Andy

Please can you help me, I've searched the internet looking for someone to contact...I had my furniture, sofa and loveseat, recovered, well he did a fabulous job but Wow that fabric is so shiny...My mother and I picked it out after a day of searching and we were both pretty tired, we didn't bother to unroll it and look at it in a large space...Is there anything I can spray on it or do to it to tone it down.....
Thanks, Sharon
Dear Sharon: the best news is that when you are sitting on the furniture, and talking with other people, or watching TV or just reading a book, you won't be looking at the fabric. There is not much you can do, except enjoy your new stuff. Think how lucky you are to be able to recover all that furniture. Count your blessings and Good Luck, Andy

Hi there, I'm hoping you will have some good news for me. I recently purchased 7 panels of velvet rod pocket curtains that are not lined. Due to the deep color of the curtains I would like them lined but would like to save time by not having to open all the hems and resew them with lining. Is there a fusible light filtering drapery liner? It would be so much simpler to just be able to iron on a lining that adheres to the fabric. The thermal drapes that I see have a rubbery backing on them that appears to be fused right into the fabric. I am looking for something much like that.
Hope you can help me
Thank you
Tammy
Dear Tammy: I'm going to pass this on to Judith. She knows much more about sewing than I do. Enjoy your new purchase and Good Luck, Andy
Hi Tammy,
Although it would be nice to find a fuseable fabric for your drapes, fusing to velvet is not possible without ruining the velvet. The best thing you could do is make a second curtain and attach it to the rod pocket of the velvet curtains you have now.
The rubber backed curtains that you mentioned are fused at the factory.
Judith

Hi Andy
How do you measure and cut your own yard of fabric out of a much larger piece? Is one yard of 44" the same length as a yard of 45"? I had scoured the internet looking for a chart, but haven't had any luck. Thanks for your help.
Elaine
Dear Elaine: one yard of fabric is 36"(inches) long, by whatever width the fabric is. So, a 44" wide or a 45" wide or a 60" wide fabric will still be 36" long to make a "running yard". However, if a pattern calls for a "square yard" of fabric, then you must cut the width to 36"(inches) as well. There you have it, the whole 9 yards. Good Luck, Andy

Hi Andy,
My friend gave me dinning table with leather chairs. The problem is the chairs has a pungent smell. How can I can get rid of the smell?
Next week my family is coming for party . Before that I would like to do something with this smell. Appreciate if you can give me some tips
Thanks
Beena
Dear Beena: as I see it, either have the chairs recovered quickly or buy a dozen very large candles that have a fragrance and put them around the room. Don't forget to light the candles. Hand out very large glasses of eggnog that have been spiked with some strong alcoholic beverage, and soon nobody will care or remember about the chairs having an odor. Don't let anyone drive home that is too drunk. Seasons Greetings, Happy New Year and Good Luck, Andy
Hi Beena,
Try spraying the bottom of your chairs with Fabreeze to see if this will take the odor away. Don't spray on the leather on the top of the chairs, though, as it may stain. Good luck!
Judith

 

Andy has been in the fabric and textile business all his life, but professionally since 1969.

"I love what I do, selling fabrics around the globe. I've met lots of interesting, creative, dynamic folks; some have become dear friends. I love to help new businesses find the things they need to become successful. It works for everyone."

You can ask Andy questions at Andy@Fabrics.net.

If you are looking for fabrics, the fastest route is to fill out a request form at http://www.fabrics.net/swatch/

The "Ask Andy" Column is an opinion Column and may or may not reflect the views of Fabrics.net.