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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Hints for all stitchers  |
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thehouseminder
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
USA
361 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 12 2005 : 06:05:49 AM
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Hi All,
I thought it would be nice to have a spot to share hints for all kinds of stitchers. I would love it if other farmgirls would share their favorite textile hints here!
I was reading about all the wonderful thrift store and garage/yard sale bargains. One lucky farmgirl found some wool to knit socks and I thought, "I hope she sticks it in the freezer for a few days."
So that's what got me thinking and here is my hint:
Anytime you bring new yarn in the house, especially natural fibers - not just wool, but cotton, cashmere, linen, etc. be sure to bag it all in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer for two or three days. Even new yarn may have moth larvae in it. Moths and their young cannot survive freezing. That is why they migrate. Freezing your yarn with take care of any potential infestation and keep the new yarn from infecting the rest of your stash. moths will even try to eat synthetics if they are hungry enough!
HAPPY STITCHING!
LUCINDA |
Edited by - thehouseminder on Jul 12 2005 06:36:38 AM |
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thehouseminder
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - Jul 12 2005 : 06:35:38 AM
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Here is another hint. This one for those of us who love vintage linens. Rust stains can sometimes be removed with vinegar. If that doesn't work, try rubbing the stain with lemon juice and hanging or laying the piece out in the sun for an afternoon.
For pencil marks, try household ammonia. |
Edited by - thehouseminder on Jul 12 2005 06:37:37 AM |
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shepherdess
True Blue Farmgirl
359 Posts
Robin
Eatonville
Washington
USA
359 Posts |
Posted - Jul 12 2005 : 9:20:04 PM
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I think this is a great idea
Farm Girl from Western Washington
" From sheep to handspun " |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 12 2005 : 9:49:30 PM
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one of the things that I learned from an elderly lady I used to care for part time is that hydrogen peroxide..the cheap stuff..gets blood out of fabric! It works like magic! She had very thin skin and was forever bumping her arms at doorways and like that and getting little scratches which bled on her blouse sleeves. She would dab a cotton ball in the hydrogen peroxide and saturate the spot, and let it bubble and then with another clean cotton ball repeat until the spot was gone. I have gotten spots off embroidery from pricking myself with a needle, tshirts from my son's bloody noses and all sorts of stuff. I keep some in my laundry room too! The only thing is..you need to do it before you do anything else..like washing or especially putting in dryer!!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
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thehouseminder
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2005 : 06:01:39 AM
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Thanks Jenny! This is a great hint.
Another plus is Hydrogen Peroxide is gentle on the environment. Unlike Clorine Bleach, it does not form dioxins which are nasty for our water supply.
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2005 : 11:03:40 AM
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Hydrogen Peroxide is also good for soaking vintage linens to get the yellow out if they haven't been washed for a long time.
Kay - Living in Beautiful Washington State
North Clark County Farmgirls and
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
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bubblesnz
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
helen
New Zealand
291 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2005 : 9:39:56 PM
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When buying new garments, blouses etc, put a dab of clear nail varnish on the threads at the back of the button. This tightens the thread and no more buttons falling off, just as you are dressing to go out.
A great oak, is just a little nut which held it's ground. |
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thehouseminder
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2005 : 09:44:30 AM
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Thanks to RusticCottage and BubblesNZ. These are great ideas. I didn't know you could use HO on yellowed linens and I come across them frequently. No need to buy "fray check" when we all have clear nail polish around.
Here's something I just tried. It was suggested by an elderly lady at my church. It sounded crazy but I'll try nearly anything once.
I haven't gotten my act together to make homemade laundry soap yet. My wise friend said to use only half the commercial liquid laundry soap I normally would and add an equal part of plain old white vinegar. Said it would make my cloths whiter and I wouldn't waste soap or have soap residue in my towels. I have hard water so I wasn't sure how much this would help.
Guess what, it works like a charm!
Lucinda |
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sqrl
True Blue Farmgirl
605 Posts
Melissa
Northern California
USA
605 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2005 : 10:49:46 AM
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This is a great topic. I love household hints. And vinegar definitely works for laundry it also works when you've burnt something pretty bad in a pan, just pour a little vinegar in it a let it soak for a little while. It will make it a lot easier to clean. I swear by vinegar, it cuts grease like you would believe, cleans glass. I use it for everything.
Blessed Be
www.sqrlbee.com |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2005 : 11:14:35 AM
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Hydrogen peroxide is the same thing as Oxy-Clean except cheaper and without additives. Oxygen based cleaners are always best for vintage fabric as it doesn't damage the threads (and better for our environment). Always check for color fastness before soaking by dipping a corner of the fabric in the warm water. In really old fabric be sure to check for dry rot before washing too. You can do this by finding a spot at the seam and gently pushing with your thumb. If your thumb goes right through then there's probably dry rot and the fabric will fall apart when washed. This one I've learned from experience, sadly to say.
Kay - Living in Beautiful Washington State
North Clark County Farmgirls and
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2005 : 08:01:01 AM
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OOOH! What great ideas! I have a lot of vintage linens that need treatment.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
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thehouseminder
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2005 : 6:39:36 PM
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Here's a trick I use when teaching a child how to knit.
Make a "wonderball" by winding a skein of yarn into a ball, stopping every now and then to wind in a little gift. The nicest or most expensive gift should be place in the center. I use a few rolled up dollar bills. A tempting treat can be left only partly concealed near the surface of the ball. For example, I have used a small wrapped chocolate candy. Other items can include toy jewelry, a Polly Pocket doll, or tiny gumball machine prizes. Use your imagination. Your student will knit like mad so they can see what the next surprise is.
I can't take credit for this idea. I found it in a 1903 issue of "Good Housekeeping" and they said it is and old German tradition. The "wunderball" can also be a neat gift for a knitting friend who is on bedrest or in the hospital.
Happy Stitching!
Lucinda
Who loves a garden still his Eden keeps, Perennial pleasures plants, and wholesome harvest reaps. ---Bronson Alcott
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Edited by - thehouseminder on Jul 19 2005 6:40:30 PM |
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Lena@HickoryGroveFarm
Farmgirl in Training
33 Posts
Marlena
Brunson
SC
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 10:07:30 AM
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Re: peroxide:
I spilled wine on the couch and started searching the internet for a stain remover and found this one, which works on everything, and now I stock peroxide by the case around here for laundry, first aid, and stain removal. Here it is:
Take a cloth and get it wet. Add a small drop of dishwashing detergent (it was dawn in the recipe) to your wet cloth. I like to keep peroxide in a spray bottle, so I spray the stain with the peroxide, rub with the detergent on the wet cloth, and.... voila! Works on wine, chocolate, coffee, and so far, everything I've tried, without removing color from the fabric. If the stain is huge, I'll add the three ingredients directly to the washer and let soak for a bit. Same results. Here is the thing: I've only ever used detergent, and don't know if regular soap will work, but intend to find out because we are converting our household to natural cleaners.
Lena
Budding Farm Girl and Eccentric Artist
see www.marlenam.com |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 10:09:41 AM
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Marlena, Do you mean hydrogen peroxide?
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
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Lena@HickoryGroveFarm
Farmgirl in Training
33 Posts
Marlena
Brunson
SC
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2005 : 09:34:54 AM
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Yes, sorry! Hydrogen peroxide, the same kind you use on cuts. Thanks for the clarification request!~
Lena
Budding Farm Girl and member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Art
see www.marlenam.com |
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ladybugsmom6
True Blue Farmgirl
128 Posts
Tami
Horicon
WI
USA
128 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2005 : 2:45:30 PM
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SO much for needle work hints! I keep vinegar in the laundry room, over the dishwasher, in the bathroom for sticky drains. My kids very favorite cleaning job, Vinegar + baking soda= lots of fizz and that opens plugged drains. But when the drians are just sticky, down goes a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, speeds things right up, and no toxins in my house!
-Tami
livin' right and loven' life! |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Hints for all stitchers |
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Hints for all stitchers
