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December Questions

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT 'SPOT CLEAN ONLY' MEANS?
HAVE CURTAINS (SHEAR WITH PRINT) AND DON'T WANT TO WRECK THEM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
P.S. COOL SITE!, AN ASSET TO THE INTERNET!
INFORMATIVE AND RELIABLE
Fred: I'm not sure either. Visit www.carbona.com for all your cleaning questions. They have the experts you need.
Happy Decorating and Good Luck,
Andy

I have a fake fur coat that is in very good shaped except for matting in certain areas - is there a way to un-mat it?
Nelda: follow the care instructions or bring it to a professional dry cleaner.
Stay warm and Good Luck,
Andy

Hi Andy!
I have been in the fabric and clothing business myself for a little while and then stopped. I now have a big inventory that I would like to sell as well as selling fabrics to small boutiques in the US where they quilt or make crafts or still make clothing. I am right now writing my business plan and need to get it done by December 1st and I am struggling...! The market seems to be hard in clothing, but I get the sense that there is something to be done.
Could you please help me with your professional advices?
Thanks in advance
Josee
Josee: sorry we missed your Dec.1 deadline.
There are many ways to start, but I think that opening a Web site, would be a great beginning. You have all of the exposure, but none of the expense of opening a brick and mortar retail store.
Google the fabrics you want to sell and see where the market is. You want to be competitive, but don't want to give it away either. Use Ebay for a few items, and see how that goes.
Good Luck.
Andy

My name is LIDICE POUSA and a friend and I are interested in opening a clothing store, kind of boutique. What we are planning to do is contact some new designers and offer them the opportunity to create to our store.
Do you think that will be possible and any advise?
The type of the clothes is going to be chic and casual.
Thank's for your time
Lidice: everything is POSSIBLE! Follow your dream, and don't look back.
You are on the road to success.
Good Luck,
Andy

Dear Andy
What's the best way to wash and dry a mohair jumper so it remains fluffy. Nikki
Nikki: the best way, is what ever the care label says to do. Anything else, will lead to disaster.
Stay Warm and Good Luck,
Andy

i love reselling chenille bedspreads. i don't eman the very heavy ones, just the ones that are medium weight and give the same appearance as a real chenille. i am looking for a wholesale source whether in the states or outside. any ideas?
thank you
Marto: visit www.alibaba.com.
Good Luck,
Andy

So I recently purchased a cozy and rather dashing new coat, it is 100% wool, 60% of which is angora. I am having one slight issue with it however.. It's shedding. It is very soft, and it is fluffing off, onto everything I touch. I'm using a lint roller on it, which takes off so much. I'm just curious if the shedding will eventually stop? If so: How long can I expect to wait until it does. Is there anything I can do to speed up the process.
Thank you,
Ruby
Ruby: stay warm and enjoy the coat, the way it is.
You will, more than likely, replace the garment, before the shedding ends.
Good Luck,
Andy

My Mother-in-Law gave me a faux fur coat for Christmas last year, and I had it stored at a friend's house. I very rarely wear the coat--only on special occasions. I recently found out that she wore it and soiled it while it was in her possession. Obviously I am very livid about this, but am more concerned about getting it cleaned. I am not in the position to take it someplace, and I am not comfortable taking it to someone I don't know. Especially after I left it in the care of someone I do know and it got soiled. PLEASE help me!!
Thank you sooooo much,
Syndee
Syndee: follow the care instructions or suffer the consequences.
If you really love this coat, make some deal with your friend, to share in the expense of having it cleaned properly.
Cheap is Expensive.
Good Luck,
Andy

Hi Andy,
I'm making a safari suit for my son from raw silk but the material has a smell I can't remove (I've tried a regular cold machine wash and a warm machine wash with wool wash). Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Megan
Megan: try using a cotton fabric. Silk does sometimes have an odor.
Good Luck,
Andy

My daughter has a dress that is 100% acetate with 100% polyester lining. It has sparkles - a stage dress. It has wrinkles that we didn't notice when we bought it. The tag says "professional spot clean only - no direct heat or steam" Can anything be done?
Thank you
Barbara
Barbara: yes, bring it to a professional dry cleaner.
Good Luck,
Andy

Dear Andy
I am urgently looking for big quntity of zipper stoc-lots (surplus) in vain. This is so important , so please help me, where can I find them.
Mirvat
Mirvat: visit www.alibaba.com.
Good Luck,
Andy

I am interested in transferring photos onto a durable fabric and then constructing leather handbags.
What type of fabric is best?
Can this fabric be adhered to leather with an adheisive?
What is the process on how to transfer photos to fabrics?
Any info you can give me regarding this process would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Christine
Christine: this knowledge is beyond what I know.
This process, will have to be developed by trial and error.
Good Luck.
Andy

Dear Andy,
There is no place to but fabric for apparel or decorating in our area. There are all lots of stores for quilting fabrics. I am interested in opening a fabric store. Possibly a franchise. Do you have any information on that subject? Any help you can give would be appreciated. Sincerely, Krin
Dear Krin: sorry, but I do not know of any franchise fabric stores.
If you are serious about opening a store, I suggest you attend several wholesale fabric trade shows.
The one for decorator fabrics www.itma-showtime.com They have a great web site, where you can find lots of exhibitors of the types of fabrics you want.
There are several shows for apparel fabric. Visit www. material-world.com, www.textileshows.com, and www.fabricshow.com.
The first two, are about the best.
Follow your dream and Good Luck,
Andy

Hi Andy, I want to know what can do to my shoes to stop them from squeaking when I walk on tile floors? Any suggestions, thanks.
Shirley: this sounds like a trick question. My answer would be to hold them in your hands, when walking across tile floors. Walk slowly. Tile floors can be slippery.
Good Luck,
Andy

How can I keep my boiled wool coat from pilling? I haven't even worn this coat yet because I hear this can be a problem.
Thank you,
Sally
Sally: if you leave the coat in the closet, what will you wear to stay warm?
Yes, it may pill. If that bothers you, then return it now, and get something that will not pill. Or wear it and enjoy it for now. Styles change and by the time it is so "pilled" that you don't like it anymore, it may be time to give it away, anyway.
And that's the way it is................
Good Luck,
Andy

Andy is there a way to fix an iron-on letter that is starting to come off? Thanks, Monda
Monda: sew it down, with needle and thread.
Good Luck, Andy

Andy,
Visitor spilled caramel sundae topping on our khaki colored, microsuede couch. I tried icing it, to no avail. Is there any help for our brand new couch?
Thanks so much.
cheri
Cheri: my Mom taught me long ago, that food should be eaten in the kitchen.
Visit www.carbona.com, for all of your stain removal needs.
Good Luck,
Andy

We purchased a couch and love seat made out of the ultrasuede material. In our booklet, it says not to use cleaners, but only water. We do this, but it still looks dirty and it is a medium brown. We have had this set for about 5 years and wonder if there is any newer chemicals that we can use on this fabric. Most of the sites I have looked at suggest drycleaning, but a couch?? I am hoping that in the last 5 years a product is available to use on these fabrics. Thank you.
Robbie: either call in a professional upholstery cleaning service or visit www.carbona.com.
Good Luck,
Andy

Hi Andy,
is there any thing i can use to clean my sweater at home the front of the sweater is swade i have a small spot on it and would like to no if there is something i can use to clean it with at home .. thank you Judy
Judy: we send all of our stain problems to the folks at www.carbona.com.
Good Luck,
Andy

Hi Andy,
I am part of a new company called Heaven Scent. We have set this company up through the Young Enterprise Graduate Scheme and plan on selling scented underwear to women but we are having difficulty finding suitable suppliers and manufacturers.
Any suggestions?
Vicky
Vicky: over the last dozen years, we have read about new textile technologies, that allow nano size molecules of scent to be added to fabrics. I believe that one of the few companies that have this technology is a textile company in Japan.
This question needs much more research, than I currently have the time for. I will search around and see if I can come up with a better answer soon.
Good Luck,
Andy

Andy,
I have old basketball jerseys with iron on numbers and some of them are coming off I would like to take them off and redo them. Do you have any suggestions on how to do that. If you can me out that would be great the season starts in only 2 weeks.
Thanks,
Chris
Chris: my suggestion is leave the jerseys the way they are. Try sewing them on, to fix them.
Enjoy the season and Good Luck,
Andy

I am trying to start a children's pajama line. Do you have any suggestions on sourcing flame retardant fabrics?
Thanks,
Nicole
Nicole:
We recommend you get a copy of The Designer's Guide, available at www.rrag.net. The Designer's Guide lists hundreds of fabric suppliers in the USA with low minimum purchasing requirements and many stock items. This guide has over 250 fabrics listed by fiber, construction and end use. Also there is a trim section and industry services. We have arranged with the publisher, a special discount. When checking out, add the words "ANDY" in the promotion code box, and receive a 5% discount.
This book, more than likely, had exactly what you need.
I also suggest, attending several, wholesale textile shows. Visit www.material-world.com, and www.fabricshow.com.
Good Luck,
Andy

Dear Andy,
I am making my daughter's wedding veil and need information on the best and easiest way to affix flat-back crystals onto bridal illusion. I already bought the Swarovski crystals, but since then have learned about the hot tool method. I'm afraid I will either be on the last part and have a big hole melted in a prominent place, or glue blobs. I am a perfectionist and couldn't stand either.
We saw a veil with a band of tiny crystals positioned about 2 inches from the cut edge and around the circular veil which is what we want to do as well.
I would appreciate any information you may have.
Thank you, SewSew1
Donna: experiment with different options on the illusion. The fabric is relatively inexpensive, compared with all the other things you will be buying for the wedding. We have never made a veil. Perhaps one of our readers, can help you.
Good Luck, with the veil and the wedding,
Andy

Andy, we just bought a new microfiber sofa and chair,we really love them but we get shocked every time we touch something. Is there some treatment we can use to cut down or eliminate the static? Thanks, Kat
Kat: I'm stumped. Perhaps our readers, know how to "ground" your sofa and chair.
Good Luck, Andy
READER ANSWER: spray it with Static Guard, available in grocery stores

 

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.