I still can’t quite believe it, but yesterday, for the second time, I was offered vintage fabric free, gratis and for nothing by a total stranger.
The offer came from Pam, who had seen my thrift of the day on facebook; a pair of curtains of 1960s vintage, with a wonderful floral design that is right up my street.
Alas, Pam’s curtains, whilst beautiful, are almost certainly made from fibreglass.
Fibreglass was one of the wonder materials of the plastic age that turned up just about everywhere in the 1960s. Perfect for curtains as it doesn’t crease or fade, is impervious to rotting from sunlight and condensation, drip-dry and non-iron.
What’s not to like?
For a start, those sparkly fibres fray like mad as soon as you cut into them – it’s like trying to stitch a mesh jumper as it unravels literally before your very eyes.Plus, it’s extremely slippery to manoeuvre – it really needs an industrial sewing machine to cope with it. And the fact that it doesn’t crease (and can, in fact, melt if you iron it) means that should you manage to sew it, you run into further problems if you want to fold hems or press seams.
All of which leads me to conclude that, unfortunately, I cannot accept Pam’s amazingly generous offer.I would hate to waste such a fab set of curtains. They should really be adorning someone’s sunny window, where their admirable qualities can be fully appreciated.
Appreciated just like the kindness of strangers, out of the blue.
Fibre glass gave me a nasty rash all up my arms whilst making a pair of curtains,many moons ago! Fabulous print though…..