Flosstube
I really had no clue what that was or why so many youtube videos have that word in their title. Now I've found out it means that there are channels dedicated to stitching and referred to as "Flosstube". It appears that most of the flosstube channels are focused on cross stitch or embroidery... Oh DUH! That's why the word floss (thread) and tube (channel). I am not sure I can get used to this phrase...
And that goes right up there with another one that's been used for a decade or more: Flimsy.
Flimsy is another "cool" word for quilt top. I can't get over the original meaning of the word:
Different subject: do you starch your fabric?
When did starching fabric become a thing in quilting? I keep seeing that as well. I just can't bring myself to think about starching my fabric. Heck I wash fabric just to get out the chemicals and then spray some more on? Nope. And while we are speaking of starching...
How many irons have you gone through? This was a discussion with my sewing machine repair man and also I've seen a few quilters discuss it too. My grandmother used the same iron for about 30 years. I bet if I had that iron, it will still be working. And yes, quilters use their irons hard and frequently. But my grandmother ironed EVERYTHING including Pop's underwear so her iron got a lot of use as well. Do you remember people doing that in your family?
The difference these days is that things are made to be disposable. So I bought an iron earlier in the summer for $13 at Target. I see no reason to invest good money in a machine that will not last anyway.
Do you use water in your iron? My friend Sue told me she stopped that and her irons lasted longer. I tried that but the iron died anyway. Now I just use tap water. Do you?
Thought about a lot of these things while I was sewing this weekend. I know the world is going by fast now and changing even faster. What about you?
Have a safe and happy day!
I never starch fabric. I thought starch can attract insects. Plus, I've never felt the need. My mother would buy distilled water for our iron. When I had my own home, I felt paying for distilled water and lugging it home wasn't worth the cost and effort. I always empty my iron before storing. Our well water is very hard. Sometimes I use the iron dry and use a spray bottle on fabric. Presently I have a Rowenta that has lasted quite a while. We sure don't iron as much as we did in years past. And hardly ever in dress and heels. Yay!
ReplyDeleteI starch my fabric lightly and always have done, just as a way to get wrinkles out. I know some quilters starch it so heavily it's like a board, but they swear their blocks are more accurate. I don't care that much! I had a Rowenta, but was never thrilled with it, so I'm back to buying cheap irons and using them until they die. You're right, they don't make things like they used to, it's called "planned obsolescence". Appliances are built to last about 7 years. I bought a pricey electric stove 6 years ago when we moved into our house. One of the burners died last week and it's $400 to replace it. I can get a gas stove for about twice that, so when another burner goes we will run a gas line and get a new gas stove. I hate cooking with electricity!
ReplyDeleteLOL -- I noted that your font got bigger as your post progresses. (Blogger does that to me, too.) Flosstube does not register with me, for sure. (But I'm not an embroiderer.) I've used flimsy for years and years, but so often I write, "flimsy (unquilted top)." I do not starch fabric for the sake of sewing it. I may use starch instead of sizing, or now that I have splurged, Best Press, but all of those methods are to get wrinkles out. I have lost track of the number of irons I have owned. But I do have memories of irons -- when my mother began collecting antiques (I was in jr. high) her early acquisitions included some cast-iron irons (just a few, not an entire/obsessive collection). There was one in the kitchen used as a bookend. I still have it.
ReplyDeleteMy sister gave me an iron as a going-to-college gift. GE steam. I used it through college and years later. As a quilter -- I tried one Rowenta. It leaked. Now I buy Black and Decker at Wal-Mart. I try to have one or two extras in the cupboard because they inevitably burn out..........More than you want to know.........
You pose some interesting thoughts here, Michele. I feel like I'm running through irons lately so the last I bought was a cheap one. I have spray starch but use it for certain thin fabrics only. I got into watching Floss tube videos during the pandemic and love stitching along to some of those folks. My favourites are ones who combine cross stitch and quilting. My mother in law in my first marriage used to iron my husbands underwear and was appalled that I didn't, LOL. I adored that queen so thanks for sharing that lovely photo. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteI was a heavy steamer. I loved how it made the fabric behave. But, I went through too many irons that rusted out. Now I just buy an iron at Wal-Mart that is usually near the lowest price and I use a spray bottle. I would love to buy the pink Olisio iron, so cute. But, I never will because of the price. I'm still not used to word flimsy, it makes it sound like it is of less quality.
ReplyDelete