Question:
First are the pics "good" enough to show up on an auction?
And how would you describe this dotted swiss?
Pink with orange flocked dots? But doesn't that combo SOUND ugly? 44x75 inch piece.
The watermelon is very cute! Selvedge says "Fabric Traditions".
Should I put that in? And it is a heavier piece but I still think it's 100% cotton. Do I say that I think it is or just leave that out or exactly what? 44x76 inch piece.
Oh yeah--do I 44x76 inches or 44x2yards?
And the last piece--I think it's an upolstery fabric. Just one yard at 55 inches wide. I have absolutely no idea what to say about it. and the pics aren't all that great. Just don't quite reflect the beauty of it. I may keep it, I just like it so much!
Pics are of front and then back.
TIA-
~~arkay
Answer:
Well that's one questin answered!
The pictures of the dotted swiss SUCK!
Any hints? Should I scan instead of taking pictures?
~~arkay
Answer:
Originally Posted by ~~arkay First are the pics "good" enough to show up on an auction?
And how would you describe this dotted swiss?
Pink with orange flocked dots? But doesn't that combo SOUND ugly? 44x75 inch piece. You might say what type of pink (baby, icy, fuschia, hot, warm, bright) and what type of orange (rusty, peachy, fluorescent , pumpkin, I don't know...make up a name!) I don't think the picture is too bad, but you'll definitely need a super-close-up. And maybe the colors don't match, but you'll have to be the judge of that! lol
I do have a question about the dots. Are they flocked (glued) or are they woven in? I'm guessing glued. If woven, the fabric is worth more $$.
With dotted swiss you will want to be sure to state whether the drape of the fabric is limp and soft or crisp. Both are possible.
Is the base fabric on this cotton? Or nylon? or what?
The watermelon is very cute! Selvedge says "Fabric Traditions".
Should I put that in? And it is a heavier piece but I still think it's 100% cotton. Do I say that I think it is or just leave that out or exactly what? 44x76 inch piece.
Oh yeah--do I 44x76 inches or 44x2yards? Sounds like it might be a fabric that could be use for a picnic tablecloth or tote or some such thing. I'd guess it's cotton too, but why not burn test it? You'll know for sure then. I assume you'll list it by itself? Be sure to mention the heart shapes.
Yes, be sure to mention Fabric Traditions. It's a well-known brand, found in quilt shops, etc.
I tend to understate the actual yardage when I sell online. I personally hate getting fabric that needs to be straightened (or the end recut) and find out I'm then 2 or 3 inches short. But it's really up to you. I've seen people say 2+ yards.
And the last piece--I think it's an upolstery fabric. Just one yard at 55 inches wide. I have absolutely no idea what to say about it. and the pics aren't all that great. Just don't quite reflect the beauty of it. I may keep it, I just like it so much!
Pics are of front and then back. Are you talking about the two middle photos here?
They don't look much like each other... One's blue/gray, the other brown/mustard on my monitor.
The third one is most likely a jacquard weave. Are the leaves rayon? Is it very large? The hardest thing about upholstery fabrics for me is trying to describe the colors...
Hope some of this rambling helps.
Elaine
Answer:
Elaine-
The blue gray is the front and the other is the back of it.
I'm a little more awake today and hopefully will be able to do better on pics.
Then I'll try again!
Got some funky sunflower fabric too.
Oh and one more questions--A couple of the pieces I bought
are dusty--dustier than just a tumble thru the air cycle.
Should I wash them and then iron them?
~~arkay
Answer:
Should you wash them?
Depends what kind of fabrics they are and what kind of payback or penalty you might expect due to the washing...
So...what are they?
edited to add: Is it dust? Or mud? Or light fading on the fold of the bolt?
Are they vintage? What are the fibers?
Answer:
The dots on the swiss are flocked. Does that automattically mean glued? If they were woven in they woudn't stick up, right?
I spent most of the day with Mom yesterday and then had supper with Daddy. It was too late to take pictures after that but I hope to get some done today.
We have a link to the burn test don't we?
Also a couple of other questions:
What are "fat quarters"?
How do you determine what to start your prices at?
What is the best way to ship when it's too big for a flat rate priority envelope?
And what is the best way to pack for shipping?
~~arkay
Answer:
I'm busy with guests all day...got to get dinner in the oven in a minute or two...
But about the dotted swiss...
You can tell if it's woven because you can see where the extra flocking threads have been woven into the base of the fabric on the BACK of the fabric, behind where each dot is. They will be sheared in the front, so you might not easily see the difference between flocked and woven from the front.
Flocked also can vary a lot depending how it's down and what the fibers are. There are different ways of applying the dot flocking fibers, so you might not readily know flocking vs weaving by just quickly looking at the front. The back of the flocked fabrics should not show extra threads woven in. It might be a bit stiff from the glue.
I think you can find the links with a textile forum search (top right) for the burn test and fat quarter definitions. And no doubt more folks will stop in during the day who can help. Sorry to be so short/spacey!
Elaine
Answer:
I have a few minutes before I have to ice my Mom's cake.
The dotted swiss looks flocked to me. I've had some of the old dotted swiss with woven dots once or twice but it doesn't seem to be that easy to find. I think the neat color combination might be a plus on this one.
I found this definition of a "fat quarter" on line:
What exactly is a "fat quarter"?

In the United States, cotton fabrics for quilting and dressmaking generally come in 45-inch widths. If a one-yard length of 45-inch wide fabric were cut into four equal pieces, 9 inches wide by 45 inches long, one would have four narrow rectangles of fabric, each a 'slim quarter' of a yard. However, a one-yard length of 45-inch wide fabric can also be cut into four equal pieces in another way, 18 inches wide by 22.5 inches long, each a 'fat quarter' of a yard. Quilters find more uses for fat quarters than slim quarters. This is especially true for fabric with large patterns or widely spaced design elements. Quilt shops generally have a selection of fat quarters pre-cut from the fabric bolts on display. If you do not see any fat quarters available for the fabric you are interested in buying, ask the clerk if a fat quarter could be cut for you. Most fabric stores are pleased to offer this service. I only wash fabric before selling if it is absolutely necessary. If the fabric is actually dirty than by all means wash and press before selling. You will probably want to mention in the listing that "the fabric is freshly washed and pressed". Photos of wrinkled fabric bug me!
I wrap all my fabric in plain white tissue paper then seal in a clean plastic bag before packing for shipping. Very little of the fabric I've bought has been packed this way and my buyers really seem to appreciate it judging by some of the comments I've received. I would never use a used plastic grocery bag to hold the fabric...who lnows what was in the grocery bag first?
I ship by the least expensive method available. There is nothing I dislike more than sellers who insist on shipping everything, including a single yard of quilting cotton, by Priority Mail. But this must not bother the majority of bidders because more and more sellers are doing it. If the fabric weighs less than 13 ounces, I pack it in a plain white Tyvek envelope (not a plain paper or manilla envelope which can rip) which I buy from my local office supply store. The fabric is then shipped by First Class mail. If it weighs more than 13 ounces I ship by Priority. I rarely use the cardboard Priority envelopes because during my 15 years with the post office I saw way too many of them arrive at our office torn down the side or bottom and the contents missing. I usually use the Tyvek Priority mail envelopes and charge accordingly. If there is too much fabric for one of those I then use a very large padded bag. I only use the cardboard Priority boxes when absolutely necessary because they add so much to the weight. I ship the most of my international shipments by Global Priority or Air Letter Post.
Determing starting prices is always tricky for me. I usually try to start it at a price where I will earn a slight profit and hope it goes up from there. If it's a fabric I just know will be a "good" one, I will probably start it higher.
I list the fabric measurements like so: "The fabric is 45" wide and 1 yard + 10" (46" total) in length." It seems to work for me because I've never had any confused bidders. Please remember to mention the fabric width...lots of auctions leave it out.
As Elaine said, there is a link to a burn test above. If I'm still not sure of a fabric's content after a burn test, I'm honest and say so in my description. I'll say something like "A burn test leads me to believe the fabric is a cotton/polyester blend but I'm not positive."
OK, enough rambling! I've got to get busy icing. Hope this helps a little.
Answer:
Oh everyone is so much help!
By the time I get through with this box, I hope I'll be a little more knowledgable--and braver about buying fabrics!
But I warn y'all--there's still lots of pieces left!
We just took MIL out to lunch and I'm absolutely worn out.
(Very sick--hoping NOT pneumonia!) I'm not sure if I will
get better pics today or not. Gotta have a nap.
~~arkay
Answer:
Here's better pics of the dotted swiss.
I've looked at this fabric so much that I can no longer ven guess at the colors! LOL
I think it's a peachy pink background with orange dots. DH says it's a very pink background with orange dots.
I tried "scraping" on of the flocked dots but it didn't come off.
The last picture of the dots is of a corner of the fabric folded over to show both sides at once.
~~arkay
Isn't the green daisy a kick? I kept calling it sunflower!