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BS: Wonderful Cotton Things
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Subject: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: wysiwyg Date: 13 Aug 07 - 11:21 AM Cotton.... Sheets of course. Not the thin, high-thread-count stuff Oprah unleashed on us. The thick, old-fashioned percale that washes and wears forever getting softer every year. When the edge frays, cut a new hem! I have some from the 30's, soft and still going strong. Can't find it these days in an affordable price range, so this summer our camper was outfitted with 1-6 pieces of cotton at a time at the Goodwill and SalArmy shops that abounded in one of the areas we visited. The turnover of stock was so fast that there were scads of new items each time I dropped in to run my hand over the pieces, find the all-cotton ones, and check the labels to be SURE. $0.59 per pillowcase, some in matched sets! King sheets for 2 bucks! Flannel sheets for travel towels, a buck each! I accumulated two king sets, more than a dozen pillowcases for each set, and a set of travel towels and quick-drying washcloths. Many of the pillowcases were kings-- way too big for our pillows, so I'll have lots of relaxing vactional handsewing to do, to shrink them and nab a couple of travel-pillow-size ones out of each king pillowcase. The blend of fabric softener smells and perfumes.... alas, I will wash it all out in plain water. I prefer odorless sleeping linens. Lovely colors-- shades of silvers, tan, pale blues, pale olives, and a few prints to liven up the sets. All wonderful, thick cotton, all colors that will hide camp dirt. Many pieces whose labels indicate their outrageous initial expense. "So dated, must replace!" Mmmmm, cotton sheets! I even found one old white percale hospital sheet to tear up into lingerie liners. Bras and undies stay comfortably dry and sweet-smelling even in high heat and humidity, if you add a square piece of cotton as a liner (folded as needed) and change liners throughout the day as they soak up sweat. Cheaper than powder.... Handwash and dry, poof! Great hat-liners on a hot day too, wet. What cotton things do YOU love, and where do YOU find them? ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Mickey191 Date: 13 Aug 07 - 07:37 PM Whoever thought this would come up at Mudcat??? I have Martex pure percale sheets which were purchased 35 years ago. Just now starting to get a bit thin. No tears or holes though. I've just had a fallout with Martex. Purchased Martex Platinum Sheets which are from XMAS of "06. The bottom sheets have shredded! Very disappointed. And before anyone asks-----YES, I still cut my toenails! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Sorcha Date: 13 Aug 07 - 08:01 PM All my percale sheets from wedding gifts are now worn out. I haunt the 2nd hand shops looking. I usually have pretty good luck. Another wonderful cotton thing....100% cotton knickers! If you have to ask, you just don't know. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Bill D Date: 13 Aug 07 - 08:57 PM Rag mop, da-da-da DEE da-da-da......R-A-G-G-M-O-P-P... rag mop well, and I have cotton shirts, too....which SHOULD be mops by now, but... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: HouseCat Date: 13 Aug 07 - 09:48 PM White cotton nightgowns on hot summer nights. Huge spools of cotton twine, I bought one at a rummage sale and just love looking at it. My favorite quilt batting is cotton. It lies so much better than Polyfill stuff. And being from the South, I do love a cottonfield in full bloom. My Mom called it summertime snow. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Bee Date: 13 Aug 07 - 09:57 PM I do like cotton, and cotton bedding in particular. I keep looking for those oldfashioned cotton chenille bedspreads in the second hand stores. But my great fabric love is antique rayon, the heavy, slightly glossy, beautifully printed stuff they made housecoats of before the 1950s. I've had three of those housecoats in the past thirty years, but only one has survived, black background, medium size floral motifs, with three-quarter sleeves, tucked prettily at the cuff (to prevent sleeves catching fire over the breakfast making, I suspect), and a darling tiny round gathered pocket. Why don't they make beautiful housecoats anymore? All I ever see are utilitarian terry or some kind of plush designed to make one look like an oversized stuffed toy - or dreadful sleazy fake satin. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 13 Aug 07 - 10:07 PM "He don't [Bzzt] doesn't plant taters [catches himself] potatoes, he doesn't plant cotton [catches himself] cotting, because these/them/those that plants them are soon forgotting." Stan Freburg... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: frogprince Date: 13 Aug 07 - 10:13 PM nightgowns, on hot summer nights? As for me and mine, we'll settle for a decent cotton sheet on nights like that : ) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Aug 07 - 10:38 PM Several decades back I received an unused set of single-bed cotton sheets that my Great-aunt, a farmer's wife, had bought from a travelling salesman years before. They were wonderful thick cotton, & I used them till I got a double bed. Dunno what I did with them , whether they were passed on to a family member or went to a charity shop (to be found by some lucky person). I wish I still had them. The modern cotton & polycotton sheets I have are nuffin' compared to these treasures. Maybe I'll keep an eye on my local charity shops for similar treasures. Some years ago I bought a lovely old worn linen sheet from a charity shop & have just used another piece to back a wall hanging. I wonder what it's history was. sandra I just googled Linen sheets & found some from an exclusive shop - only $AUS465.00 (flat) & $550 (fitted), & $285 for a set of pillowcases!! I might just try the charity shops!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: katlaughing Date: 13 Aug 07 - 11:21 PM I can only wear cotton (some OLD rayon..hard to find as you said, Bee!), but have still to find anything like the OLD things. I still have sheets we bought 27 years ago which have no holes or worn spots BUT they are flannel and I don't like using them because they attract hair like crazy. Not a good thing with long hair, dog and cat hairs, etc.:-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Liz the Squeak Date: 13 Aug 07 - 11:32 PM Crisp linen sheets that have that chilly, glazed feel when you first slide between them but warm to your body quicker than anything I've ever known... I still have a couple of sets ("borrowed" from a certain famous Cambridge college by a former partner and "accidentally" acquired by myself in a hurried move from the shared accommodation), that are going strong after about 30 years. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 14 Aug 07 - 12:50 AM My husband just read a book about an airplane crash. He said it was horrible, yet the valor of the people involved was amazing. He also learned that on an airplane you should wear cotton clothes sturdy shoes long sleeves and long pants. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Dave Hanson Date: 14 Aug 07 - 01:58 AM 100% cotton bodhrans, ideal. eric |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: SharonA Date: 14 Aug 07 - 02:55 AM I vote with Sorcha: Cotton undies are tops on the bottom. Foolestroupe, you've quoted from one of my very favorite Freburg skits, and made my day. (For those who don't know, the skit is "Elderly Man River".) "You and I, we perspire and strain..." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Dave the Gnome Date: 14 Aug 07 - 04:07 AM Horses sweat Gentlemen perspire Ladies glow Will you stop talking about cotton undies. You don't know what it does for to us men of a certain age. I can't get the thought of a liberty bodice out of my head now... :D |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Sooz Date: 14 Aug 07 - 04:17 AM Rubber buttons! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 14 Aug 07 - 06:04 AM Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Dave the Gnome Date: 14 Aug 07 - 07:23 AM I wouldn't dream of rubbing her anythings, Sooz! Oh! Rubber buttons as on the liberty bodice! Gotcha... :D |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Becca72 Date: 14 Aug 07 - 05:11 PM I have what my sister calls "texture issues" and what I call sensitive skin. When we go out shopping the running dialog is her: "that's nice" me (feeling the fabric)"no, it doesn't feel good". Over and over I'm very particular about what comes in contact with my skin and you just can't go wrong with 100% cotton. Undies, t-shirts and sheets particularly! I have some old hand-made quilts of cotton that are getting pretty ragged but I refuse to retire them because they are the best on a chilly night to snuggle up in. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: wysiwyg Date: 14 Aug 07 - 05:44 PM Or: Don't retire 'em. Launder once more, and then add batting and/or new top/bottom as needed. Shrink the tops and bottoms before adding so they don't pucker the finished piece when it's laundered. A new stitching pattern to quilt it in will settle the batts and keep it from getting lumpy-- ask a sewing maven to do that part if needed. And viola! Same old snuggle, new life for the quilt. For sentiment/history take a good portrait photo of it before refurbishing and again afterwards. Of course tatters can be hand-repaired as they're spotted, but no fabric will last forever. Just go over top of it. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: wysiwyg Date: 15 Aug 07 - 11:17 AM I always wondered-- about that lint from the dryer..... I know it would be weird to actually SAVE it, but it does pile up in a little tiny trash can next to the dryer. I always just threw it out. But the other day I needed to wipe the washer-top, where the goumm accumulates under the lid? "I wonder...." and on a lark I grabbed a handful of pale green lint the new green flannel sheets had left. I dampened it under the water running into the mqachine and used it like a sponge. It was GREAT! OK, it left a green lint residue I had to use a second, dry piece to remove, but how cool was THAT! Cotton, gotta love it. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: wysiwyg Date: 15 Aug 07 - 11:26 AM And Q-Tips!~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: catspaw49 Date: 15 Aug 07 - 11:55 AM We make firestaters for camping out of dryer lint. Fill a cardboard egg carton with lint and then pour parafin over it. The cells can then be broken off and used to help get the campfires going, especially on those wet nights. Works like a champ! As far as great memories of sheets go, forget it. I think my grandmother gave me a fear of the damn things. My Mom and I would stay at their haouse when Dad was on a run (railroad engineer) and you'd think that staying at Grandma' would give you warm memories of hearth and home and snuggling under the sheets and quilts........Nope. My grandmother was from a poor country family and she made her own soap flakes of course PLUS to her everything should be ironed after it was washed and that meant starching stuff as well for better ironing and a "cleaner" look. Well, that's okay on shirts but did you ever try to blow your nose on a starched and ironed handkerchief? It ain't Kleenex nor is it "Downy Soft." Now let's apply that technique to sheets. If there is anything less appealing on a cold winter's night in Ohio, I can't think of what it might be. You had to "break into" the bed and even then the covers lifted like the hood of a car. Seriously, they were that stiff! The bottom sheet was like sandpaper or something. You truly laid between the sheets. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Rapparee Date: 15 Aug 07 - 12:09 PM Obviously, Spaw, you have never put on a pair of military uniform cotton pants starched by the post laundry in a cold barracks in December in Kansas. I mean, these could LITERALLY stand up by themselves if you opened the bottoms slightly. And the cold was such that several men became unwilling sopranos when the starched pants crotch hit the starched cotton crotch of their boxer shorts. This is why I simply sprayed my body Army green and went to work that way. (By the way, the military used and continues to use natural fabrics like cotton to minimize burns in combat. Plastic, such as polyester, can melt and cause a much, much nastier wound.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: JennyO Date: 15 Aug 07 - 12:19 PM Ah, now we're talking about dryer lint! As I think I have mentioned before, I have a container next to the dryer filled with a growing pile of dryer lint - in a variety of colours depending on what was in the last load. Apart from making jokes about making little stuffed toys with it - which probably would work - and John has been setting up a new landscape for his model trains, and he thought it would be just perfect as filling for his hills, cliffs and mountains. Covered with plaster and painted, some of my dryer lint has now become part of a model railway landscape! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: wysiwyg Date: 15 Aug 07 - 01:04 PM Can't I just pour charcoal starter right on the lint, and toss it in? :~) Blow us all to Ju-f*cking-oopitor? ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: HouseCat Date: 15 Aug 07 - 01:20 PM In the spring, I throw my dryer lint out into the garden for the birds to use as nest material. I've actually seen two sparrows fighting over the choicest bits. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Liz the Squeak Date: 16 Aug 07 - 02:40 AM Ah... those were the days. We no longer have a dryer that collects lint. Leastways, we have a dryer and I'm sure it goes somewhere, but never somewhere where I can collect it. Mother used to use lint to fill knitted soft toys - it was usually cotton, it was clean and it was there! There was a high quantity of cat hair amongst it for a while but that just gave it better cohesion. Rub it gently in circular motion between the palms of the hand and it will 'stick' together quite nicely in a felty sort of way. I'm so glad my concert clothes are made of cotton and linen... it can get very hot on stage, especially during summer concerts (lit, by the venue, on the hottest night of the year, by candlelight... !) in churches where often the sun is streaming through the west window right into your face. It has its moments. LTS LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Aug 07 - 04:46 AM I have 3 beautiful circles of pastel coloured dryer lint from hand-dyed mohair. I've kept them for years in my box of miscellaneous embroidery/craft stuff cos they were too beautiful to throw out, & finally took them out yesterday to ponder over & finally do something with. Mohair is not cotton (tho the backing is), it's goat hair, but then modern dryer lint is probably not cotton either, most of it would be nasty modern fibres created from all kinds of weird stuff. I've never thought of saving the normal weekly dryer lint, and I don't think I will now, unless I get some as pretty as my mohair lint. sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Bee Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:20 AM There are a few artists who use dryer lint to make rather lovely paintings, sculptures, handmade paper, etc. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: HouseCat Date: 16 Aug 07 - 10:14 AM I've used it in handmade paper before, but mine has so much cat hair in it, I thought some folk might find it unappealing. It does give it alot of strength though. :~) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Joe Offer Date: 16 Aug 07 - 01:23 PM Hey, what could be more wonderful in cotton than plaid shirts? I'm grieving now, since the collar of my favorite shirt wore out. You can have only so many blue shirts - but you can have an infinite variety of plaids. I got plaid sheets, too - I'm not quite sure that my wife likes them. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: wysiwyg Date: 16 Aug 07 - 03:23 PM So you converted it to a band (collarless) collar, right?!?!?!? ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Rapparee Date: 16 Aug 07 - 04:10 PM Why not spin the dryer lint back into thread and use it for weaving? Recycle it back into clothing.... You can also use it to stop bleeding, but it's not very aseptic. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: SINSULL Date: 16 Aug 07 - 04:46 PM My lint is full of cat and dog hair. Not likely for recycling. Cotton sheets Cotton flannel sheets cotton candy Cotton T shirts |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Liz the Squeak Date: 17 Aug 07 - 02:23 AM Joe - didn't you used to work on 'Home Improvement' with Tim Allen?! All that plaid... never get a chameleon as a pet, it'll drop dead of exhaustion before a week is up! : ) LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Rapparee Date: 17 Aug 07 - 09:13 AM There used to be Scottish chameleons, LtS, but they're now extinct for exactly that reason. When the Picts simply painted themselves blue the lizards flourished, but when they started wearing plaids.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Liz the Squeak Date: 18 Aug 07 - 02:39 AM Explains a lot about the blue tongued skink. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: wysiwyg Date: 17 Feb 08 - 07:41 AM Very snug (men's) tank tops cut off and elastic-hemmed as dreamy-soft leisure bras or swimming "shelf bras" (which look like comfy athletic cami's) for a tad more skin coverage worn under a suddenly-oversized bathing suit. And pre-pre-pre-washed soft-- a buck apiece-- thanks to Salvation Army. Blessings to the lifeguard spotted wearing a sports bra under her swimsuit for role-modeling all-day comfort PLUS instant readiness for pool action! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Mo the caller Date: 17 Feb 08 - 06:03 PM Cotton undies are all very well, but you have to buy them from a market stall. The ones from the chain stores or catalogues may SAY 100% cotton, but they have a trimming of 'lace' made of elastic round the legs. Just where it's most uncomfortable when you get energetic and hot. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Sorcha Date: 17 Feb 08 - 06:22 PM Sooz, this is a real question, not a snide remark, OK? I'd honestly think that even 'snug' the mens tank top thing would provide absolutely NO support....esp. for the well endowed. I mean, the whole point is to keep them from 'drooping' right? How is a mens tank top with elastic going to do that? I don't have this problem because I am rather small. I can go free and usually do. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: wysiwyg Date: 17 Feb 08 - 09:32 PM See PM. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Leadfingers Date: 17 Feb 08 - 09:57 PM Because I am a Lazy Sod I DO wear drip dry for Day to Day but you CANT beat a PROPER cotton shirt for 'smart' even if they ARE a REAL P I T A to iron ! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: open mike Date: 18 Feb 08 - 03:45 AM ahhhh...flannel sheets.....they got 'em here: http://www.thecompanystore.com/ and knit cotton leggings....and (is this too much information?) jog bras |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Rowan Date: 18 Feb 08 - 05:28 PM Because the clothes dryer I use is the solar powered one out in the back yard, the only lint I collect is the stuff from my navel. Because I wear only natural fibres (long habit from volunteer firefighting) this lint will be mostly cotton but I don't think it has the same attractiveness as Sandra's, nor the same rate of accumulation. But, seriously, many seem unaware of some of the reasons behind particular qualities of cotton; it's mostly cellulose and 'pure' cellulose will wick water extremely efficiently. The nap of flannel traps a reasonably thick layer of air, which is why it feels warm but even a smooth finish will wick moisture from the skin and the moisture warms up quickly, which is why cotton sheets feel comfortable next to the skin. Under a blanket (itself the insulator) you feel warm and, on hot and sweaty nights, the cotton wicks the sweat away. When I was at Mawson, the standard outer garments were made from Ventile cotton; it never rains so there is no need for such garments to be waterproof. The cotton was "long staple" (and thus strong) and the fabric was 125 threads/inch, about as closely woven as you could get. Such a close weave meant that the wind was kept out but, just as importantly, increased the quantity of cellulose per unit area, increasing the rate at which water (from sweat) could be wicked through the garment. "Wicked", as they say. Cheers, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: wysiwyg Date: 18 Feb 08 - 08:13 PM I saw (felt) Canton cloth once and man, was that wonderful stuff. Extra-heavy flannel and flanneled on both sides, sold (as I saw it) as bandaging for horse legs. Even before it had been washed (brings up the nap like a miracle), thick and soft and creamy. And of course my travel towels are all flannel for the reasons Rowan has described so well above, but I've written about them often before. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Feb 08 - 10:34 PM Rowan, I assume you mean Mawson Antarctic Base, not the Canberra suburb? sandra I really must do something with my lovely mohair lint (when I finish all my other current crafty projects!) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Rowan Date: 19 Feb 08 - 04:30 PM Sorry Sandra, I forgot there's all these northern hemisphere characters around; yes, I did mean Antarctica, although I have experienced cold in Canberra too. Your comment about mohair reminded me of another aspect of cotton. Being cellulose, cotton burns easily, which means that many of the lovely cotton things we used to wear to bed when toddlers were a bit lethal if too close to a fire or a radiator while warming up for the jump into the cot. Artificial polyesters are worse, most of the time, because even if it doesn't burn most polyesters melt and do an effective imitation of napalm; not very nice on skin, especially for infants. These days there are design rules for such clothing to minimise the possibility of it burning. But mohair, wool and other fibres we capture from mammals is/are keratin. Keratin tends to char rather than take a flame and this attribute gives it a high rating for clothing in the circumstances I'm in. Wool has an extra advantage in that, even when wet, it traps air effectively and thus retains much of its insulating ability; "Wool stays warm when wet" was the bushwalkers' advice for socks especially but also for jumpers and trousers in the southern parts of Australia. And, although I still have several of my woollen shirts from Mawson and find them quite comfortable next to the skin, cotton is very nice. Cheers, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Donuel Date: 20 Feb 08 - 02:28 PM I gotta admit cotton is more practical and comforting than opals ;< } |
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Subject: RE: BS: Wonderful Cotton Things From: Donuel Date: 20 Feb 08 - 02:30 PM btw Susan I am coming around to your broad definition of plagurism since the thread 5 years ago titled favorite peronal quotes. |
