Hello, Bjarne :o ) I beg your forgiveness if you already know this, and I apologize if I make faux pas.
I stand in such awe of the work you do, for you to mention the spot from the mosquito bite sparked memory. I realize historical clothing would have had such spots, but... what a shame for your garment to be marred. I always "twitch" when it happens to me lol I know most are aware of the lemon and sun treatment for stains on white, natural fabrics (my Grandmother taught me this one), but there is another treatment I learned of. If you have access to bottled spices, there is something called meat tenderizer which comes in a crystal form (looks similar to salt). It comes seasoned or unseasoned, and I used to get it in the US under the name of Adolph's. I've not found that one in Australia, but have found others, so I assume it is available world-wide. The unseasoned will appear white (I was always afraid the seasoned would stain, though never had it happen). If your garment can be soaked with cold water, or small part thereof, (and you have tested this treatment on a sample of your fabric and found it safe for the fiber and color) you then sprinkle the tenderizer on the spot and slightly work it in... being careful not to abrade your fabric. Let the spot soak for sometime in cold water with another generous sprinkle of the tenderizer atop the stain. Check it periodically, and if it needs to be sprinkled again or allowed to soak longer and the fabric is doing alright with that, let it soak until it appears gone. Rinse and wash as usual. I've been known to dissolve the tenderizer in water and let an entire garment soak for a week, but then it takes a sturdy, color/fabric for that ;o ) I have used this successfully on cottons and synthetics, both white and colored. I believe the reason this works is that it is made with papaya enzymes, which break down protein. Human body fluids are protein based, to my knowledge. If the fabric is of a protein based fiber or is dyed with protein dyes, I'd make absolutely sure to test a sample of the fabric before risking your garment. That said, I leave this treatment to your judgment. An aside: The treasure of my family has been the handing on of the needle arts generation to generation. Through necessity, I learned to rid my pieces of "needle prick marks" ;o ) Humbly, Susie Message: 10 Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2005 16:29:22 +0200 From: "Bjarne og Leif Drews" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [h-cost] Pros and cons, was Handkerchief Linen (snip) Thanks Kate, I think i payed about 125 dollars back in 2000 for 1 meter of this hankerchief linen. It original is used for making hankerchiefs edged with very fine homemade point laces. I knew it from my time when i made laces. And i thoaght it would be wonderfull for shirts and chemises. I have washed it only about 2-3 times a year when i goes to events, and the only thing wrong with it today is a tiny spot i got at the first event where i got a moskito bite. It has not gotten thinner of wash and the quality is the same. We have a special word for this linen in Denmark we call it Kammerdug, wich could be translated to something about chamber cloth. It is the finest linen available today, and the obstacle is sertanly the price. However i only wash it by hand, no machine, but this is mostly because i dont want to ruin my cotton lace wich is attached to it. Bjarne _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
