Translating Labels, real gold and silk, real silk, real what?

Is it real or fake? One hundred per cent or a mix? If you are buying gold or silver or jewellery, it helps to recognize the words for real silver and gold, and gold plated, or silver plated.

When buying leather, such as jackets, bag, or shoes, it helps to recognize both the symbols for leather and synthetics, and the words used. I have seen PU leather, which pops up in a search for leather boots, but it is fake lather, or leather look.

Sometimes you want the alternative. You might prefer plated items because they are cheaper. Or synthetic rather than leather or fur because you don[t want to be cruel to animals. 

You might want to find out the difference between 925 silver, and alloys. Also polyester cotton, which to my mind saves ironing

 I bought a scarf, second hand, pre-loved, whatever you want to call it. I loved it.

It had the label 100%. But 100% what?

 It had three letters I could not understand, not just in a foreign language, but also in a foreign alphabet.

It felt soft. But not quite as soft as silk. I had hoped for silk. Was it a good modern imitation?

I tried googling lists of words for silk in all languages. It was not silk.

What was the language. It looked like Russian. I worked out from another Russian word that the first letter was L.   What was the E with the two dots? The e pronounced like ay. The last letter looking like an H was N.  Lane?  The French for wool is laine. The word was not Russian for wool.

I had invited a friend to lunch with me at a restaurant. I showed her the scarf. She suggested linen. That sounded like the letters L A for ay, N. But the scarf did not feel thick and heavy and tightly woven, like linen suits which are stiff, resembling denim jeans.

Linen.

However, a search for the Russian word for linen produced a match. So did copying the word as an image and asking for a translation.

Photograph by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

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How to Sew a medical mask - by hand or machine

Proper medical masks, even the cheap ones you wear for four hours, are in short supply.

If you have to travel, or or home and want to help others, you might want to make a mask.

Sewing an emergency cloth mask is really simple. (Even quicker if you have a sewing machine.)

Start by washing your hands, disinfecting the surfaces, boiling the cloth you are using for ten minutes or more.

You might work in an existing mask, or your fist prototype mask to make others.

You need clean cotton cloth. A t-shirt or teatowel. Or pillow case. Ideally new. A washed sheet cut up to make many masks. You might have two thicknesses of cloth, the softer inside and the tougher patterned outside.

Check if you can breathe through the doubled fabric. (Before washing so you don't give germs to others nor reinfect yourself. You might check breathing rhrough a piece of fabric you are not using.)

Two large oblongs for the mask.

For the straps, shoe laces or elastic or long strips sewn together.

You attach the straps.

Sew the sides of the two oblongs together (with the edges of the elastic or shoe lace or cootn strips inside.

If you want to hot wash or bleach, cotton might be better than elastic.

Fold the mask like a concertina and sew both sides.

You can conceal the printed part of the pattern of the cloth inside, or enjoy the pattern on the outside.

I have seen other systems using goggles and flaps into which you insert wet wipes.

Before starting, check several patterns and suggestions for fabrics and styles. Do you want the mask for a child or adult?

I suggest you use an existing mask as a template or check the mask on yourself for size before sewing.

How To Search Online
 If you just type in make a mask you get recipes for yogurt masks to cure skin problems.When searching online a useful phrases is sew medical mask.

Here are some detailed instructions with pictures:

Useful Websites
https://www.wikihow.com/Sew-a-Medical-Mask
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/opinion/coronavirus-n95-mask.html

About the author
Angela Lansbury is the author of twenty books including How to get out of the mess you're in.

Where to buy cotton flowers and cotton clothes worldwide

Cotton flower bouquet. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

My investigation into cotton started with a cotton flower bouquet sent to my family in Singapore by my family in London, England. This bouquet arrived with  the stems wrapped in what looked like a piece of brown sackcloth. I thought, 'That's strange. Not a bit like a British bouquet of flowers.'

My family in Singapore looked at it and said, "That is not real cotton. It must be dyed in those colours, lavender and pale blue."

Over a week later I look out one of the cotton stalks and inspected it to see if it was living and needed water, or plastic. Hard to tell. It looked like the top was separate from the stalk.

Then I noticed that the four balls were divided by some kind of husk or imitation husk. At this point I decided to find out what cotton really looks like when it is growing. I found lots of pictures on Google internet by mistake and then found the page I was looking for in Wikipedia, which provides an overview, not just a website selling something. Wikipedia also has several handy links to back up each point. 

The major surprise for me was that the piece of sackcloth is or represents woven stiff brown linen which, like even rougher hessian, is made from the cotton plant. 

Now I know why sellers of cotton clothes (such as Patra silk) sell linen clothes. Linen is related to cotton, possibly the same factory or same exporter or same country. Same supplier. Also for those in the know, linen like cotton is a natural product, unlike synthetics.

If you are not bothered about real cotton, you can buy artificial cotton flowers. Not the real thing. But needs no watering. No water to breed mosquitoes and go off fast in Singapore tropical weather.

Very interesting to learn about cotton. But, next time, in Singapore like in London, I shall ask for potted plants, a plant which is edible, such as a tomato plant, or orchids.

Looking at cotton flowers made me think of cotton clothes.

COTTON CLOTHES
Regarding buying clothes, look for cotton or a cotton mix.

You can buy online hunting for cotton, such as from Cotton Traders. You can search without giving this company your email, although you might wish to do so to take advantage of their 10% welcome sign up now offer. You get the pop up offer on signing into the site and leaving it.

Underwear
Cotton underwear is more breathable, and you may prefer it to prevent or cure thrush. If a product is 95 per cent cotton and five per cent elastane, that could be because of the elastic around the waistband and legs. Available from cottonon.

Bedding
When it comes to buying bedding you might wish to look for more expensive Egyptian cotton or a closer weave meaning smoother fabric, harder wearing and less inclined to fray. With sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases as with clothes, you might want to consider whether you want non-iron (roughly half cotton and half synthetics provides a non-iron fabric - check the label. I find many cotton items can be pulled straight and don't need ironing (when worn under a jacket or coat), unless you want them to look crisp.

When searching online for clothes, either put the word cotton in the search box or scroll down until you see fabrics and click on cotton.

The advantage of cotton is that, if you don't like the colour or pattern, you can dye the fabric and it absorbs the colour well.

For cheap cotton t-shirts and other garments, go to the markets.

Or pick cheap shops.

DIY
Mercerised Cotton Sewing thread
Mercerised cotton is named after the man who invented the process. It is cotton thread with a shiny outside or covering.

Does it matter whether you sew with cotton or synthetics? Thread type should match the material, otherwise you risk the thread and garment shrinking different amounts in the washing machine. 

If you are sewing on a button and want a matching colour thread, and matching fabric to look right and avoid shrinkage, sometimes it is possible to pull a suitable length strand from the seam of the garment, or a piece cut off the hem when shortening.

For example,
Singapore:
Flowers:

https://floralgaragesg.com/product/joy/
ARTIFICIAL COTTON PLANT
https://www.jjshouse.com/Simple-Classic-Nice-Beautiful-Flower-Cotton-Artificial-Flowers-

Clothes
Mustapha's 24 hour department store.
Toa Payoh near Toa Payoh MRT station - lots of small shops and kiosks. Check labels for cotton.

UK
Primark.
Many supermarkets sell clothes with different and larger collections in summer and at sale time. They also sell online.
Marks & Spencers online sells cotton full brief and bras.

Useful Websites

Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturally_colored_cotton
For information on satin-look mercerized thread, see
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercerised_cotton
Britannica

https://www.123rf.com/photo_10346562_closeup-of-ripe-cotton-plant.html

Clothes:

https://www.cottontraders.com/search_long-sleeve-tops/?q=cotton

https://cottonon.com/SG/cotton-rib-bikini-brief

https://www.marksandspencer.com/sg/cool-comfort™-cotton-rich-full-briefs/

About the author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Meghan's Wonderful Wedding Dress - You Can Get One Like It - But Which Fabrics?

Problem
I received an exciting email from Intu, the shopping mall in Watford , North west London, England.(Intu have more malls all over the country). Meghan's wedding dress inspired dresses with boat necks at unbelievable prices (low! affordable! -  to high) but missing an essential fact - what's the fabric?

I then go onto ASOS, and I see more of the fabulous designs. Again, not enough information. I see one or two captions mention lace, but most give no indication of the material.

Answers
What I like about Amazon and ebay is usually see what you are getting. Ebay even has reference guides to: types of fabric; silver; and so on.

I have worked out the meaning of sand-washed silk and other types of silk. One word, or rather phrase of description which confused me this week was Ice Silk. As far as I can see it's almost a brand name, a synthetic, not silk from a silk worm. I was on the point of sending off a complaint to ebay when I thought about it and had second thoughts.

If they banned thre phrase Ice Silk, maybe they would have to stop advertisers using the term Thai Silk. I love Thai silk. I often search for Thai silk. Thai Silk, which is not silk, is a term I understand.

Thai Silk
After a long time thinking Thai silk was always real silk, then I found out it's usually a patterned synthetic fabric with a lovely gloss or sheen, and looks expensive.  I am happy to buy it again and again.

Ice Silk
However, the term Ice Silk is new to me. I feel it should be Ice Silky or Thai Silky.

Faux Leather
The same caution grips me when I read 'faux leather'. I don't feel outraged. I feel confused, afraid that I am being cheated, foolish, stupid, gullible. If nothing else, it wastes my time giving me pages of synthetics when I am trying to buy the real thing. Therefore, I run out of time and patience and go away buying nothing.

It took me a while, and a couple of wasted purchases, to find out that noil silk is not soft and smooth but bubbly.

Fresh
I am also bothered by a brand of juice called Fresh, because now when I look at menus I can never tell whether the Fresh juice really is the brand or made freshly squeezed on the premises.

I recall the phrase 'buyer beware'. I'm sure the sellers are making a fortune and have many happy customers. I am not yet one of them.  What do you think?

At least, with a name like faux leather, or Thai silk or ice silk, you can google away until you find out what the fabric really is. Because I speak French fluently, I know that faux means false. But when there's no description, how do you know what you are getting?

I can see for myself if it looks boat-neck, or pleated, or lace. But will it turn out to be backless? Is it lined? Elasticated? Could I wear it more than three hours? (Before it fell apart!)

If you are buying goods for a wedding or honeymoon in the summer heat, you may be concerned about the fabric. Is it lightweight, cotton, washable, crease-free, stain repellent, soft, scratchy, machine washable, dry clean only, hand wash only - what?

Replica of Kate's wedding dress, from Chinese source. Wikipedia.

Useful Websites
https://intu.co.uk/inspire-me/meghan-markle-wedding-dress-dupe?utm_medium=Newsletter
http://www.asos.com/search/wedding%20dress?q=wedding+dress

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Emergency Shoe and Button Repairs When Travelling: Dental Floss, hair and threads

Problem
The strap of a man's sandal comes apart at an airport. What can you do?

Answer
A quick temporary repair with dental floss.

Story
The sandal came apart at the airport on the way home to London from Stansted. No products or time for a proper repair. An urgent need to stick the shoe together to continue with journey. A piece of dental floss wound around kept the strap together. It was not a permanent repair, but it got the sandal's owner out of trouble.

Dental Floss
If you didn't have dental floss and couldn't see a shoe repair shop, you could dash into the nearest chemist (UK) or drug store (US) and buy dental floss. Most dental floss is white and looks tubular. However, you can also buy flat ribbon floss and green mint.

Shoe Laces
A pair of long shoe laces can be used to make an emergency suitcase handle if your suitcase handle breaks.

Hair
An alternative for a sewing fix is to use your own long hair. or ask a relative for a long hair. You might see a long hair in a hairdressing salon or on the sofa or the clothes of somebody who has long hair. Or even ask a passer by for the donation of a long hair!

Hair comes in many colours, natural and dyed. You might see black hair, blonde hair, red hair, blue hair, purple hair, white hair.

If you don't like the idea of cutting off your own hair or somebody else's, look for hair left in a comb or brush.

Tips
I usually travel with a pair of slipper sox just in case. Note to self - put a pair of slipper sox in the front pocket of my carry on luggage, or a  spare pair of flip flops.

Button Thread Needed
If you want to sew on a button with matching thread, look for a piece of thread dangling from a hem or seam. You need a piece long enough for the size of needle. Pick the smallest needle. If the thread is long enough, sew the whole button on with it. If you have a short piece, secure the button with a near colour thread. Weave the matching thread to cover the top of the non-matching threads on the button.

If all else fails, remove matching thread from the seam, or pull a thread from the woven hem. Make good the now missing piece of cotton with non-matching thread in the hidden area.

Change the button with visible holes to a matching colour button which instead has an underneath shank so the thread does not show.

You can sew over the top of the repair with matching thread when you get home.

Buy a button which has a removable top which you cover with fabric. Cut a small piece of fabric from the garment hem to make a matching button.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Hiding stains on garments when travelling

I was in Singapore during Chinese New Year when the main event is Chinese New Year dinners, Singapore style - called Lo Hei, where you are served a central platter in the middle of a round table and all the diners stand and toss the noodles and coloured ingredients in the air - with the risk of splashing your clothes. One American lady apparently made a fuss because her fine blouse or dress was splattered and needed dry cleaning at high expense with the risk of staining.

The memory of this event has bothered me for years. Whenever I go to an Indian restaurant I wear a scarf which can be washed which I drape across my chest or lap or both. The scarf should protect my dress. Also if my clothes are splashed I can wash them and cover the stain or damp patch with the scarf.

What happens if you get a splash during dinner? The usual answer is to go to the Ladies and wash as soon as possible.

(If you are stuck at the table and can't rush off, for example, because you are listening to the VIP giving a speech, or the groom's speech at a wedding, and somebody else reached for their sparkling wine for the toast and knocked their red wine over you, what do you do?

You might tip some white wine or water into a glass, from their into a coffee saucer, or use a teaspoon to scoop up a little water. Tip the water onto the corner of your white napkin - if all else fails, a white paper tissue from your pocket, a white tissue begged from a bystander, or even a corner of the tablecloth.

For a spot, without wetting a large area, apply with a piece of cotton wool borrowed from hotel reception or a member of your dinner party who is staying at the hotel.

Dry Cleaning
I recently bought an item from Ebay which was advertised as having some small stains on the top and skirt of a dry clean only garment. When it arrived, I made the mistake of trying to spot clean the stains on the skirt.

I knew from previous experience that some dry clean only garments can be hand washed. Providing you start with cold water. Also watch out for the buttons and other appliqué items which might colour run, or would be damaged, or pull off easily and snag so they would not be safe being tossed about in a washing machine nor a tumble drier. The same applies to delicate crochet where a button from one part of the garment, or a zip pull, could catch in a hole and tear the garment.

Washing Disasters
I have also had a silk garment shrink in the wash. (I now have a shrunken top, though the skirt is OK.) I also had a garment with a lining of a different fabric, so the lining shrank at a different rate from the outside. Result, one part shrunk, and seams puckered.

So I thought I'd already learned my lesson on garments which I had bought so cheaply that I considered that after wearing them four or five times I had had my moneys worth already and would risk washing them.

This tine I had a set of four garment, two parts with tiny stains, two on the skirt, four on the top. So I thought, let's try a tiny cold water wash. No use, still stained.

So, I thought, be bolder. Try a bit of soap and rubbing.

However, as soon as I added the water, the rough crepe silk started buckling and creasing, contrasting with the smooth just ironed look of the rest of the skirt. Disaster!

I tried pulling it straight. I would have to wait and see if hanging it upright helped the creasing fall out. Yes, it is just crumpled, not damaged, but looks as if it needs steaming, far too delicate to iron.

If all else failed, I would have to make a dart and sew up the creased fabric.  Luckily it was a fairly full skirt. Enough fabric for the dart. Enough fabric for it to swing about and not notice.

Hiding
A long jacket or coat might cover the skirt when I arrived at my venue. When I was seated nobody would notice what was below knees level. A long scarf could also cover a stain.

On the other hand, It was too nice a garment to wear on any occasion except a grand event where I wanted to look my best, feel my best, and impress.

Sew on Sequins, Buttons and Ribbons
The spots were tiny, smaller than my little finger's finger nail. I decided not to risk trying to spot wash the top. I would cover the spots with sequins.

Sewing sequins
How do you sew on a sequin? It has only one hole. If you radiate the threads it looks odd.

To hide the three threads you have to sew in one direction only. Then place the next sequin overlapping the thread on the first.

An alternative if you are in a hotel and have no sequins is to use pearl buttons. You can usually get a sewing kit from a hotel or supermarket with a couple of pearly shirt buttons. Pearly buttons can be sewn on with white thread. A five star hotel might have a button sewing service, which could be safer than trusting them to dry clean your garment or sending your garment out to a laundry when you have a plane to catch next day.

Pin or Sew On Ribbons
No sequins nor buttons? If you don't have sequins of buttons, or don't think sequins and buttons suit the garment, consider ribbons. You can double a length of ribbon and pin it on with a brooch. No brooch? Pin it on with a concealed safety pin.

Make a ribbon patch or appliqué. Cut out oblongs of ribbons, seam them and sew them on. Or wind the ribbon into a spiral to make a rose or abstract decoration.

Beads
Small or large beads could also be used.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Author of How To Get Out Of The Mess You're In.

Cheap T Shirts for making matching outfits

t shirts for only a pound in a variety of colours? Just what I need.  I have been through my wardrobe. I have shorts in patterns and t-shirt with slogans and pictures and they clash. I need plain colour shorts and plain colour t-shirts to make up sets to wear.

Otherwise I have loads of separates which don't match anything. But the family have banned me from buying more clothes because I am spending too much and the wardrobes are overflowing yet aI claim I never have anything to wear and to out looking bizarre with two many clashing patterns, or take hours to dress.

Yes, I know the problems with cheap tee-shirts. Wear it once and it's stained.  (Answer is to tie - dye it.) The seams split. The fit isn't right - too tight or too baggy or just not smart enough for the nice restaurant at lunch or supper.

Needs ironing if it's cotton. Cheap and nasty if it's synthetic, and the fabric won't match anything else.

I still feel I must look at the website. What do I find. Most of those lovely colours, the emerald green and bright orange are only for children. Ladies long sleeves are black, or white, OK, that goes with a lot of things. Ladies are also in pink and yellow. But what If I want long sleeves to guard against mosquito bites and dengue fever? I can wear a jacket or blouse on top of a short sleeve tee. To get navy I would have to buy a men's size. Best to go into a shop to see the sizes and colours and fabric. Good for a gift for a meeting, Xmas, or summer picnic or barbecue, sports day or running club or give or lend to a friend for jogging together.

http://www.poundshop.com/fashion/clothing?p=2&utm_campaign=HFPS-TS-26-03-16&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Newsletter

Sewing an outfit
If you want matching shorts, at that price you can afford to buy two pairs and cut shorts. Or use the second pair to make a wide strip into a wrap around skirt to wear over bikini bottoms or shorts which don't match but provide a flash of contrasting colour. You could even buy three to make matching shorts, t shirt and long sleeve shirt or jacket. Use a spare strip to add a scarf or attach it as a mock scarf. Make a belt to match from strips seemed and turn inside out. Sew both narrow end edges straight or in a v-shape.

Pocket using No sew Velcro
To make a safety pocket for your keys, travel card or credit card or phone, use a strip on the inside for a pocket. To fasten sew a loop and a button. Or a slit edged with blanked stitch and a button which matches or contrasts. Or iron on or sew on a piece of velcro (stick and loop tape).

If you can't get to Poundland for summer offers, also look at Primark. Primark has white crew short sleeve t-shirts for ladies from £3. Stores are in UK, Wales, Ireland, the USA and Europe.
See
primark.com

Angela Lansbury, travel writer