lambswool interfacing

[Elona]

Anyone remember that wonderful, loosely woven, creamy-white wool that we used to make sleeve heads from?  That no longer exists?  A few weeks ago, I found it at Tissus Reine in Paris, for about 10 euros the meter, I think.  They had stashed it where you wouldn't have expected to find it in the store, among the wools, rather than with the interfacings, but it was the very same stuff.

[Gorgeous Things]

Okay, I'm hopping on the next plane to Paris    Oh if only I could!

I know that MacDonald Faberin Toronto carries it.  I've never ordered from them.  Do they ship to the US?
Peggy Sagers also carries it, I believe.  She calls it Tie Interfacing.  I bought some of it from her a few years back.  I'm not sure if hers is lambswool, though I suspect it is.  Her site doesn't say.

Ann

[joan71]

I use tie interfacing salvaged from old ties.  I must say however much of what is used in ties today is polyester, not wool.  Vintage ties are the best resource.  Goodwill  is a good resource for them. 

Joan

[DeniseM]

Ann I don't know where you come up with these great links to fabric sources.

[Doris W. in TN]

Peggy Sagers also carries it, I believe.  She calls it Tie Interfacing.  I bought some of it from her a few years back.  I'm not sure if hers is lambswool, though I suspect it is.  Her site doesn't say.Ann

Ann, I bought some of that "tie interfacing" from Peggy's booth and it is not the same as the lambswool for sleeveheads.   I can't even use PS's stuff properly for a sleeve head.  It's really stiff.   I doubt it is lambswool.    I tried it once and it went into my "Live And Learn"  pile.  Have you had success with it?

[redhead]

I guess I can't miss what I've never seen, huh?

[BetsyV]

I asked specifically for it at the better LFS last weekend and the cutter said they didn't carry it anymore. I have used silk organza for very lightweight fabric; hair canvas for heavy-weight fabric, and if I remember rightly, I think I used wigan last winter making a tropical weight wool suit jacket. I got 2 rolls (white & black) from  Sew True last summer.  lifetime supply, no doubt, but still - that stuff is hard to get too. I have used all kinds of interfacing scraps for sleeve heads depending on what the fabric was.

The next time I go west instead of north for errands I may try the "home" store of this LFS I was in. The original store is in a town which also has a college which still offers a Fashion major. They are the only local reliable source for woven hair canvas.

[Ann C]

I bought some from Greenberg & Hammer [urlhttp://www.greenberg-hammer.com/store.asp?ItemID=3008][/url] a few years ago.  Their's is 40% wool, 60% rayon.  From what I understand, you can't get 100% wool any longer.  At any rate, it makes wonderful sleeve heads.  I bought a yard and if all I use it for is sleeve heads, I'm stocked for life! 

[Gorgeous Things]

Here's the link for that, Ann.  Thanks for letting us know - I thought Greenberg might have it, but I didn't know for sure

Greenberg-Hammer Lambswool

Ann

[BeckyN]

Two Anns--Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for this information.  I have a precious small piece of lambswool left.  Nothing works better for a sleeve head in a wool jacket.  Even if its not 100% wool, its got to be better than some fluffy stuff I bought as a substitute.  I have more trouble finding the good notions than I do finding good fabric and that's hard enough. I get to go to NYC in August for the US Open and have been combing this site for places to shop. Greenberg & Hammer is now on my list. Now I have to study their web site and make another list of things to buy there. Is this close to Metro Textiles?

[Gorgeous Things]

BeckyN, G&H is on 8th ave between 36th & 37th.  Metro is literally around the corner on 37th.  Metro is at 265 W 37th, the building next to the Dunkin Donuts on the corner of 8th.

HTH!
Ann

[Ann C]

PS:  Thanks, Ann, for straightening out my link!  Methinks I need to go back and play some in the sandbox again! 

I'll agree about the lambswool being so marvelous!  I use 2 or 3 layers, then fold them with one side a little wider than the other and stitch onto the sleeve cap seam.  Another one of those handwork things I love to do!  It makes that sleeve cap do a beautiful roll and hides any seam allowances that want to show through the sleeve and gives it a little "lift"!  I had heard about it for years in various sewing books, magazines, etc., but had no idea where to find it until someone on SW was talking about Greenberg & Hammer and they were just starting their website. 

[BeckyN]

OMG, lambswool, great fabrics AND donuts, all within steps of each other!  I think I'm in heaven.

Ann C-It's nice to read that someone else enjoys handwork.  I don't think there is any better way to learn about fabric than doing handwork. I always hem by hand. I also think its just as fast or faster than some machine stitching.  You don't have to struggle with getting small areas under the presserfoot, fabric shifting, stitching in little puckers, etc.  By the time you rip out maching stitching and resew a few times, the job could have been done once with hand stitching.  It takes some practice but still gives a better result.  Of course, this is how I learned to sew way back when and maybe why I feel more comfortable with it. 

[fzxdoc]

Ann C, I just received my order of the lambswool blend from Greenberg and Hammer.  It is really wonderful, just as you describe, Elona, soft and fluffy.  Perfect for sleeve heads. Thank you both so much for the information!  I now have a supply that should last me a few years and more. 

Kathryn

[Gorgeous Things]

I'm going to NYC next week so I think I'll have to make a pit stop at G&H.  I have two tiny scraps of lambswool in my drawer right now!

Ann

[Doris W. in TN]

Ann C, I just received my order of the lambswool blend from Greenberg and Hammer.  It is really wonderful, just as you describe, Elona, soft and fluffy.  Perfect for sleeve heads. Thank you both so much for the information!  I now have a supply that should last me a few years and more. 

Kathryn

Kathryn and anyone else --- have you ever ordered the lambswool from Richard Brooks in Dallas, TX?    I have some of that and wonder if the G & H stuff is the same.   The RB stuff is rather loosely woven and not really up the the task of a sleevehead.   I'm wondering how the G & H compares. 

[fzxdoc]

Kathryn and anyone else --- have you ever ordered the lambswool from Richard Brooks in Dallas, TX?    I have some of that and wonder if the G & H stuff is the same.   The RB stuff is rather loosely woven and not really up the the task of a sleevehead.   I'm wondering how the G & H compares. 

No I have not, Doris, so I don't know how they compare.  This G&H product is a lambswool blend, according to AnnC, who turned me on to it.  The website just says it's lambswool.  It is on a loosely knit backing and looks absolutely perfect for sleeveheads, to my eye.  It's very stable in the lengthwise direction and has a lot of give on the crosswise grain.  And it's amazingly soft and fluffy.  I want to hug it.

HTH,

Kathryn