Date:         Fri, 6 Mar 1998 09:47:40 -0800
Reply-To:     Gail Fitzpatrick <redwood@SPEEDLINK.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Gail Fitzpatrick <redwood@SPEEDLINK.COM>
Subject:      Can Westi curtains be laundered?
Comments: To: list <vanagon@vanagon.com>
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Mine is an '87, med. blue exterior with grey velour interior.  The curtains
on the inside are a kind of variegated grey check with occasional thin red
lines, now dingy and discolored in places.  i doubt they're faded much, in
that even places that never see light are not appreciably more intense in
color than the exposed parts.

The lining [faces the windows] is, of course, a whole 'nother story.  A
couple of panels have areas that give a glimpse of its former glory, a
striped pattern featuring purple and grey and other shades.  All the rest
are severely deteriorated, however, shredded if not outright disintegrated.

I'm no seamstress, but did recently inherit a sewing machine, and have
learned to do some basic things.

So i started out with grandiose ideas of making a whole new set of curtains
from scratch, but by the end of taking the measurements of the original set,
i was really intimidated by all the hardware and different techniques
employed.  i realize something far simpler could probably work, but am
inclined right now to try to retain the original design.

So, i got to thinking if I could brighten up the original curtains, and make
new linings that might even add a little insulation, I could save a lot of
time and money.  Staff in fabric stores say that "all" drapery materials,
irrespective of content, must be drycleaned, but laundering would be
cheaper.  Except, of course, it would be a total waste, if it shortened the
remaining life of the curtains.

All suggestions welcome.

If only i were so dedicated to spring cleaning in other parts of my life....

gail