Nope. I’m not talking firearms. I’m talking cheesecloth. We go through a lot of cheesecloth around here. Bruce uses it to strain honey and I use it for lots of things, including cheese making. The little packages are long on plastic and short on cloth while the quality is so poor that it takes 3-4 layers to get a good filter. So I was delighted when my dear friend, Barbara, found a deal on 10 boxes, each holding 80 yards for about $40.00 a box, of excellent, unbleached cheese cloth. I think it is actually butter muslin, sort of cheesecloth on steroids. I bought 2 of the boxes. I know. This seems like overkill, even for me. But I now have a lifetime supply in two neat packages. Who could resist?
This got me to thinking. I’ll want to pick up get a few other fabric bolts to add to my supplies. I’ll bet that chambry, real flannel (not the cheap, polyester junk), terrycloth, cotton broadcloth and denim can be bought a lot cheaper by the bolt. There is a factory outlet near us that sells polar fleece in bags. The price is right but it’s too bulky to store and mice love to nest in the bags. The bolts however, are compact and one will slip under a bed or on a closet shelf. I’ll start a web search today.
I am hoping for a joyous New Year for all of you. I feel so blessed to having this online family. I have learned much, shared much and still look forward to my thrice weekly check in. If this next year proves to be as interesting as I expect, we will need as much support and information as we can muster.
Fondly,
Kathy
December 31, 2010 at 9:19 am
Hi all–in addition to fabic, I’ve also stocked up on thread, notions, etc when they go on sale. Also some patterns when Simplicity goes on sale for 99 cents–basic shirt, shorts/pants, dress, etc and coats that can be simply made out of polar fleece or by making over one from a yard sale/goodwill find.
The chessecloth is a good deal! I hope to do more cheesemaking in 2011. Busy getting seed/plant orders ready as I’ll be growing more. One presenter at the MEN fair said to go out and look over your property and see where you have bare places and figure out what you can grow in those spaces. A little tricky with snow on the ground, but I’m trying!
I’m learning so much from Kathy, and all of you who contribute. We’re going to need each other in the coming year!
Mary Ellen
December 31, 2010 at 9:22 am
I’ve occasionally thought about purchasing a bolt of cheesecloth. I have no idea whether it’s really sold in bolts or not. This super cheesecloth you got, will it work to strain honey? I agree that with many kitchen tasks, something a bit denser than cheesecloth would be nice. But honey is fairly thick, and I wonder how something like muslin will work with it.
I may have to look in the next time I’m in the neighborhood of the Mennonite fabric store. They usually have a sale table of truly hideous fabrics, usually the cutesy stuff for kids. But if one of those fabrics happened to be real flannel, I might pick it up. When TSHTF, I probably won’t care what it looks like if it’s keeping us warm, and besides, a seamstress better than I could probably hide it as a lining inside something more staid.
December 31, 2010 at 9:25 am
Please if anyone has this source of cheesecloth. Please post.
December 31, 2010 at 10:50 am
Please let us all know about your search for bolts of material. Thanks so much for all your posts.I love reading what you have to say. You inspire me!!!!!!!!!!!
December 31, 2010 at 11:32 am
I didn’t realize there were such differences in the quality of cheesecloth. I use the stuff that requires 4 layers, but I thought that was just par for course when it came to using cheesecloth.
December 31, 2010 at 11:36 am
This is actual cheescloth, not muslin. It is just a much finer weave. I am expecting it will take more time to strain honey but it will definately seep through. I’ll ask Barbara about the source. I am finding bolt of flannel for $148.00. This cheesecloth is in a box, not a bolt. There is a lot of it in a waffle fold.
December 31, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Have you seen the nylon pail filters for your honey? Come as set of three and you can fine filter with no heat. They work great. Placed on a pail with honey gate you can go right from extractor thru filter to pail. We’re sure glad we bought them. So much quicker/less sticky than cheesecloth and they clean up beautifully,too. Filter set of 600,400,200 micron available at http://www.mannlakeltd.com for $14.50. Very labor saving. DEE
December 31, 2010 at 2:04 pm
This is why I never throw away blue jeans; I’m sure to need a sturdy patch or tough fabric for a household task some day. I also have versatile, cheap cotton 6×9′ drop cloths on hand. My mom inherited the trestle-action sewing machine that she learned to sew on in the 1940s, and I’ve urged her to refurbish it and start using it again — who knows when we may need to make clothes without electricity. Donna
December 31, 2010 at 4:07 pm
I used to get bolts of fabric from Fabric.com at almost wholesale prices. They have extra wide bolts too. I’d love to come accross a but like that cheese cloth!.
December 31, 2010 at 8:53 pm
A couple of years ago dh and I were in town to go to the bank. While there talking in the truck we noticed a yard sale across the way. So we went over and talked to the people. The sale was to be the next day. But since we were there they let us shop. We bought cases of canning jars for a couple of dollars a case. And we also bought an entire rubbermaid full of cheese cloth for a couple of bucks also. I was tickled as it is the nice stuff. They also sold us jar lids for a quarter a box for regulars and fifty cents a box for wide mouth. Needless to say we bought all of them. A very good day for us. And 10 of the nice gallon jars for $l each. I really like those kind of sales.
January 1, 2011 at 11:54 am
I’m looking forward to hearing more about the cheesecloth too!
I have quite a bit of fabric (yikes!), some polar fleece and some cotton (including flannel from a going-out-of-business sale). I’m tending more toward linen and wool these days, with a little silk thrown in. The first two need pre-shrinking, just like cotton, but they’re great for high humidity weather or when you might get wet (precipitation). Both linen and wool wick moisture away from your skin, so in summer the linen works well for helping to keep you cooler, and surprisingly some wools are decent in the summer as well.
My husband and I are slowly switching over all our socks to wool ones — yes, for year-round wear, because whether you’re working on the farm or working out at the gym or running/walking around your neighborhood, feet get sweaty too. They’re more expensive than cotton socks, but they’re pretty durable. And you can get them in different thicknesses. It’s worth checking bargain stores like ACME Surplus in Thorne’s Market in Northampton, for instance, because they sometimes carry wool socks there, for pretty reasonable prices. If budget isn’t quite as much of a concern, Sam’s Outfitters carries lots of socks, and sometimes they have sales on them.
Wool is also excellent because even if it gets saturated with water, it will still keep you warmer in winter than any other material. Well, there might be some modern miracle fabric that does this now too, but you can’t get it from nature yourself, so….
I agree on stocking up on thread and notions — whenever there’s a sale on those and I can make it to one of the fabric stores, I pick up a few spools. I really should get some more needles too… Thread is so expensive these days, I can’t stand to buy it if it isn’t on sale
Anyway, just a few textile tidbits for those interested!
January 1, 2011 at 7:49 pm
I really like ACME Surplus for a few things, socks being one of them. They are also great for office supplies. Deals and Steals is another great place for those who live close to Northampton. It’s my go-to place for tea.
January 2, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Heather,
If you have a Hancock Fabrics store in your area, they are having a 50% off sale on all their Coats & Clark thread Jan 6 to 9th. I have extra spools of black and white thread but I plan on buying some more of those plus a variety of colours too because I can’t stand to pay the full price they are now asking.
I’ve also been stocking up on various sewing notions when they run their 50% off sales and watching their clearance tables.