Reader Exchange: Phew! Help! My fabric reeks of mothballs

By LINDA D. COLE and INGRID L. KOHLER
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 27, 2002

One likes to make the world a better place when it's feasible to do so, but even our kind readers will agree that turning oneself into a human bug bomb is rather overdoing it. The Cotugno household is putting reins on its altruism and asking how to remove the odor of mothballs from some lovely polyester fabric. The material is too pretty to part with, yet too odorous to make into clothing.

Some of the methods already tried and found wanting involve vinegar, baking soda and washing in All, with and without Oxyclean. All attempts have been thwarted by mothball miasma. If you know a way to vanquish it, please e-mail scotugno@tampabay.rr.com.

Of course, fads come and fads go, and the day may come when mothball elixir is bottled by Chanel and sells for $500 an ounce. Count nothing out. One hobby whose time seems to have come and gone is macrame, which is sad for one reader who, since she wishes to remain unnamed, we shall call Ms. Macrame.

She has the materials (which is fortunate, since they are no longer easy to locate), but had to put her work aside for a while when she became ill.

Ms. Macrame would like to find somebody in the St. Petersburg area who can give her a quick refresher course and get her back on track with her macrame project. If you can give her some pointers, please send Ms. Macrame a note in care of this column, and we will forward it to her.

While we're on the subject of things that haven't be sighted recently, how about wall and ceiling mirror tiles? Daniel B. Schlemmer of New Port Richey is having a tough time finding tiles to replace some broken ones in his home.

He reminds us that the 12- by 12-inch tiles came plain, or flecked with gold or black, and were packaged 12 to a box. He needs the black-flecked variety. We note with pleasure that Daniel remains hopeful of finding the tiles despite having searched everywhere and located none. The reason for his impressive optimism? "If anyone may have them, it must be your readers. They probably have some lying around in their garages."

Optimistic, and uncannily correct. One member of our staff confesses to some mirror tiles lying about in her garage, but they are not the color Daniel needs. However, her admission bodes well for other garages' stashing the correct kind. Please call (727) 847-1636 if you can help.

We are a bit leery of mentioning this name after our little April Fool's joke had some folks offering to fill this fictitious need. But, Richard Simmons. There, we've done it and can move on from here. No, Richard doesn't need his exercise tape The Silver Foxes, but Emily Squire of Clearwater does. So, if some of you generous folks who were happy to oblige Richard will oblige Emily instead and call (727) 531-5734 -- well, we shall be much obliged.

Julia Tomczak of New Port Richey needs a knitting pattern for "preemie hats." Please give her a call at (727) 847-6618.

And also on the yarn front, Fran Hydie has all-wool dyed swatches for rug hookers, including those special five-color swatches that, according to Fran, rugmakers adore. Fran may be reached at (727) 531-4058.

June Himes of Homosassa is hunting for a 6-inch china plate to replace a broken one in her service. The pattern, called Beachcomber and manufactured by Otagiri (Japan), features a peach rim shaped like a shell and was an open-stock item at Belks department store around 1993.

The pattern is no longer stocked; nor is it available at Replacements Ltd., which June already has checked out. But there is always a chance of some pieces "lying around" our readers' garages. Please call June at (352) 382-1167.

Georgia Hink of St. Pete Beach hopes someone can help her locate instructions for making a "Cathedral Windows" quilt, which can be made by hand or by sewing machine. Her number is (727) 360-4986.

And, still on the subject of lovely things that can also serve a blankets, Joyce Clark needs a pattern for a round afghan. She made one about 10 years ago but has misplaced the instructions. If you have a pattern, you can e-mail her at joyce_11112@msn.com, Joyce will be highly appreciative.

Cornelia Schilling writes that her husband, Klaus, is looking for an episcope, a device for throwing nontransparent pictures on the wall. In a sort of Reader Exchange first, Klaus is open to barter: In exchange for an episcope, he will paint a watercolor portrait. Klaus can be reached at (813) 926-1235 or (813) 495-6608 (cell).

Can you tell Rose Taylor where she may purchase a cherry pitter? Please call (727) 546-5941.

Here's a familiar request, so if you have the required information, you should be able to go into active mode immediately. Bill Theodore has the old Sears sewing machine, model No. 566-93671, but he doesn't have the instruction manual. Bill called Sears and was told the manual is no longer available. Do you have a copy that Bill may photocopy? If so, please give him a call at (727) 360-3041.

-- Send requests to Reader Exchange, Newsfeatures, the Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg 33731 or e-mail cole@sptimes.com. Only questions of general interest will be answered. Requests will be accepted only by mail or e-mail; no phoned requests, please. This is an exchange column, so we will not run items that are for sale. Except in unusual circumstances, readers must agree to publication of phone numbers (please include the area code).

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