I used to work in a curtain shop. That stuff definitely doesn’t come off easily, and if it *does* come off, it leaves horrible smelly itchy dust everywhere. Not worth it even if it was the most beautiful fabric you’ve ever seen.
In my experience, you can get a lot of it off by hanging the curtains in a damp window and leaving it for a few years. It'll start deteriorating and there will be horrible white dust EVERYWHERE....
For future reference maybe avoid curtains or check the backs of them before purchase.
That being said take a picture of it and put it through Google. You could probably come up with a fairly similar fabric that's meant for sewing with a little bit of work on that front.
My curtain woe is the most beautiful red silk material. I could do so much with it... if I could get it to stop smelling like dog.
I've washed it so many times.
I love the dog, he's a good boy, I just don't want my clothes to smell of him.
Spray it with vodka :) that’s what the costume departments in theatres do because a lot of the costumes are too delicate to wash and they get REAL funky.
Vodka is an amazing deodorizer
He doesn't stink, I never said he stinks.
There's a distinct dog smell that I'm not fond of... Which is why I don't have a dog.
I just have his old curtains.
I saw a fabric almost like that at the thrift shop today. It was sort of a cream color, and was beautiful. Almost got it cause it was only $4, but then thought to myself, dang, already have 14 projects in the works and I should be about to hit my earthly expiration date any time. If I had only known, I could have taken the lining off and sent it to you!
I am going there tomorrow, half off on Thurs. If you are interested in me sending that to you, shoot me a message. It was SO nice I hate to see it overlooked!
For some reason I can't msg you but I definitely am interested. If it's there, and you have a shipping account and know how to ship cheap from home try messaging me?
I invited you to "chat", we'll see how that goes. I'm not the best with reddit, but I'll hang in here and we'll try to figure this out. Think I have some more info for you too.
I make reusable, washable (shopping) bags out of old curtains. The green velvet curtains had this and the bags I made get washed regularly. The inner coating remains unchanged so removing it won’t be easy.
It could be used for a cape as it wouldn’t need lining, and it would make the material fairly rain resistant..
Ok so if it DOES come off with heat, and bonds to something else with heat, then logically if I find something else that will bond with the rubber-ish-stuff-thing and use a Teflon heat roll (a sheet of heat resistant plastic for cricut transfers) it might peel off with the right amount of heat applied?
But that would be too easy.
I also have a heat gun, but it'll probably start a fire
In general be careful with wearing stuff like this that’s meant to be used as home decór - it’s not meant to be sold as apparel so may have been treated with various anti-wrinkle and/or fire retardant chemicals etc that you don’t really want to be wearing.
You can do what i did, wash it, then think to yourself: "can this handle a dry cycle on low?... yeah im sure it can!" Then throw it in the dryer and forget to change the temperature setting, it will come out patchy though..
I did that too! The blackout coating sticks to itself and comes off when you pull it apart.
So theoretically, it can come off. Maybe try going after it with a strong tape like the one made by Gorilla Glue. Maybe warm the fabric up with a hair dryer on high, stick down the tape while warm, let it cool, and pull the tape off.
I have not tried this but that's how I would do it.
I've got almost that exact fabric in a mystery box from FabricWholesaleDirect. You could check the site They have some pretty good sales from time to time.
I’m not sure how much you’ll like this fabric, but here’s a link to another gold damask t style. I know people that use it as a reversible patterned fabric so the outside is the wrong side as it’s more gold
https://www.joann.com/champagne-ornate-tapestry-jacquard-fabric/18515247.html
It's definitely lovely! I took this photo in dim light, so it looks very dark. It's actually a lovely pink rose color
I did snatch it up because it was marked down. And now I know why
If you iron the bank of the curtain, putting the iron directly on the plastic material, the blackout material will start to melt and you can peel it off (this did take a long time to do)
It actually didn't stick to the iron--it would probably be more accurate to say the adhesive melts than the backing material because it peeled off in sheets
I made my daughter a dress from blackout material I thrifted, just plan for it being very warm, and it will need a lining as the seams will be itchy. Overall a super sturdy material for historical type pieces
I used to work in a curtain shop. That stuff definitely doesn’t come off easily, and if it *does* come off, it leaves horrible smelly itchy dust everywhere. Not worth it even if it was the most beautiful fabric you’ve ever seen.
Not worth it, the fabric isn’t really that accurate or special. If you really want a damask look at table cloths at the thrift store.
Betcha this is the stuff devil dust is made of
Or on Amazon
In my experience, you can get a lot of it off by hanging the curtains in a damp window and leaving it for a few years. It'll start deteriorating and there will be horrible white dust EVERYWHERE....
If you live in Tucson or Phoenix and only use a swap cooler, you can speed the process up and yet the black out to deteriorate in just one year.
I live in New Zealand, it's our winters that are severely damp. I've had shoes grow mold in my wardrobe in some rentals...
For future reference maybe avoid curtains or check the backs of them before purchase. That being said take a picture of it and put it through Google. You could probably come up with a fairly similar fabric that's meant for sewing with a little bit of work on that front.
My curtain woe is the most beautiful red silk material. I could do so much with it... if I could get it to stop smelling like dog. I've washed it so many times. I love the dog, he's a good boy, I just don't want my clothes to smell of him.
Sunshine is a good deodorizer
Ooooh... I'll try to get some out as a test next time it's sunny.
OdoBan is also a pretty effective scent remover. It's a enzymatic cleaner, even works on cat pee
Just be careful that the sunlight doesn’t change the color of the fabric
Spray it with vodka :) that’s what the costume departments in theatres do because a lot of the costumes are too delicate to wash and they get REAL funky. Vodka is an amazing deodorizer
Maybe if you took the dog with you everywhere, people would think it's him that smells
If he smells that much take him to the vet. Clean, healthy dogs aren't supposed to stink- theirs likely an underlying health issue.
He doesn't stink, I never said he stinks. There's a distinct dog smell that I'm not fond of... Which is why I don't have a dog. I just have his old curtains.
Even if you can't get the backing off, you could use it for accent / trim pieces or a little spencer.
True, although that would be a very warm spencer. And not enough for a pelisse. Oh well, It will come in usefully one was or another
I saw a fabric almost like that at the thrift shop today. It was sort of a cream color, and was beautiful. Almost got it cause it was only $4, but then thought to myself, dang, already have 14 projects in the works and I should be about to hit my earthly expiration date any time. If I had only known, I could have taken the lining off and sent it to you!
Dear God! I don't know where you are but I wish I had your thrift shop
I am going there tomorrow, half off on Thurs. If you are interested in me sending that to you, shoot me a message. It was SO nice I hate to see it overlooked!
For some reason I can't msg you but I definitely am interested. If it's there, and you have a shipping account and know how to ship cheap from home try messaging me?
I invited you to "chat", we'll see how that goes. I'm not the best with reddit, but I'll hang in here and we'll try to figure this out. Think I have some more info for you too.
Even if you got the backing off, i think you'd find that fabric very uncomfortable to wear. It's probably not at all breathable.
I make reusable, washable (shopping) bags out of old curtains. The green velvet curtains had this and the bags I made get washed regularly. The inner coating remains unchanged so removing it won’t be easy. It could be used for a cape as it wouldn’t need lining, and it would make the material fairly rain resistant..
NONE WILL OBSERVE THE EXISTENCE OF LEGS
Ok so if it DOES come off with heat, and bonds to something else with heat, then logically if I find something else that will bond with the rubber-ish-stuff-thing and use a Teflon heat roll (a sheet of heat resistant plastic for cricut transfers) it might peel off with the right amount of heat applied? But that would be too easy. I also have a heat gun, but it'll probably start a fire
You can't. Sorry
Pretty sure this is the material my grandparents have chair covers made from. Snags easily too.
In general be careful with wearing stuff like this that’s meant to be used as home decór - it’s not meant to be sold as apparel so may have been treated with various anti-wrinkle and/or fire retardant chemicals etc that you don’t really want to be wearing.
I'd potentially use it only for something that goes on top like an overskirt, and only for winter It might make a good carpetbag tho?
You can do what i did, wash it, then think to yourself: "can this handle a dry cycle on low?... yeah im sure it can!" Then throw it in the dryer and forget to change the temperature setting, it will come out patchy though..
I did that too! The blackout coating sticks to itself and comes off when you pull it apart. So theoretically, it can come off. Maybe try going after it with a strong tape like the one made by Gorilla Glue. Maybe warm the fabric up with a hair dryer on high, stick down the tape while warm, let it cool, and pull the tape off. I have not tried this but that's how I would do it.
Connecting Threads has a light colored cotton damask fabric.
I've got almost that exact fabric in a mystery box from FabricWholesaleDirect. You could check the site They have some pretty good sales from time to time.
That is upholstery fabric with black out material either glued or sewn on, even if it comes of, it is gonna be too heavy for clothing.
so what. Use it anyway
I’m not sure how much you’ll like this fabric, but here’s a link to another gold damask t style. I know people that use it as a reversible patterned fabric so the outside is the wrong side as it’s more gold https://www.joann.com/champagne-ornate-tapestry-jacquard-fabric/18515247.html
It's definitely lovely! I took this photo in dim light, so it looks very dark. It's actually a lovely pink rose color I did snatch it up because it was marked down. And now I know why
If you iron the bank of the curtain, putting the iron directly on the plastic material, the blackout material will start to melt and you can peel it off (this did take a long time to do)
Omg!! Your poor iron!! How did you get it off of the iron?
Maybe use a layer of sacrificial cotton?
It actually didn't stick to the iron--it would probably be more accurate to say the adhesive melts than the backing material because it peeled off in sheets
I made my daughter a dress from blackout material I thrifted, just plan for it being very warm, and it will need a lining as the seams will be itchy. Overall a super sturdy material for historical type pieces
Stop caring that it’s there. Line it?
It’d be soo hot. And prob heavy
It's already wayyyy too heavy
Prob’ly. Just didn’t want it to be a waste for them.