Topics

I have a customer who has mentioned a stain repellant called "Vector".  I am not familiar with it.  It's being sold by the upholstery fabric place here in town, and I can only imagine it's priced high and no better than Scotchguard...
Any opinions? Or experience?
perry

I've been driving a Honda Odyssey for nearly 10 years.  Someone totaled the first one from the rear and I got another one.  It's been a great vehicle for everything.  Take the middle seats out, and today I got large 8 foot sofas in it.  I can get 4 x 8 sheets of plywood in side, and close the door.  I can put 10' rebar down the passenger side.  And I can get 12' crown moulding or baseboard, by running it down the middle and over the dash where it meets the windshield.  But alas, my old girl is getting up in years...She's got 225,000 miles on her and although runs great, there are surprises now..I'm willing to repair mechanical issues and keep her running tip top for another two years, but really want to downsize.  Maybe in a couple of years, I want to downsize the upholstery business too.  I'm thinking seriously of going into a Honda Fit..I had one many years ago, as a 2nd car, and it was great..42 mpg.  Sold it, and the van became the everything vehicle. 
What vehicles do you drive for your upholstery business? Does having a small car or SUV impact customers saying yes or no to job, if they have to provide their own pick up and delivery.  (I really like delivering furniture, as seeing the customer's face is a huge pay off for me) 
I used to drive a 1981 Honda Civic and could get a Lazy Boy in it easily, in two pieces..
My husband will always have a truck. Gas is so darn expensive, and in a couple of years, I really want a vehicle that gets really good mpg's.
What do you guys and gals do?
Perry

Anyone know where is a good place to buy smaller needles for Pfaff 1245.  I like sewing with 18's and 19's.  The 21 and 22's are just too big for me.  I use leather needles (triangular point) for leather.  I'd like to buy 20 or 30 of the 18 and 19.  My Pfaff uses the 190 size, not the 135.  Every where I've checked, I have to buy a 100 of each size.  I'm around Baton Rouge.
Thanks.
Perry

When I watch TV or a movie, I find myself looking at the furniture in the set.  I sometimes miss the storyline, because I'm analyzing whether stripes match, etc or if a particular piece is really of the period depicted in the movie..

I do it with automobiles in movies and TV also, not so much with boats..

Am I the only one?  (I doubt it)

Perry

Working on a good quality piece of furniture.  A chair.  It was originally upholstered with a waterfall skirt.  Am I correct in considering that to be a fad? Isn't it a product of the 80's?  The chair has the proper structure to go back with a classic tailored skirt, and IMO, will look better with a classic skirt...
Am I wrong?
Perry

I have always wanted a size #45 button set up.  Anybody have an outfit for sale?
Thanks.

I posted a video to Youtube and if anyone has good suggestions, I'm all ears. I pulled this machine out of about a 5 yr storage this morning, timing was trashed, got it back, had a beautiful stitch and then YIKES, wanted to do a zig zag and that was all she wrote. 
For the life of me, I can't get it back right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3AFgl9iuUs

Thanks.
Perry

I've been an upholsterer for over 25 yrs.  Been in and out of the business end.  I hung my shingle back up last year and business has been ok.  Presently I have two wingbacks that are giving me fits.  The chairs are classic wingback, with very prominent and curvy wings.  The fabric is not helping matters.  It is a plaid, the feel of the fabric is crisp and tight, with absolutely no give going around any curves.  The plaid issue is huge, matching vertical and horizontal and I am bonkers. 
Has anyone ever told a customer that a particular fabric just won't work on a certain style?  I've only done that once before about 20 yrs ago...
I am losing sleep over trying to figure out how to make fabric lay smooth and still match stripes, plaid coming and going...
I can take and post photos too, if anyone has suggestions.
Thanks.
Perry