54 lines
3.0 KiB
Plaintext
54 lines
3.0 KiB
Plaintext
By: Donna Ransdell
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Quest Outfitters
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Anyone interested in sewing outdoor clothing might be interested in a catalog
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that I've had hanging around here for awhile.
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This place, Quest Outfitters, carries a multitude of outdoor patterns and
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fabric. Looking over the catalog, there are patterns (Kwik Sew, Daisy Kingdom,
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Green Pepper) for windwear, jackets, pullovers, anoraks, parkas, rainwear, ski
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wear, sports vest, long coats ("range rider duster"), and baby stuff. The
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patterns are for everyone from babies through large sized adults. The patterns
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are shown in black line drawings, described very well, and with the pattern
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back information in another part of the catalog for reference. This allows you
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to choose a pattern and order everything to make it at the same time. There are
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also size charts and washing instructions.
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They have a good selection of fabric, from waterproof to windproof to thermal
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stuff. Included are cordura, packcloth, coated and uncoated taffeta and
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ripstop. In the breathables, there are GoreTex, Ultrex, and Entrant
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(stretchable). In warm fabrics, there's PolarTec, Polartuff. There's liners
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(breathable and non-breathable), mesh, noseeum (for repairing or making your
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own tents). There's ribbing, cotton canvas, foam, thinsulate, quallofil, and
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down (yeah, pretty expensive...$48 for a pound!).
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Then there's notions...webbing, drawcord, tape, thread, gliders, buckles,
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snaphooks, grommets, heavy duty snaps, and lots of different kinds of zippers.
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Prices are very, very good, especially on notions. I compared zippers, grommets
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and snaps with my local House of Fabrics regular prices, and I'll get a decent
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deal by mail. Most of their fabrics are not readily available in a regular
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fabric store. From experience, most fabric stores don't know the difference
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between coated and uncoated taffeta and ripstop nylons. (One store said "Yes,
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we have lots of coated ripstop!" that turned out to be uncoated. For rainwear
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that makes a *lot* of difference!!!)
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Shipping and handling seems to be pretty reasonable...anywhere from $1.75 to $6
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for ground UPS. A bit high for Canadians...starts at $4.50 and goes to about
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$16. (ouch) (They said payment must be in US funds and customer will pay duty
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charges and insurance.)
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I called today for information concerning Ultrex. Even though the catalog
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didn't mention any Saturday hours, I got a very pleasant young woman who
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answered *all* of my questions and offered alternative suggestions. She was an
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experienced seamstress and even offered a suggestion on the pattern I'd chosen.
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I didn't place the order today because I'm going to pay by check (vice credit
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card), and also because she offered to send me swatches of Ultrex and lining
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materials, and photocopies of the front and back of the two patterns I've got
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my eye on (to ensure that I order everything I need!).
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So, if you need to make outerwear, ensure you order this catalog: Quest
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Outfitters, 1-800-359-6931, 2590 17th Street Box B, Sarasota, FL 34234.
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