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Member since 10/14/03
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Posted on: 7/26/10 6:59 PM ET
Yesterday, I unrolled a piece of silk from my stash and saw a silverfish crawl out! Supposedly, if you see one insect there are at least 20 others you can't see. I've called an exterminator, but am afraid to inspect my stash. Fortunately, I have my wool in a plastic bin with a tight lid. (I know you aren't supposed to do that, but I had damage to a wool coat in a closet downstairs, so I was afraid of this.) I can just see pieces of cotton, rayon or linen with damage right in the middle of it. I'm sure the critters wouldn't have the courtesy to nibble around the edges.

Has anyone else had this happen? If so, what have you done to prevent this?
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If I sewed any slower, I wouldn't be sewing at all.

  
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Member since 7/1/08
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Posted on: 7/26/10 8:24 PM ET
In reply to OP Gal
Yikes! I haven't had this happen, but I know a professional is the way to go. I think you're going to have to check out your whole stash. Let us know how it works out.
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Sewing: A creative mess is better than tidy idleness. ~Author Unknown
  
Member since 10/17/09
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Posted on: 7/26/10 8:49 PM ET
I've worked in museums for many years. Silverfish feed on materials that contain starch and sizing. You can monitor with sticky traps placed near drains and pipes and other damp places.

This is what we do if there is suspected infestation from silverfish or moths, which is standard museum practice: Wrap the textile in muslin or acid free tissue and then seal in polyethylene plastic sheeting or bag, and seal it tightly with duct tape. Before sealing it, squeeze out as much air as possible before you seal it . We even use a vacum cleaner and use the hose attachment to suck out all the air.

Place this in the freezer for a week, at least 7 days. This will ensure that all the stages of the insects are killed. After a week, take it out and do not open it for a day or two, depending on how dense your fabric package was. Do not open too soon, or condensation may form on your textile. A little condensation may form on the outside of the package, but that is ok. Take it out, inspect it, and brush or vacum the textile.

I even do this method whenever I buy a textile from an antique store, flea market, garage sale, etc. I'm not going to take a chance with infesting my stash and antique textiles.

This method works for furs, silks, wools, and all natural fibers, and is the easiest method.

I wish you luck!
  
Member since 10/14/03
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Posted on: 7/27/10 8:14 AM ET
In reply to DianeB1864
I've heard about freezing, but not in the detail you've outlined. Thanks for the information.I think I am going to need some luck. My stash is pretty large, so I've got my work cut out for me. Also, it's mostly rayon, cotton, linen and silk. This is making me with I like to wear polyester!

-- Edited on 7/27/10 8:14 AM --
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If I sewed any slower, I wouldn't be sewing at all.

  
Member since 10/17/09
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Posted on: 7/27/10 8:26 AM ET
If you can't find the polyethelene bags, just double bag it in regular plastic lawn and garden bags. If you use muslin, make sure you check the muslin for any dead critters.

So sorry you have to go through this! Even museums have issues from time to time. Good luck!
  
Member since 12/21/06
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Posted on: 7/27/10 9:25 AM ET
Another reason not to have an extensive stash !
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Kathryn
  
Member since 10/14/03
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Posted on: 7/27/10 10:12 AM ET
In reply to KempCorr
Traitor!
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If I sewed any slower, I wouldn't be sewing at all.

  
Member since 9/20/07
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Posted on: 7/27/10 10:24 AM ET
I've seen those pests around my house on occasion and didn't know what kind of damage they could do. Is there a way to prevent them? I store my stash in plastic bins with tight lids but are we ever safe??? Also, does anything deter them, i.e.- cedar, moth balls, fly swatter? This does mean you need to divide your stash, put it in bags and have a freeze the stash party:) Give me the good stuff btw;) I promise to bring it back after the freeze is over...
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I burn the candle at both ends and if it's not burning fast enough, I blow!
  
Member since 2/27/07
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Posted on: 7/27/10 10:33 AM ET
I *think* that you are more prone to silverfish infestation if the humidity levels in the storage area get high. I know that the only place I occasionally see them is in my bathroom, and even that's decreased in frequency since I installed a ceiling fan and use it religiously.

I keep a 45-pint dehumidifier running 365/24/7 in my basement where I have my fabric stash and book collection stored, and I've never seen them there.

Nasty critters!
  
Member since 1/4/08
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Posted on: 7/27/10 11:10 AM ET
My pest control guy says they also eat paper. So, if you have a lot of books or papers around, you will find them. I have never found them in my fabric, just where I store paper products.

Plastic tubs are not as air tight as you think. Again my source says spiders and insects (roaches, etc.) can get in through tiny cracks.

A long, long time ago, we had some scratching in the walls. Our (at the time) pest control guy told us to put out rat poison in the attic. We got rid of the scratching, but several months later found all kinds of tiny black bugs infesting all our food. The pest control did not tell us to remove the rat poison after a certain length of time and the bugs had eaten it and then went on to get in all our cake mixes, flour, etc. I had brown sugar in a tight-locking plastic (Tupperware) container and still found them. I ended up throwing out all food that was not in cans. It turned out they were grain weavils. You can get them from flour, packaged mixes, etc. straight from the grocery store. This is a good reason to regularly go through your food supplies.

Back to the subject at hand -- I live in Florida which is literally crawling with bug life. We have a pest control service that treats the outside of the house every 3 months. This keeps out almost all bugs except the occasional one when it rains. Your local pest control is a good source of advice if you encounter any bug. About all I see is an occasional silver fish because I do have a lot of books and regularly bring in paperback books as well as hardback books from the library.

I guess this is another reason for me to really get serious about using up my fabric stash that is in runaway mode.
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Yards sewed 2018--301 yards
Goal for 2020 - 400 yards --- Made it --sewed 400.76 yards. I have no idea about how many yards I have in my inventory.
2021 --200.125 yards
2022-- no specific number---Just redo inventory and sew more than 2021



Machines: Designer Diamond, #1+ (2), H Class 100Q, Viking 400, Baby Lock Creative Pro -- Sergers: Viking 936, Babylock Accolade, Babylock Vibrant, Singer Coverstitch
  
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