Mount Cook, Wellington

1399 days ago

Textile Fibres and Their Characteristics

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean Wellington (The Wash House)

We are passionate about fabrics and finding the right solutions for our customers. With over 110 years of experience in the textile industry we have compiled some of this knowledge and look forward to sharing it with you over the next year through our blog series – An Educational Yarn. Our … View moreWe are passionate about fabrics and finding the right solutions for our customers. With over 110 years of experience in the textile industry we have compiled some of this knowledge and look forward to sharing it with you over the next year through our blog series – An Educational Yarn. Our first topic explores the different characteristics of textile fibres.

Textile fibres are natural or synthetic structures that can be spun into yarn. Yarns are then woven, knitted or bonded into fabric. The inherent characteristics of fibre properties directly relate to the performance and required care and maintenance of the finished fabric, therefore understanding fibres and yarns will in turn help you to understand the how to apply specific fabrics within your interior schemes.

Natural Fibres: Occurring in nature; which are of animal, vegetable/plant or mineral origin.


COTTON (Plant Origin)

• A strong fibre, even stronger when wet, cotton has good natural durability.
• Can be affected by mildew however a mildew resistant finish can be applied to reduce this issue.
• Generally has reasonable sunlight resistance but should be protected with a quality lining when used as a drapery and protected from direct sunlight when used as an upholstery.
• It is an absorbent fibre which means it can move with changing humidity levels.
• May shrink with laundering but this can be reduced through a finishing process on the fabric known as sanforising.
Sunlight resistance can be greatly reduced in acidic polluted conditions.


SILK (Animal origin; an animal fibre that comes from the silkworm. The silkworm creates its cocoon from very long silk fibres which are harvested from mulberry trees.)

• It is naturally fine in texture, and colours beautifully.
• Its biggest disadvantage in furnishing is its sensitivity to UV light degradation (direct and reflected). Due to its sensitivity, it should not be used in direct sunlight or even bright light.
• An absorbent fibre, it has the potential to move in humid environments.
• Silk is a relatively strong fibre and can withstand a certain amount of abrasion, particularly when used in conjunction with
• a backing fabric.
• Unrivalled in splendour and smoothness, silk is regarded the most exclusive of all natural fibres.

LINEN
Plant origin; derived from cellulose fibres that grow inside the stalks of the flax plant.
• As with cotton it is affected by acidic pollution.
• Can be affected by mildew which will likely cause the fibre to deteriorate over time.
• Considered to be the strongest of the natural fibres; if constructed for upholstery it is very durable, particularly when blended with up to 10% nylon.
• Is regarded as a luxury fibre because of its lustre and texture.
• It is an absorbent fibre which means it can move with changing humidity levels
• Linen has moderate sunlight resistance and should be protected by a quality lining when used as a drapery and protected from direct sunlight when used as an upholstery.



Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...

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1400 days ago

Poll: Do you wash chicken before cooking?

New Zealand Food Safety

Washing chicken doesn’t remove bacteria, it just spreads it around. The best way to protect your whānau from getting sick is to wash your hands and kitchen tools after touching raw chicken, and make sure you cook chicken all the way through. Juices
should run clear and there shouldn’t be any … View more
Washing chicken doesn’t remove bacteria, it just spreads it around. The best way to protect your whānau from getting sick is to wash your hands and kitchen tools after touching raw chicken, and make sure you cook chicken all the way through. Juices
should run clear and there shouldn’t be any pink meat in the centre.

Remember to Clean Cook Chill and check our easy food safety tips here.

The team at New Zealand Food Safety.
Find out more

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Do you wash chicken before cooking?
  • 36% Yes I thought washing cleans it
    36% Complete
  • 64% No Chicken shouldn’t be washed
    64% Complete
125 votes
1400 days ago

Friday Feathered Friend

Reporter Community News

Andrew Gorrie took this beautiful photo of a korimako (bellbird) on a recent trip to Kāpiti Island.

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1401 days ago

Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge

SSO Jono Ashman from Wellington Operational Support

Please consider supporting our team who are taking on the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge to raise funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

1401 days ago

When A Lining Is Not A Lining, But So Much More…..

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean Wellington (The Wash House)

Look, we have to be honest, curtain linings are not the sort of thing that will blow your hair back with sheer delight. It’s sort of hard to get excited about a functional item like this – a bit like getting excited about a new water heater, carpet underlay, or new gutters…! It’s usually … View moreLook, we have to be honest, curtain linings are not the sort of thing that will blow your hair back with sheer delight. It’s sort of hard to get excited about a functional item like this – a bit like getting excited about a new water heater, carpet underlay, or new gutters…! It’s usually the face fabric, the star of the show at the window that brings the pizazz, colour or texture to a space, with lining tucked in behind, performing the admirable duties of light blocking and fabric protecting.


However, these are virtues to be celebrated as they help us make bolder decisions about the drapery fabrics for our spaces. They are also not what linings once were, and many now have the capacity to stand alone as a super practical drapery in their own right, heralding a new era for a previously much maligned fabric category. Prepare to have your hair blown back boys and girls…


Where to Begin: Well, it’s important to establish the purpose of the lining – is this a room you plan on sleeping in till midday? Lucky you! You will need a blackout (sometimes called a blockout), which will completely block light filtration, allowing you to sleep easy in blissful darkness.

These are used in five-star hotels, and in the homes of shift workers or young children who need to be able to sleep at any time of the day without pesky circadian rhythms waking you up from the light. Once upon a time, blackout linings were desperately practical, coming in white or off white (if you were lucky) and with a three-pass coating on the back (three layers of acrylic based flock).



Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...

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1401 days ago

Plea to be responsible at the races

Reporter Community News

Hutt Valley Police are urging attendees at this weekend’s Wellington Cup Day to plan ahead and stay safe.
They want everyone at the event to have a great time, and get home safely.
There will be a uniformed Police presence at this event to enhance your enjoyment of the day and promote safety.
View more
Hutt Valley Police are urging attendees at this weekend’s Wellington Cup Day to plan ahead and stay safe.
They want everyone at the event to have a great time, and get home safely.
There will be a uniformed Police presence at this event to enhance your enjoyment of the day and promote safety.
Cup-goers are urged to think ahead, avoid risky situations and keep themselves and their friends safe.
Attendees are also urged not to drink and drive, as Police will be breath testing drivers leaving from the Cup Day.
Even small amounts of alcohol can affect your driving, so if you drink at all, please don’t drive.

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1403 days ago

Friday Feathered Friend

Reporter Community News

It is not Friday but this is to introduce you to a new photographer, Andrew Gorrie. He lives in Kelson and takes most of his photographs from his deck. Andrew is an ex Stuff photographer.
His favourite subject is the magnificent tui

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1402 days ago

Wellington's earthquake prone pop-up library deemed safe

Reporter Community News

One of Wellington's new pop-up libraries is safe but “earthquake-prone”, after the council said it was fine, moved in with a Mayoral speech, then slapped stickers on the front doors two days later.
A sign at Te Awe library, on Brandon St, shows the building is at 16 per cent of new … View more
One of Wellington's new pop-up libraries is safe but “earthquake-prone”, after the council said it was fine, moved in with a Mayoral speech, then slapped stickers on the front doors two days later.
A sign at Te Awe library, on Brandon St, shows the building is at 16 per cent of new building standard, not because it is quake-prone but because it is yet to get the final council tick-off for strengthening work. The Code of Compliance Certificate (CCC) has been described by the council as being in the final stages since at-least July.
There are roughly 560 buildings, including 283 seen as high priority, around the city, which must be strengthened or demolished to meet new earthquake regulations brought in after the destruction caused by the Kaikōura earthquake.

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1402 days ago

27/01/2021: first meeting of the Greater Brooklyn Residents assocaition Inc

Carl from Brooklyn Residents Association Incorporated

Hello and welcome to 2021. We invite you to the first Greater Brooklyn Residents Association meeting of 2021 this coming Tuesday - the 2nd of February at 7.30pm, at our new meeting venue: the RSA room at the Brooklyn Community Centre (due to the St Mathews Church having been sold). We look forward … View moreHello and welcome to 2021. We invite you to the first Greater Brooklyn Residents Association meeting of 2021 this coming Tuesday - the 2nd of February at 7.30pm, at our new meeting venue: the RSA room at the Brooklyn Community Centre (due to the St Mathews Church having been sold). We look forward to seeing you next week.

21 Agenda Tuesday 2nd Februaray Greater Brooklyn Residents Association Inc.docx Download View

1402 days ago

Baring Head Open Day

Reporter Community News

Have you been to Baring Head? If not, you can check out the historic lighthouse, in the East Harbour Regional Park, this Saturday at 10am.
Greater Wellington is holding an open day and all are welcome.

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1405 days ago

Looking for SWIS uniform

Angela from Brooklyn

Hi there, my English niece has just arrived in nz for the year and is about to start at south wellington intermediate. Does anyone have uniform they’re looking to get rid of? She’s probably size ten ish

1403 days ago

More problems with old Wellington pipes

Reporter Community News

A major waste water pipe has burst in central Wellington, closing roads and disrupting morning traffic. The pipe burst at the intersection of Victoria Street and Mercer Street yesterday afternoon. People in the central city are being asked to only flush the toilet if it is "essential".
View more
A major waste water pipe has burst in central Wellington, closing roads and disrupting morning traffic. The pipe burst at the intersection of Victoria Street and Mercer Street yesterday afternoon. People in the central city are being asked to only flush the toilet if it is "essential".
The central Wellington sewerage pipe that broke, closing central city streets, was more than 100 years old.
Sewage flowed out onto the road after a pipe ruptured at the intersection of Victoria and Mercer streets on Monday afternoon.
Wellington Water confirmed the failed pipe was installed around the year 1910.
Repairing it is expected to take two to three days.

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1403 days ago

SPCA Pet of the Day: Meet Jed

Reporter Community News

This weeks SPCA pet is Jed.

"WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT ME
My ideal home would have a big garden for me to explore and potter around while supervised. I would suit a family that has had dogs before as I am a big boy with a bit of strength. I would love to go for walks with my new family and … View more
This weeks SPCA pet is Jed.

"WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT ME
My ideal home would have a big garden for me to explore and potter around while supervised. I would suit a family that has had dogs before as I am a big boy with a bit of strength. I would love to go for walks with my new family and check out this wonderful country we live in. When I have nothing to do I have shown the ability to escape out of medium to high fencing so I need a plan to be contained during the day that doesn't involve being tied or tethered. Going to work with my new human companion would be great for me. I am not suited to a home with/next to cats and other small animals or livestock. If you are looking for a bigger dog that is pretty laid back then make an appointment to come and meet me."

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1403 days ago

Wairarapa County Music and Cruise Martinborough combo this weekend

The Team from Destination Wairarapa

The Wairarapa Country Music Festival is on this weekend (28-31 January) at Tauherenikau. This year’s festival, at the beautiful racecourse near Featherston, will be one of the biggest yet with an great line up of KZ talent including Jodi Vaughan, Ainslie Allen, Katie Thompson and Eddie Low. … View moreThe Wairarapa Country Music Festival is on this weekend (28-31 January) at Tauherenikau. This year’s festival, at the beautiful racecourse near Featherston, will be one of the biggest yet with an great line up of KZ talent including Jodi Vaughan, Ainslie Allen, Katie Thompson and Eddie Low. Cruise Martinborough, the hot rod, classic and muscle car event showcasing vehicles from the 50s, 60,70s folds into the festival with cars onsite at the festival on Saturday afternoon from 2pm to 5.30pm. See hundreds of classic and muscle cars while enjoying our afternoon show of the festival . Find out all about the festival here: www.tauherenikau.co.nz...

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