Group buys?

[Moondog55]

Is anybody sewing their own cold weather clothing?
Ditto quilts and/or sleeping bags at the moment?
I have just made an inquiry with Polartec and they are quite happy to sell full rolls direct
Buying the stuff in full rolls is very cheap but naturally there are shipping and GST costs involved
Rolls vary from 50 yards to 100 yards
Personally I was interested in 3 types of Alpha, but wholesale the per yard cost can be as low as $2- USD a yard for 60GSM Alpha/$4- for 120GSM and $2- for Powerfill
These are not Alpha Direct fabrics and would need shells
We would need at least a dozen people to get involved to make it affordable

[Petew]

Hi Moondog,

I might be interested. I'm more interested in the alpha direct though. Any idea what GSM alpha Macpac uses in their nitro hoody? I seriously love that stuff. I would love to make some pants out of it. Preferably in black. Any idea how much powerstretch might cost?

Thanks for suggesting this.

Cheers,

Pete

Thanks for suggesting this

[Moondog55]

That Alpha Direct isn't available from Polartecs Mill Direct
Only 4409 / 4418 and 6853
6853 is the 3ounce Powerfill
Here's the link
Take a look at what is available in single rolls
https://www.milldirecttextiles.com/

[Warin]

I cannot find 6853.

For power stretch I have
https://www.millyardage.com/ProductDeta ... tCode=6421

On special at half price... if that is what you want I'd buy it now. Especially if you want 5 or more yards as that gets you another 20% off..

[Moondog55]

https://www.milldirecttextiles.com/d/alpha-thermal
It's a variation on ThermalPro
Not from Mill Yardage
Mill Yardage tell me they won't be getting any more Alpha at all
Mill direct are about a third that cost but you need to buy 100 yards
I have 2.5 metres of Powerstretch I don't need if you want baby poop mustard yellow, a bit heavier than the one in your link but warmer by a fraction

[Lamont]

We're talking an overlocker to assemble this stuff aren't we?
Or a stretch zig zag?

[Moondog55]

I sewed it [ Thermal Pro and fleece ] using a straight stitch machine Cecile prefers an overlocker but all of the fabrics I am looking at personally get assembled with shells and simply edge stabilised or at 250mm centres

[Lamont]

Thanks boyo.

[Moondog55]

Fabric might be cheap but airfreight would add $1200- to the cost. shipping is 4 times the cost of the material and I cannot see the value-

[Warin]

Fabric might be cheap but airfreight would add $1200- to the cost. shipping is 4 times the cost of the material and I cannot see the value-

Sea freight?

[Moondog55]

Not available unless you want to bring in a full container and that would be done direct from the mill in China; most PolarTec is now milled and woven in China.
Copy of the email I just received
Hello Ted,

I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, I was out sick for the last two days.

It looks like shipping you those 4 rolls will cost about $1200. This would go via UPS air consolidated, door to door, excluding duties and taxes.

Let me know if you'd like to proceed.

Thank you!

Maura Suter
Product Supervisor & Order Wrangler

Add 10% for GST
As most garments only need 3 metres of fabric and most of us only need 2 jackets and 1 parka we'd need at least 40 people kicking in to make it worth while.
Cecile and I do not have $2k- sitting there and we are still sitting on what is left of that roll of Thinsulate.

[Warin]

Not available unless you want to bring in a full container and that would be done direct from the mill

Many years ago I sent my sleeping bag to Europe by sea freight while I took the train across Russia. Sent through Ozie post well before I left. Of course it did not arrive on time...

There are firms that do 'freight consolidation' - where they pack a container with various peoples goods. It can be a while before the container is filled, but you do get a better shipping rate.

Last edited by Warin on Thu 12 Mar, 2020 12:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Moondog55]

Trouble is that I want fabric now just in case I do another winter and my mate lives just a tad too far away to ask him to drive to the mill and pick-up the fabric for me. It would involve a full days pay plus hotel accommodation for him so almost cheaper to pay for freight.
I'll just put this in the "Too Hard" basket and forget about it for now I think.