+oM, From the FWIW category. I on a personal level have been raising trees from seed, bare root trees, and containerized trees and growing them into the fabric pots for the last 2-3 years. I have been pretty successful. The containerized plants have all had the usual issues of circling roots, and planted to deep in the containers. These plants I have literally hacked up the root systems to remove the problems (while completely leaved out), followed by replanting in the fabric root pruning pots for the remainder of the growing season. Results have been good so far, with little to no apparent root circling problems. One issue that I have encountered, is that the fabric tends to drain somewhat poorly at times, so that you can end up with a very wet bottom layer that is ripe for certain disease problems to begin. Some trees this won't matter, for others it can be fatal. In an attempt to try to resolve this, I have taken to cutting multiple ~1-1.5" T shaped slits around the bottom to act as drainage holes for excess water. I do not yet know how well this will work, but I would expect it to an improvement. Arktrees

I grew up watching both my Grandmother and mother sew and make do, budget etc. It seemed second nature. I remember asking my mother to show me how to turn cuff and collars on men's shirts. She did one and watched me do one. It was a skill I was happy to have, should I ever need to use it. As a teen I had a great interest in the great depression and loved to read stories of the make do efforts put forth by others. In one museum I particularly enjoyed an exhibit put out showing how some people made do with little or nothing....one exhibit showed a simple crochet "dishcloths", made out of parcel string (use what you have on hand)....one was nothing but the odd stitch and great holes......the other complete and new looking. The little cards beneath said something like "used daily - the newish one said Sunday only". Don't know why it stuck in my mind but it did. You can still buy a plastic version of the sock egg.....notions departments sometimes have them. I have a handmade wooden mender, not so much an egg shape but it says sock darner right on it. I'm still looking for a real "egg" darner. For me, mending is just a regular thing.......for others it is a new skill. To each his own. Tishtoshnm - I wish you luck in your search, maybe you will have to take the bull by the horns and just attempt some small things yourself (imagine you feeling of success!), kec01 you also provide an excellent tip on how to find a seamstress....I also would inquire at dry cleaning places as they do some repairs as well. If you really are stuck - advertise..someone out there wouldn't mind picking up a little extra cash. Just MHO

They sound like lovely curtains, but I doubt you can do much to save them. The material will continue to wear out. It would be difficult to fuse them to a sheer panel(even if you could find something to do it with) and not have puckers or have that panel fall properly. If you want something elegant to replace them with, check out european curtains. German ones are dripping with lace and unlike anything you can buy this side of the pond.

Yellowdog2 - I still love the pietra, but it definitely not as durable as the quartzite. I do have a few chips on the face next to the stove (I think it could be from cleaners trying to handle the heavy cast iron grates from the blue star stove) and many tiny chips around the undermount sink (from me during klutzy clean up.) But the chips around the sink seem to soften/slightly wear over time. In retrospect, I may have opted for an apron front sink the was flush or overlay versus undermount on the sides, but maybe not because I didn't want to spend money on that. Additionally, I don't know if the sealer my fabricator used was the right one. Everything wet leaves a dark mark that fades over a few minutes or hours depending on what it is. I kind of like the variation, but I have read that that is a sign that a stone is not sealed well. I just love the color and tone of the stone and do not regret my choice at all. The funny part is I bypassed the soapstone because a friend has a soft variety that has very large chips all around the sink (mine are relatively small.) Lastly, my fabricator has a hard time with the seam, the edges of the pieces were chiped up and they didn't color the adhesive well. They had to do it over again. I don't know if it was a function of a worn tool or that it was more brittle (which is what they told me.) But they were able to rework it and it looks OK, but not great. So it is full disclosure here and I hope I haven't scared you. I just really love how the two stones compliment and do not compete with each other, but don't look matchy either. Good luck :)