by Vftlns HILLMAN There's flot another fibre so luxurjous and perhaps so rnisunderstood. 511k has been synonymous wlth high fashion, status and wealth. Many regard it as too fragile and spendy for everyday wear. Not so! In the following article you'Il discover how simple sewing with silk can be. The techniques aren't dlfflcult, just differeat. Legend tells us that silk was"discovered" 4,000 years ago whea a cocoon dropped from a mulberry tree lato the tea of a Chinese prlncess. As 1h softened she found 1h was possible to, reel off a very strong, durable fibre frorn the cocoon....silk! It'sincredîble to compares silk 's anclent and olorful history to the relatively short life' of today£s syntbetics created for thée most pant to Irnitate silk. The naturai, beauty of a gooci silk speaits for itself so forget about fussy details when picking out a pattern. It's best sulteri for looser-fitng unconstructed garments and works beautifully in gathers, pleats, ruffles and draping. Wlth some tender, loving care you can sew and care for the most slippery silks. Pre-wash a 4"M4" swatch witii mnld detergent ln warmn water and examine it for changes - colour, texture,, sheen .and size- before sewing. If you don't like the results the garment wili remnain dry clean only. If you.are satisfied with'the resul.ts go ýaid andwash the fabric by hand or on "6dellcàte!'. Dry at a Io* settdng or by blotting witii a. towel mid iron on 10W - on the wrong side or with a press cloth while sh11) danhp. Always start every project wlth a new needle m size 9 or 10 for fine silks, size 12 or 14 for h eavier welghts. AIl cotton ior cotton poly theald are best for silica. Weaker than sIlk threads will'break ah stress points rather than tear the fabric. If youlr machine likes 1to "4eat" fine silk use a throat plate. with a smaI) roOnd- hôte. Tear away stabilizers alsoé help. Quality làs as variedias types of silks. Especially when lt corntes to sewiug, wearing and carlng for silk the ýoli adage "you geét what-' you pay for" seems utre thair ever. No matter what' your figure type, lifestyleýor,,sewing expertise, yoUl11 love worklngý with and wearlng'sllks. You'll look and feel s..Imply selsational. DIANE HILLMAN is the co-owner of Whi:by Fabric. Conserving There are a few thiags you can do to conserve energy. Here is alistof 20 hhings you can doto save energy and you hard-earned dollars. 1) Raise your alr-conditionlng thermostat ln the summer. For each degree higher, you'll cut your energy use by eight per cent. 2) Tubm off incandescent lights when you are not using theni especlally ln the summer when they produce unwanted eah. 3) Use low-wattage light bulbs ln halls and other places wh=e no close-up hasks occur. However uslng a single, highwautage bulb Is more cost-efficient tiiaa using hwo lowe-wattage bulbs. 4) Loag-life light bulbs usually use more electricity than regular bulbs of thie saine wautage. Use long-life bulbs only la locations where access is difficult. 5) Use high-efficiency light bulbs la your outside securlty lights. Put hhern on a Urne or photoelectric swltch. energ nw 6)>Ughh only thie specfie a whereyou are worlng. 7) Grime froni coolcing, smoking and dust cau i lry a light bulb and reduce thie light it puts out. laspeet and dlean bulbs regularly. 8) Avoid checking on foodi while it cooks. Each Urne you open your oven door, 25 per cent of the heat Is. lost. 9) Cooklng la oven-safr glass or ceranue pans allows you ho lower your oven temperaure 25 degree from what the redipe calîs for. 10) Ia an clectrlc: oven, hum off your oven 15 minutes before the end of the cooking fimie. 'nhe remaining heat will finish the job If you don't open dhm oven door. Il) Partialiy thaw frozen foods ini tAie refigerator before cookiag thern. In maay cases, thawing foods lets you cut the cooking ditfe by one third. 12) Use tAie automnalic cycle on your cloaies drye. 13) Run your garbage disposai wlth cold water. 14) Use warrn or cold waher for washing clothes and always use a cold rnse. You also save more money by nter i s e asy running full washer loads. 15) Keep heating aad air conditioning flhers dlean. It's difficult to force air hhrough clirhy filters. 16) Use fans Instead of air condlhioaing for coollag wheaever you can. Fans use only about. 10 per cent of tAie energy air conditioner do. 17) Weatherstip ail doom and windows, even those la roorna you are not using. 18) Replace your old thermostat with a newer dlock model. These devices an be set to automatlcally lower your homes hempeahure at bedtime aad raise it again la the morning. 19) Keep your fireplace damper closed when the fireplace isn't beiag used. If you have glass fireplace doors, keep hhern closed as wei. 20) Schedule annual maintenance checkups for your beatlag and cooliag system. By keepiag your syster n optimal worlcing condition, you'll not only reduce energy costs. but aiso extend Ils service lîfe. Downtown Whi*tby is open for business Thursday and Fridav nights. rnanv Downtowa Whihby businesses are open for business. Here, is a complete ruadown of the retail stoes and servces which are open for business on 'bursday alght. For the listing of Fniday night -openiags, huma to page 23. 7-11 A & J CONVENIENCE BASKIN ROBBINS BEAVER UAS BEAVER LUMBER BECKER'S BEER STORE SAME IG BOY sic V BOPPERS CHECKERS CI.ASSY OS COFFE! TIME CORNER STORE DOMINO DNS NO FRIL DUIWSISNAAND CHIPS OVNIS à LLOD JEWEU.ERS EARL of DURHAM FIRANKIWS O NOTES GO GO PIZZA AND 5US GOLDEN GATE HAKIM OPTIA HEIFER à THE HALF PINT JERRYS JOHN VINCE F0005 KFC IÇARAOICE SPORTS tOIJNCE KITCHIEN CUPSOARD LADYSARON WIAPONAE TRADM POIIT LAURA BADOJWS EMPORIM LOVE NE5T LOVELL DRIJOS MACS MAROrS FLOWERS MERCANTILE MIRAgJ. F000 MART MON EY NARfT MOTIF OLOI SUVER THIMBLE PJ.s PEARSOtS FINE DININO PICRIRE THIS à THAT puENTO'S PMA NOVA P17APIZA PERCIOUS PROC$LAINS SEA STAR SHEILA' HOUSE Of FASHION SiIOPPERS DRUC MART SHORTY'S CIOAR STORE SLEEP FACTORY SQUARE 80Y STAIRWAY'S STRAND$ SUBMARINE MACHINE TIFFANYý TIM HORTOWS WHITIY ESSO WIU1U FADRICS WHWB ICA WOOVUAFT WHITEY AFTER SIX- OPEN THURSDAY ý Yý ý Il Il 1 ri 1 1 - 0 - 0'l