By: Donna Ransdell

catalog review: Frostline

Today I received the catalog I ordered three months ago
from Frostline Kits of Grand Junction, CO. I was beginning to think they'd lost
my phone request, and I no longer had their 800 number. Well, it came way too
late to do any ordering for this camping and hiking season, as I ordered from
CampMor and Quest Outfitters a couple of weeks ago.

Evidently this company changed hands temporarily, making it into the hands of
McCalls Pattern Company. It has been purchased back by the original owners now.

The catalog, a 24 page color slick catalog, is full of kits for outdoor gear.
Each kit has precut fabric, snaps and snap setters, all needed findings,
thread, Velcro, cording, construction guide, lining pieces precut, and zippers.
All you do is sit down and sew it together. (For those that take a typical size
pattern, this might be a nice way to go, but if you're an odd size...)

Kit Items include packs, clothing, sleeping bags (kids' bags only come with
DOWN or a Mix kit, no polyester filling), stuff sacks, bike packs, raingear,
clothing, vests, parkas and jackets, and baby carriers. Plain stuff includes
fabrics, findings, zippers threads cuffs and knits, tent findings, reflective
tape.

Prices are pretty decent, a little more than it would cost you to buy the
fabric and all the notions together. They also have a "sewn" price...where
someone will sew the kit for you, presenting you with a ready made garment.
It's a little cheaper than ready made but not much.

Shipping and handling varies from $4.50 for a $15 order (not much under that
price!) to $7.50 for a $199 order...free if you order over $200 worth of stuff.
Sales tax is charged to CO, NY, and MA residents. Add $4.50 to Canada for
shipping. They accept checks, UPS COD (money order, cashiers check or cash
accepted for COD orders), VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

Frostline Kits, 2525 River Road, Grand Junction, CO 81505-2525, order
1-800-548-7872. Can order 24 hours a day but outside business hours (M-F 8-5 CO
time) it will be voice mail order.