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Can I mix my fabric? I know I CAN, but what happens when sewing? I have some dress shirts to cut and use, but they aren't 100% cotton! I have 3 that are 55% cotton and 45% poly. 2 are 60/40 and 2 that are 100% poly. Do I chance it? What will happen? Should I use a pellon fuseweb?
-Teri from Minne-sn*w-ta
Personally, I don't like to work with 100% polyester. However, I have combined blends with 100% cotton and nothing awful happened. I use blends as backing sometimes, and that seems to work fine.
A quilt is like a good life. It's full of mistakes, but, in the end, it looks pretty good.
I pre-wash yardage, cotton or blend, before I use it. So far I've never had a shrinkage problem.
Mind you, I've only mixed cotton and blends about 3 times while piecing.
A quilt is like a good life. It's full of mistakes, but, in the end, it looks pretty good.
So they done stretch or pull funny? Well I have the shirts and why not put them to use!
There might be issues with iron temperature - you might want to check with scraps before proceeding.
I had issues using Pellon with a blend. Pellon says their fusible products are designed especially for 100% cotton so I probably wouldn't use that.
Pre-wash everything and realize that different fabrics will break down at different rates so at some point the poly will start separating from the cotton & that will affect how the blend attaches to the pure cotton fabric, but as long as you're not making it as an heirloom, you should be fine for a few years.
I would want some type of stabilizer in the polyester to prevent stretching while working with it.
Barbara
Samuel Johnson - Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed, not by strength but by perseverance.
If the shirts are woven, you shouldn't have any problems at all, and don't need stabilizer. If you are concerned, just gently pull the shirt fabric both up and down, then side to side and compare it with pulling quilting cotton the same way. I've done lots of recycled shirt quilts. I look for 100% cotton, but if I need a certain color, or if there is a really wonderful print in a woven blend, I will get it and mix it with cottons, no problem. When repurposing garments, I make sure that any yardage I use with it is pre washed because the garment has been. If the shirts are knits, you would want to stabilize.
"I do not understand how anyone can live without one small place of enchantment to turn to."
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Thanks for the input! I cut shirts apart and started the project. All is fine.....so far!
I have used several cotton blend fabrics with 100% cotton and had no issues. I don't think I ever used any 100% polyesters though. The iron temperature might need to be lowered a bit. Let us know how it works out!!
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