Celeste

I just bought a bunch of flannel material on sale and the worst thing is ironing all that stuff! I'm not talking how many pieces (though there is that :x ), but the big long lengths!

I (must have), lost my head completely and bought yards and yards. At$2.97 a yard I couldn't resist.)

So now I'm looking at irong 3-6 yard lengths after prewashing. Argh! It seems that I don't get too far and already there's wrinkles. That and trying to fold it in half lengthwise and getting it to fold correctly.

Any ideas out there, or at least understanding sympathy?

patricej

being in the habit of buying yards at a time myself, i can offer lots and lots of sympathy.

don't let it dry all the way. take it out of the dryer while it's still just a leeeeetle damp.

lay a clean sheet down on the floor and put the ironing board in the center.

puddle the fabric at your feet and "feed" the ironed sections over the back of the board. if you iron them dry, don't worry about a few new wrinkles when they hit the ground on the other side. those wrinkles will probably get smoothed away while you fold it - which is going to create wrinkles anyway so there's no point in worrying about it too, too much.

once it's all ironed, drape it over a bed with equal lengths dangling over the sides. start at the middle and fold selvage to selvage, working your way out toward one end, then toward the other. smooth it as you go to keep the fold flat and smooth.

repeat the process to fold it into quarters lengthwise.

get a nice, stiff piece of cardboard ... about 8" x 12" or thereabouts.

start at one end, and roll the fabric onto the cardboard. when it's all rolled up, pull out the cardboard to use again. it'll stack neatly on any shelf. AND when it's time to cut into it, you can just unroll what you need. AND it's folded nicely for easy rotary cutting on most size mats.
:D

Celeste

Thank you Patrice! You are really good at describing step by step. I need it! I knew it was too much to ask for magic, though!

Thanks for the sympathy too.

patricej

Magic is a brand of sizing. you can buy whole cans of it at a time.

does that help?

LOL

Celeste

You are just too fun for words, Patrice!