That's what I do....just throw it in the washer and deal with what comes out!Originally Posted by NJ Quilter
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
That's what I do....just throw it in the washer and deal with what comes out!
Pretty much the same thing here, and I keep a small scissors in the laundry room for this task. I have been able to reduce it to *most* of the time I don't have too much fray to worry about ....
I wash on a delicate cycle
I only wash 1/2 yard cuts or larger in the washing machine. Anything smaller gets washed in the kitchen sink, then dried in the dryer.
May your stitches always be straight, your seams always lie flat, and your grain never be biased against you.
Sue
I put the fabric in net bags when washing. I have very little fraying and no knotting up as long as I fill the bag with enough fabric that it can't roll around in it. I can put several pieces of fabric in one bag and can put several bags in the wash at the same time. I got my bags at Walmart near the laundry baskets. The bags come in a couple of sizes. You just have to watch and put like colored fabrics together. Even using Color Catchers, I had red dye spread to another fabric in the same bag that had a light design on it. Only other problem... I haven't found a big enough bag to put more than three yards in.
I used to accordion fold my fabric, then use large safety pins. I recently started basting across the fabric edge, just as it comes off the bolt. No tangles,easy to dry and snip off too.
I don't really wash anymore, just put it in on the rinse and spin cycle. Gets out the worst of the chemicals and dry on hot for shrinkage. So there's not as much fraying.
"A woman is like a tea bag-you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt
I mostly soak mine, use hot water and very little soap, agitate to stir the soap around, soak 15-20 then spin, refill barely agitate and spin, it doesn't really happen in the dryer so I just let it go. Still have some tangles but not as many. I mostly use this when washing several pieces together and I never do anything smaller than a yard.
I just deal with the mess when washing fabric before using, as some have said.
HOWEVER..
I washed two quilt TOPS this weekend..they had been finished for months and hanging on a quilt rack , 1 1/2 " log cabins. Dusty and odorous I felt....well don't anyone do this....the border didn't fray,it was on straight of grain...but the entire inside, all the little strips, a complete jumble of tangled threads, and some split seams. The effort to repair was overwhelming so I threw them out. Lesson learned the hard way. Each measured 80 x 90 and I did enjoy making them, so no sorrow. P.s. They were scrappy.
I accordian fold and pin...no problems.
I haven't found the "mess" to be so horrible that it takes but a minute or two after taking it out of the washing machine to snip.
But then, I don't use my dryer very often....I suppose that helps.
I baste across the raw edges.
Life is made up of bits and pieces. You won't know how it'll turn out till its done.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote