Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • To wash DUCK CLOTH/CANVAS or not... that is the question! >
  • To wash DUCK CLOTH/CANVAS or not... that is the question!

  • To wash DUCK CLOTH/CANVAS or not... that is the question!

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 09-30-2012, 12:49 PM
      #1  
    Junior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    coffeebreak's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2012
    Posts: 142
    Default To wash DUCK CLOTH/CANVAS or not... that is the question!

    I bought some bright dark yellow DUCK CLOTH yesterday to cover the board I use as an Ironing board..like in Jennys tutorial. I thought it was DUCK CANVAS, but they said, cloth/canvas same thing. It is 100% cotton.

    Question: Do I prewash it? I like the stiffness of it, and I know washing will soften it.. at least I think it will...does everything else. But I also don't want the color fading onto the fabric when I iron, as I use steam and/or starch all the time.

    So do I wash it before using it?
    coffeebreak is offline  
    Old 09-30-2012, 12:57 PM
      #2  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2010
    Location: Fox Valley Wisconsin
    Posts: 1,920
    Default

    From my experience....the washing will soften it...and shrink it quite a bit...and it will come out of wash quite wrinkly and need lots of ironing. Maybe washing by hand will help soften it, and take less ironing to make it flat.
    patchsamkim is offline  
    Old 09-30-2012, 12:59 PM
      #3  
    Power Poster
     
    dunster's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2009
    Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
    Posts: 15,240
    Default

    You could test it to see if the color runs. If it does it seems that you will have no choice but to wash it.
    dunster is offline  
    Old 09-30-2012, 01:47 PM
      #4  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Apr 2011
    Location: Bosque County, Texas
    Posts: 2,709
    Default

    If I understand you right, you like the stiffness and the washing will probably reduce that. However, you are afraid the color may run onto what you are pressing or ironing and washing will prevent that. Why not try ironing at the strongest steam setting and highest heat some scrap white fabric? If it doesn't fade onto that it probably won't fade onto anything. Then you are left with the decision of how you will fashion the canvas to your ironing board knowing that when you do finally wash it, it will probably shrink. If you can staple or tack the canvas down now and leave lots of extra you are fine. If you are going to cut it to fit then you will have to shrink it first. Good Luck.
    TanyaL is offline  
    Old 09-30-2012, 02:14 PM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    GrannieAnnie's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2010
    Location: S. W. Indiana
    Posts: 7,484
    Default

    Originally Posted by coffeebreak
    I bought some bright dark yellow DUCK CLOTH yesterday to cover the board I use as an Ironing board..like in Jennys tutorial. I thought it was DUCK CANVAS, but they said, cloth/canvas same thing. It is 100% cotton.

    Question: Do I prewash it? I like the stiffness of it, and I know washing will soften it.. at least I think it will...does everything else. But I also don't want the color fading onto the fabric when I iron, as I use steam and/or starch all the time.

    So do I wash it before using it?
    I'd wash in hot water just in case it wants to bleed. Insurance for all your future ironing.
    GrannieAnnie is offline  
    Old 09-30-2012, 02:59 PM
      #6  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Dec 2008
    Location: Western Wisconsin
    Posts: 12,930
    Default

    I did not prewash duck cloth (canvas) for the big ironing board my dh made for me out of plywood. However, mine is a natural muslin color. It is stapled on; I will simply cover with another layer of duck if/when this layer wears out.

    For your yellow cloth, I like the idea of using a portion of it to iron some white cloth with steam. I'd probably use a white cloth that has been washed, so that there are no finishes that might get in the way of color transfer (a dish cloth would probably be fine). If color doesn't transfer with the hot steam iron, then I would also leave a piece of the yellow duck in a glass of water overnight to see if any color bleeds into the water. Afterwards I would also rub the damp piece of yellow duck against several white fabrics to see if there is any color transfer that way.

    If there is no color transfer, the only reason to prewash the duck is if you are making a removable cover that you plan to wash later on. In that case, you must prewash to get the shrinkage out of the way before you cut and sew.
    Prism99 is offline  
    Old 09-30-2012, 03:13 PM
      #7  
    Super Member
     
    ghostrider's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2009
    Posts: 4,688
    Default

    One additional test you might want to add to Prism's excellent list is to heavily spray starch on that white cloth to see if the yellow color transfers when pressing starch soaked fabrics.
    ghostrider is offline  
    Old 09-30-2012, 03:37 PM
      #8  
    Power Poster
     
    BellaBoo's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2009
    Location: Front row
    Posts: 14,646
    Default

    Don't prewash. Cover the board with one layer of cotton batting then the duck canvas. Spray water to wet the canvas. When it dries it will shrink and make a tight perfect ironing surface. Also never dry your ironing board cover, put it on your ironing board wet and let it dry in place.
    BellaBoo is offline  
    Old 09-30-2012, 06:01 PM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    snipforfun's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2010
    Posts: 1,877
    Default

    I buy white canvas at Walmart. I place a good size piece on my ironing board when I am using fusibles or starch. I have a Big Board and the replacement covers are $$ so this helps extend the life.
    snipforfun is offline  
    Old 10-03-2012, 05:46 AM
      #10  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: May 2008
    Location: MN
    Posts: 24,644
    Default

    I bought a white canvas ironing board cover from the company that makes the Big Board tops. The thing was made very skimpy to begin with - and I do have to put the thing back on very damp to get it to barely cover the top.
    bearisgray is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    jojorip
    Main
    5
    09-18-2018 05:51 AM
    jcrilley
    Main
    16
    03-13-2013 07:50 AM
    QuiltMania
    Pictures
    79
    06-02-2011 09:13 PM
    quiltinglady2
    Main
    4
    05-26-2011 06:45 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter