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!

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: 15,130
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 View Post
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: 24,369
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