polyester fabric
10-31-2014, 08:00 AM
#21
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Lafayette, TN
Posts: 1,204
It seems to me that my secret to sewing the double knits is to use a machine from that era (one with a built in stretch stitch); not one of the old black Singers; and if you move your stitching designation from regular sewing to stretch stitching (two forward, one back), anything you sew will hold forever. Even a t-shirt type material. Works for me anyway.
10-31-2014, 01:41 PM
#23
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
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Originally Posted by oldtnquiltinglady
It seems to me that my secret to sewing the double knits is to use a machine from that era (one with a built in stretch stitch); not one of the old black Singers; and if you move your stitching designation from regular sewing to stretch stitching (two forward, one back), anything you sew will hold forever. Even a t-shirt type material. Works for me anyway.
10-31-2014, 02:14 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New England
Posts: 865
Originally Posted by AngeliaNR
If you donate quilts, polyester double knit would be great for the homeless--very warm, stands up to hard use, easily washable and dryable.
I suggest you use a serger. The quilt will hold. If you have no serger, then I suggest zig zagging over the seams (and using 1/2 inch seams).
One thing I learned the hard way: make sure the weight of the fabric in the quilt is consistent. I used a lighter weight poly double knit in one quilt for the color, and I've been repairing it for years. However, a stretch stitch, as suggested above, would help also.
11-02-2014, 11:07 AM
#25
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: So Calif
Posts: 4
cricket_iscute - how big a blanket do you make for the homeless adults? I've inherited huge amounts of polyester double knit and polyester/wool blends. I've brought them home thinking that I will make blankets for the homeless, one piece of double knit on one side and polyester/wool blends for the other side. Been washing loads of poly/wool as they do shrink....
11-02-2014, 12:07 PM
#26
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I just made a 'quilt' top for my SIL out of double knit. It is pretty large pieces.
I'm wondering what to back it with - the rest of the poly stuff is either pink or too small
I just had 2 pieces and used the whole works. I cut them about 1 ft wide and then pieced them how ever long. It looks like about 60" X 7'
It was made on my vintage sewing machine - I used ball point needles and it sewed just fine.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]497489[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]497490[/ATTACH]
I'm wondering what to back it with - the rest of the poly stuff is either pink or too small
I just had 2 pieces and used the whole works. I cut them about 1 ft wide and then pieced them how ever long. It looks like about 60" X 7'
It was made on my vintage sewing machine - I used ball point needles and it sewed just fine.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]497489[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]497490[/ATTACH]
Last edited by miriam; 11-02-2014 at 12:12 PM.
11-02-2014, 01:11 PM
#27
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Kansas-Oklahoma state line
Posts: 167
Miriam, here is a pic of my double knit wonder. I picked it up at a flea market a couple of years ago for $7.00. It was tagged "king sized bedspread". It's pieced and there is no backing. The edge is bound in thinner black double knit. When I bought it I was going to add a backing and tie it. After I got it home, i washed it then really looked at it. I wimped out on changing it. Whoever bound it, knew what they were doing you can't see any stitching. It's gets some moderate use in the winter, no issues so far with the exposed seams.
11-03-2014, 06:10 AM
#28
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: MA
Posts: 1,507
I have been donating huge contractor's heavy plastic bags full of this to the Savers Store in Nashua NH. I still have three more bags to take there this week or next. I just don't have the time to anything with it and the quilters here won't touch it. I was hoping those who make pet beds for shelters would use it.
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