Grandmama Pat

I've used this method to keep mine from unraveling and it really works well.

auntmag

Same here.

raedar63

I have had a flooded basement and soaked scraps, I just washed them and dried them then had scissors to cut all the tangled strings as they came out of the dryer, from there they went right to the ironing board, that was a few years ago, fabric scraps still nice and crisp when I digsg them out to use them.( I had like 3 large trash cags full someone gave me.)

cindyw

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and comments! I just put the 16th load in the wash and have over half of it ironed and folded. I do have a front loading machine and the fabric isn't getting too messed up. Some of the fabrics are better quality than others and some of those don't even need to be ironed. I'm sure happy about that!

Some of the fabrics bled onto other fabrics. I'm trying to figure out how to get that out. Does the color catcher (or whatever it's called) pull out that dye? When I'm doing regular laundry and something bleeds I just rewash the discolored items and the second washing takes it all out. A quilt my mom made for me was white with red stars that bled and I just rewashed it immediately and it all came out. However, this mess has been sitting there for over a week. I'm still hoping that's all I have to do. Cross your fingers for me!

I always like seeing everyone's quilts in their posts so I'll include these pictures of one of the quilts I just finished for my almost 2 yr old grandson. Front and Back.
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...led-9418-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...led-9414-2.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks again!

littlehud

Go ahead and wash it. You can trim the threads after.

Judie

oh my.. does your problem bring back memories.. I also have my sewing room in the basement.. I had nearly the same thing happen to me.. I was so upset..

I took the piles of dripping fabric upstairs in laundry baskets.. some of the long pieces I left folded and used safety pins to pin the folds together.. small pieces I put into mess bags.. and I began to wash them with white vinegar in the water..

The thing to realize is that what's on the fabric is water.. so you don't have to agitate them like you would if you were were washing play clothes.. All you need is warm water, a bit of laundry soap, the vinegar, the shortest wash cycle your machine has.. and then spin them out really well.. some I even turned the knob around and sent the load through a second high speed spin.. the spin doesn't tangle or ravel your fabric, it's the agatation that causes you problems..

I un-pinned the fabrics I put into the dryer.. some of it I spread out on the floor, on the back deck.. every place I could find.. I had so much I didn't dry everything iin the dryer bone dry.. but took it out half dry and spread it out someplace to finish air drying.

I was surprised that all I really lost was a lot of time and some soap and water.. Wish all that lugging up the stairs and washing, drying, & folding would have taken a few pounds off, but I didn't even lose that!!

I know it's a horrible mess, but just don't let it sit and it will all be okay.. Fabric is too expensive not to take quick action on.. I hope your mess comes out as well as mine.. If I were closer, I'd come give you a hand.. I know it's a lot of discouraging work..

On the plus side, you get to review your stash up close and personal.. and you can even actually get your stash in good order before it's all said and done. Good luck!

cindyw

Judie, (my mom's name spelled the same!), so you know what I've been through today except mine has been wet for over a week a smells horrible so I did let them go through the whole wash cycle. Thanks for posting your experience and the thoughtful offer to help. :)

I posted an update at the bottom of page 3.

noveltyjunkie

16 loads, eh? That's a lot of washing! Glad you are getting through it. Would you consider getting tanking in your basement (its a moisture proof membrane inside the walls and floor)

I am sorry to say that, if the walls are prone to seepage, I would not store fabric there, even in plastic containers- the air will be damp and that will get into it one way or another, unless you have mechanical ventilation or a dehumidifier going.

CAK44

So sorry for your basement troubles, nice when they are not damp. I have a basement also and store my stash there. I found the fabric draws moisture from the damp surrounding. I store all mine in plastic containers. Happy quilting when this all behind you.

Linda58

Cindy, I am so sorry this happened to you. I wish I was home in south TX right now, I would come help you wash, dry and iron your fabric. But I am in FL till Dec.
While living in MN our basement flooded once and all my fabric, hundreds of dollars of yarn, and a lot of scrapbooking supplies were ruined. So my hubby put water proof paint on all the walls, and built shelving to keep everything off the floor. We waited 5 years to make sure the paint worked and then we finished off the basement. We never had any problems again.