Preparing fabric for Quilting: a few questions
#41
But if the quilt is to be only ever washed in cold or warm water, why do you prewash in hot water? Won't cotton shrink in warm water? And isn't prewashing in warm water emulating how the quilt is to be cleaned during its' lifetime? When I was a veterinary nurse I was taught that the best temperature to remove blood stains and so forth was cold water, and most stain remover products are also compatible with cold or warm water washing so why would you use hot water on a soiled quilt? Hot water can set some stains/dirt I thought?
#42
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 148
I am a novice at anything domestic. When I used starch on my fabric I just bought the cheapest starch I could find.
I probably over-sprayed but I always ended up with some white starch spots.
I finally tried "Best Press" unscented and it works perfectly.
I also use "Retayne" and presoak my fabrics in hot water. I rinse them to get the Retayne out and then line dry in the
good months, followed by minimal dryer time to take the wrinkles out.
I'm sure there are many ways of prepping fabrics but this has worked for me so I haven't experimented further.
I probably over-sprayed but I always ended up with some white starch spots.
I finally tried "Best Press" unscented and it works perfectly.
I also use "Retayne" and presoak my fabrics in hot water. I rinse them to get the Retayne out and then line dry in the
good months, followed by minimal dryer time to take the wrinkles out.
I'm sure there are many ways of prepping fabrics but this has worked for me so I haven't experimented further.
#43
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
Thanks for the education! I live on a farm with a septic system and never even considered the chemicals I'm putting into it!! Could you possibly use Retayne or Synthrapol in your bucket and dump the bucket with that stuff in it away from your aquifer? I'm a city girl not used to the interesting, different systems we have here on the farm, so I'm always up for learning!! Is it a specific brand of batiks that is bleeding so much? Different brands seem to react differently - I think some over-dye the fabric. I don't want any bleeding on a quilt I have invested so much time and money on either, so I'll be obsessive/compulsive with you
A friend that owned a quilt fabric shop said all fabric should be tested for dye issues by rubbing a swatch of whitepaper hard on the fabric-if you see ANY color,then you have to wash until none rubs off.
#44
But if the quilt is to be only ever washed in cold or warm water, why do you prewash in hot water? Won't cotton shrink in warm water? And isn't prewashing in warm water emulating how the quilt is to be cleaned during its' lifetime? When I was a veterinary nurse I was taught that the best temperature to remove blood stains and so forth was cold water, and most stain remover products are also compatible with cold or warm water washing so why would you use hot water on a soiled quilt? Hot water can set some stains/dirt I thought?
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...r-t266226.html
#45
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: western arkansas
Posts: 2,077
Just for the heck of it since we're talking prepping fabric. I tried something a little different. I prewashed a large piece of fabric. before tossing it into the dryer, I mixed 1/3 cup white distilled vinegar to 1 cup water. Then put it into a spray bottle and spritzed the fabric. Then tossed into the dryer on hot. Came out pretty nice, very few wrinkles but didn't feel really soft. Didn't take much to spritz or spray it. Smelled fresh no fragrance that would irritate some noses. Folded nicely. Cut a small piece 5x10" strip and felt like it had some body in it.
#46
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,688
I used to not pre-wash but after having some red and blue bleed onto some white fabric I started prewashing everything. I too don't store starched fabric (too tempting for bugs) so press, ruler fold then starch and iron just before I cut it.
#47
I wash, then air dry all newly added fabric. I have learned not to iron until I'm about to make use of the fabric. I don't starch - have you tried sewing or quilting once there's starch on the fabric? egads! Talk about needing pliers to pull thread through! If you're one who sends out quilts to have binding put on, due to no fault of your own for not liking the binding part, think of the poor soul who has to put that binding on once starch has been used....it's a crime I tell ya, a crime!
#48
[QUOTE=rj.neihart;7236685 have you tried sewing or quilting once there's starch on the fabric? egads! Talk about needing pliers to pull thread through! If you're one who sends out quilts to have binding put on, due to no fault of your own for not liking the binding part, think of the poor soul who has to put that binding on once starch has been used....it's a crime I tell ya, a crime![/QUOTE]
hahahaa I starch the limp right out of mine and put on my bindings and I'm good. Some of my fabric can stand on it's own Toni
hahahaa I starch the limp right out of mine and put on my bindings and I'm good. Some of my fabric can stand on it's own Toni
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 838
Just for the heck of it since we're talking prepping fabric. I tried something a little different. I prewashed a large piece of fabric. before tossing it into the dryer, I mixed 1/3 cup white distilled vinegar to 1 cup water. Then put it into a spray bottle and spritzed the fabric. Then tossed into the dryer on hot. Came out pretty nice, very few wrinkles but didn't feel really soft. Didn't take much to spritz or spray it. Smelled fresh no fragrance that would irritate some noses. Folded nicely. Cut a small piece 5x10" strip and felt like it had some body in it.
#50
Speaking as a chemist, I wouldn't recommend this. Vinegar is an acid, and over time it will deteriorate your fabric. This is why acid-free pens, paper etc are used in scrapbooking - even very small amounts of acid, over time, will cause natural fibers to break down. Throwing it into a hot dryer will accelerate the process.
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