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I use spray sizing instead of starch and haven't had a problem. I do prewash almost everything though. The spray starch got flaky when I ironed the fabric. Do you use liq. or spray starch?
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Originally Posted by Krystyna
Originally Posted by RST
What kind of fabrics was it? I've had that happen with solid cottons -- I think they were quilter's candy-- from Connecting Threads. It's ok fabric for the price, but you really don't want to go pressing with steam until it's been quilted, or significant shrinkage occurs. I was lucky that I had my shrinking moments before I cut, but it was still alarming to actually see the fabric drawing up smaller.
Cutting that many pieces makes me wonder (just a wonder, not a criticism) why the class is not making this an opportunity to learn about strip piecing as a means of avoiding having to cut so many small individual pieces? RST RST :shock: |
I feel your pain! Just this year I learned that I had better pre-wash fabrics both to avoid shrinkage AND bleeding of colors.
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[quote=KrystynaThe math is a little complicated to follow but here goes
468 actual pieces Plus Stressful Shrinkage Factor Times emotional turmoil Equals 196,000[/quote] Odds are you won't make a whole quilt in class. Why not just cut half of the pieces you need for the top. That should be plenty. I had a similar issue many years ago when I ironed instead of pressed 280 diamonds for this Star of Bethlehem. I stretched them into different shapes than they needed to be. I had to re-cut and I had to re-think and re-buy as well, because I didn't have enough of some of the fabrics. I never forgot the lesson. We live and learn. Sometimes it's painful. Aarrgggh! But you'll be just fine. And so will your quilt! Please show us when you're done. Tamara's star quilt [ATTACH=CONFIG]258787[/ATTACH] |
Oh Krystyna, I'm soooo sorry to here this. I had read about how excited you were about the class. What did you do? Did you have more fabric or did you have to buy more? Are you enjoying the class?
With the only quilt that I have been commissioned to do the solid brown shrunk every time I touched it with the iron!!!! It was a nightmare!! We are all there with you!!!! I now prewash everything! |
OMG!! I don't think I would starch unwashed fabric - even if it's against the directions!
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Oh, I'm sorry this happened to you, Krystyna. As others have said, lessons learned just add to our experience. I appreciate this board so much, because I have learned from everyone's experience (and from my own lessons learned!).
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[quote=Krystyna]I am having heart failure. I'm taking a class tomorrow and have to pre-cut a zillion pieces. I cut my strips before cutting the small pieces, starched the strips and ironed and EEEKKKK!!! They shrank by 1/4" I am ready to give up!
Did not pre-wash, but did cut 8" wide strips and then starched and ironed as directed before cutting smaller pieces. What a nightmare.[/quote So very sorry Krystyna....... hope it all works out for you ..... |
The shrinkage is not due to startch but to the moisture of the startch and the heat of the iron
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I always prewash and I use liquid starch. After I wash and rinse, I will put enough water in the washer and a quart of liquid starch. Swish with my hands and the spin dry. After taking the fabric out of the dryer when dry, I use a steam iron and the fabric feels like it has never been washed and the wrinkles disappear. At $3 for a jug at Wal-Mart, it's cheaper than Best Press.
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I stopped prewashing my fabrics when I worked at a quilt shop and we cut and sewed out tops in-house. I like your suggestion for starching after washing though.
I've found that many of the reproduction fabrics have a lower thread count and pieces can shrink significantly when dampened in any way and then hit with a hot iron. I know that many teachers suggest starching your finished blocks and then starching them into submission to get the desired finished block size. But be certain your working with prewashed fabric before you try this or your block will shrink decidedly rather than grow. I love the crinkly look my unwashed fabrics and batting give me after washing and drying. Quilter's choice. I was given the tip to prewashed muslin backings first however since it tends to shrink disproportionately to your average quilting fabric. |
Originally Posted by Krystyna
How peculiar is this: the 3" strips are just fine!
Most rulers are not marked precisely enough to measure such a tiny difference. That's actually narrower than the heavy lines on most of the common ruler brands. |
Originally Posted by Krystyna
Originally Posted by SueSew
Krystyna, I am so sorry you ran into trouble - sharing your trouble on the board is often a way to save the rest of us from a similar fate. Usually starch makes a piece bigger and sizing shrinks it up, in my experience.
You have my sympathy - and hope your class is great :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) If I may ask, how much did you pay for it? |
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