Best way to get starched and ironed fabric to class?
 

Hi all! I am taking a beginning quilting class, and we are making a log cabin. We will be cutting the strips at the next class and are supposed to have our fabrics starched and ironed. Can you offer any advise on how I can get these 7 cuts of fabric to my class without them getting fold lines or wrinkles?

Depending on length of fabric, I would roll it around the core's I save from Christmas gift wrap.

How about one of those hangers that have the cardboard roll on the bottom? Hang the strips and lightly pin them together so they don't slide off. You could take a paper towel roll, slit the bottom and fit it over a hanger.

Buy a pool noodle at the dollar store & wrap the fabric around it?

There will probably be an iron available in the class as well, so all is not lost if you have some fold marks. Also you will probably be cutting two layers anyway, so you can have the fabric folded down the center, just as it is on the bolt.

Edited to add - I'm impressed that your teacher recognizes the value of starching your fabric for a log cabin. I don't think I've ever taken a class where the teacher told us to starch in advance.

The lengths of the fabrics range from 1/8 to 1-1/2 yards. Off to dig around in the closet for gift wrap cores :)

Great idea! Thank you

You could use something like Amazing Tape to hold the fabric to the core once it is wound around it.

If you have precut your fabric, I would take the cut strips and neatly fold them into a plastic container. If you taking the yardage, I would just hand it on a hanger and carry it like a suit to class. Never took too many classes. Have fun !!

If it is in the right size stripes a pizza box .but must keep flat.

One of our members wrap in tin foil etc aluminium foul I think you call it. For wrapping chicken in.


Her blocks and fabric is always starched and beautiful.

Super starch them before you cut them and then roll them around a paper towel tube or a tp tube.

This is what I do too, and I put them in 2-gallon zip-loc bags. Those bags are big enough to hold a 12-1/2 inch block flat, so they don't get messed up coming home.

Thank you all for your help. This Board is such a great resource for a beginner like me.

I have used Christmas paper tubes, but lately found that the tubes that the roll paper in art class has is a bit larger. Those work perfectly for me.

These would be my suggestions as well.

Roll it around a pool noodle!

love the idea of using a pool noodle. Also this post is great. I never even thought of doing this - rolling fabric.

IF you're cutting the strips at class the traditional way, you'll want the fabric folded so you can easily and accurately cut it there. Fold selvage to selvage - in half and then in half again. You'll end up with 3 creases in the strips you cut. You can either press them out easily or sew with creases.

Check with the instructor to see if she wants the fabric pieces pressed wide open...but I can't imagine she does.

I'd probably gently fold the lengths of fabric at the last minute and place them on top of everything else I'm bringing. A few gently wrinkles won't hurt anything....and I'll bet there's going to be an iron or two there!

Remember to post pictures!

Nan - Indiana

I starch and press my fabric and gently lay it in a 14 x 14 plastic container with lid. My larger yardage will drape it over a noodle.

I ended up covering a noodle (cut in half) with muslin, folding my fabric selvage to selvage, then rolling it around the noodle. Stuck in a few pins to hold the edge and it worked great! Thanks again for the ideas.

You could also fold down a cardboard box and use it as a "bolt roller". Or ask the fabric shop if they have an extra bolt board that you can have.

I agree with rolling them. I use the pool noodles and cut them to size. I also use them when I buy stabilizer by the yard. When starching, spray and wait few seconds until all of it is absorbed into the fabric and then you won't get the white residue on the fabric. Good luck with your class.