Have you ever THROWN AWAY brand new fabric? ON PURPOSE!
 

I bought several pieces of fabric over the weekend, then like a good little quilter, I brought it straight home and washed it all. I put it in lingere bags to wash it, used a color catcher. All fine. Put it in the dryer. Still good. After it mostly dried, there were still several damp spots in the centers, so I took it out of the lingere bags and put them all back in the dryer loose. I knew there would be some raveling, but it wasn't that bad. All the fabric was the same weight, hand feel, price, all 100% cotton. Bought at the same place. It should have all acted the same through the wash. But, wow! When I took the fabric out of the dryer, there was one piece of hot pink (okay I know hot pink, right? but it was for accent for another piece . . . another story) that picked up EVERY piece of lint, thread, hair, fuzz. There was even a ball of blue thread on it that I swear it sucked from the neighbor's laundry, because there was nothing blue in this load! It was also so wrinkled, I would never be able to iron it smooth. I used a sticky roller on it, but geez, if it does that, do I really want to use it in a quilt? None of the other fabric did that. It was only a one-yard piece, and I'm really thinking of throwing it away while I still remember how bad it actually was so I won't have a quilt made and then have it ruin a whole project. Any thoughts? Anyone else ever experience anything like this?

Yes..and I did end up pitching it. I could not get it to look good no matter what. It pilled and caught on everything. Disgusting with the price of fabric.

I have! I bought a bleeder. It bled the first time I washed it, the second time, the third I ironed it after to set the color. Nope, it kept on bleeding. It went into the pile of scraps and salvage I use for fire starter. Waste not.

I'd take it back where you bought it if at a LQS or Hobby Lobby or Wal-mart.

I have learned to toss the bad fabric when I encounter one. It took decades to finally be able to toss . I always saved hoping for the "cure"or a purpose . But I finally got it into my brain that there is no "cure" for some bad fabrics.

i would never throw a piece of fabric in the garbage!
if i'm not going to use it i give it away- i don't throw it away-
chances are- if you dampen it= ironing wont be so bad= or using some sizing/starch on it-
as for using it- if you cut it up- piece it- then quilt it- it should be just fine-
i've had many 100% cottons come out very wrinkled (the sizing is washed out- and it's over dried) just re-wash it- don't dry it so long- iron it dry - it will be usable.
as for it being a lint-magnet---some weaves seem to collect lint more than others- another thing some added sizing would cure. if you really don't want to use it-deal with it---pass it on to a thrift store- or group who is making charity quilts.

On the other hand, if it has such an "attractive" quality, I might cut it up into squares, hem it, and use it as dust rags. If it attracts lint, it should attract dust. Like cholla said, waste not.

I just cut up poor fabrics like that into small pieces and add it to my tiny scraps from other projects. That is my goto spot for stuffing dog toys, crate pillows, and whatever small items my dog needs.

Yep. Did it. On purpose. Because it kept bleeding. I have to look at my quilt for years, and a piece of fabric of 10$ is not allowed to ruin that. Out with it!;-)

rags for whatever sounds like a good idea to me. Then you haven't "really" thrown it away. Just used it for a much different purpose.

i know this may sound like a stupid ? but what about the wrong side of the fabric? were there pieces of lint stuck to it as well? i have to agree, just cut it up SMALL!

i've had fabric that remained way too stiff after the 2nd wash & it's still sitting......iguess i'm not willing to give up on it yet!

Mine was a little different . . you know how once and awhile the 'sizing' gives the fabric a stiff feeling. And you figure it will 'wash out' NOT! This one was so 'stiff' and I thought it would not feel soft and cozy in a quilt. So I set it aside. Then one day - light-bulb thought. I used it to make a clothesline basket and a thread-catcher. I just could not throw it away. So the bad came out good. ;)

I like this idea!

Get rid of it. It most likely will do it again when in your quilt.

I wouldn't pitch it. Everything has a use. even if it is only a dust rag. sounds like it would make a good one since it seems to attract everything.

have you tried washing with a little vinegar in the water?

Anything like that I use in making crochet rugs.

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I'd keep it in fact I have a very smal selection of fabric that I call play fabric all of it has some problem, constant bleedsing, sheading, pilling, weight, almost everything, my Grands use it to check settings on machines. kite tails, small crafts that will never be washed, have used for Christmas tree ornaments. one year my oldest grand raided that selection of all my primary colors cut it into 1 inch strips rubbed it untill it started to fra, and used it as ribbon to tie her Christmas packages wrapped in plain brown paper.

I could never throw away fabric. I can always find some use for it.

I would use it to practice free motion quilting. I'm always needing a piece of sample fabric and have a hard time using "good" fabric from my stash.

cat or dog bedding

This is a GREAT idea!

That's what I do. Make practice sandwiches from fabric I don't like or that is too stiff, and then test my free motion designs on them before putting a 'real' quilt under the needle.

You sure could make a ton of practice pads with six yards of Kona Black :D

I would probably get rid of it if it really bothered me to look at it. I might use it to dust up my floors first!

Remember you can cut it into strips to crochet with or add it to a clothesline basket for an accent colour.

You could cut it up and use for scraps or make dust cloths out of it. Cotton make very good dishrags if you crochet.

Yup, I had a piece of Wal-Mart flannel that pilled so badly with the pre-wash that it is now a dust rag! None of the other pieces did that and they were all in the same load!

Most likely there was a manufacturing problem with this fabric. Either take it back to the store for a refund, or put it to use in scraps, or donate to Goodwill (they bundle up unusable cottons to sell to paper companies). I wouldn't use it in a quilt.

Arcy, that's the only reason it's still around...heaven knows I need the fmq practice! I just need to be able to afford the batting for the practice pieces...maybe I could use that ugly piece of red & black plaid flannel I've had for years - that was a "gift"...got yards of it, too!!

Yep, I would cut it into strips and use it for stuffing dog pillows, toys, etc.

NOOOOOooooooooooo!!!!!! dont throw it away!!!!! please re-purpose or donate ;)

I usually donate those pieces to Good Will - or my husbands rag bag

If it's not a "bleeder" you or someone you give it to can use it as the foundation for darker fabric string blocks.

PS I didn't read thru all four pages of responses, so I hope I'm not repeating another's idea ...

wow..I have used bolts of Kona black and NEVER had this happen...did you buy at a quilt shop or Hancocks?

I think I would return it.
I bought 3 yards of Alexander henry fabric on ebay, After washing it, it was ruined. the seller was nice enough to refund my money and told me to keep the fabric. because it bleed so bad there was nothing i could use it for except dog bedding.

I think´I´d use it as a layer for chenille - been thinking of trying that for a while now....

it would make a tote bag...

I wouldn't throw it away. Heck, I don't throw anything away <grin> I would give it to a group that makes beds for the animal shelter. They could use it for stuffing in the beds.

I'd probably make dust rags or dish cloths with the piece.....or give them to DH to put in his rag stack in his shop.