In my Intro to Quilting class, we were taught to iron out the default fold in our fabric and create a new one after making sure the threads were as straight as possible...

Does everyone do this? I was doing this tonight on 6 yards of backing for a twin quilt and it felt like it was taking forever when all I want to do is sandwich and start quilting :)

I iron everything flat!

Gal

Often times fabric is printed slightly off kilter . . .even some of the better cottons. For large pieces, such as backing. . .I always rip abut an inch from the edge since fabric will tear along a thread . . .iron flat . . .then cut the torn edge after folding length wise (but not ironing the fold). As for creating a "new" fold, I personally dont do that and not sure why you would be instructed to do so, but would be interested in the explanation? :)

^^^^Yup. The easiest way to get it square is to rip and trim! If you're making a quilt back, I dunno why you'd need a new fold. You want it flat, flat to start quilting!

Yes.

the reason for the new fold is because the fabric is too wide to cut without folding it in half, so after pressing out the crease from the bolt fold you simply fold the fabric up so that it is narrow enough for your ruler to go across the fabric to make one smooth cut.

eveything should always be ironed, I was once told 'for every seams sewn, a press was needed'. Ironing the backing ensures that your fabric will not have any wrinkles, I throw mine in the dryer for serveral min with a damp hand towel then press while still damp and warm seem to help.

some fabric stores do not realize how off they cut fabric. have you ever noticed how the salvage is crocked? so the rip sets the cross grain of fabric then you would fold your fabric with salvaged edges togethered your rip line will line up great. then all cuts are perpendicula to the grain line and fabric pattern will line up better.

I starch, let hang dry, then press.... all fabric before cutting. What a difference it makes!

I IRON EVERYTHING - or as someone mentioned each seam. I have an iron on the deck right next to my machine on a 14" square ironing board I made.

Spray starch will help with the ironing too. SEARCH spray starch and you'll read lots of info...from how to make homemade to why use it in the first place.

I NEVER rip my fabric. Although I've never looked at it under a microscope, 'they' claim it weakens the surrounding threads (a couple of inches wide) when you rip...makes sense to me. Never have in the past - won't in the future.

I was at the fabric store and 'heard' the clerk rip fabric for someone else! YIKES! :shock: One part of me was glad I wasn't buying fabric that day...:) Another part of me wanted to buy fabric, just so she could rip it, and I could say NO to purchasing it. :twisted: Rotten I know - but I didn't act on the thought. ;)

I always refold at center making sure selvages match up & as I press

I just bought my first piece of muslin, and yes, the clerk just brabbed the fabric and ripped away. It was sort of shocking!

Always!! Ironing first guarantees a more accurate cut. And accuracy at all stages makes all the difference!

Always Iron before I cut.
and if the fabric is a lighter weight or if I am cutting triangles or small pieces I will starch.
this does make much nicer cuts
and I iron after each seam also, a must if I want nice points!

Yup! :thumbup:

I am in complete agreement. I would not do a project without the steps.

It used to be that you might not be able to iron out that default fold and then were stuck with it if you did not know before sewing it into a garment or quilt. So we would iron it out and be sure it was not faded along the fold. If it was we would take the fabric back as defective.

I always Iron before I cut!

I do, I iron after prewashing, I iron after cutting (to verify straight) and after sewing pieces. I more than likely over iron things.

I do, I iron after prewashing, I iron after cutting (to verify straight) and after sewing pieces. I more than likely over iron things.

Ironing is really important. At every step. I always cut single layer because I want accuracy. I rarely starch but use steam a LOT. Small wrinkles add up to big mismatches along the way.

Always, but to even the fabric, I was told to hold it selvege to selvege and slightly move only one side back and forth until there is no wrinkle and it hangs straight. Then pin the selveges together, place on the cutting mat lining it up with a straight line and rotary cut one side WOF to make a straight line. Then start cutting. I do this after ironing the piece flat. Does anyone else do this?

After seeing the results of not ironing before cutting for a rag quilt, I do iron everything before cutting it - and yes, I also iron out the crease from the bolt and re-align the fabric to get a straight edge.

I spent this weekend prepping fabrics for the next three quilt projects. I ran out of steam before ironing the last three fabrics for project number 4.

Now I can concentrate on the more fun stuff.

Cheers, K

While on the subject of ironing, sometimes I just can't get out wrinkles (especially on muslin) if they have been set for a long while, no matter how much I steam or spray and press! Anyone have a solution to really set in wrinkles? This is also after being washed.

Some muslins are really coarse and tough. I find a heavy iron with a lot of steam gets me the best results. I don't use that type of fabric for anything other than storage bags for a quilt or to cover my ironing board when I'm using icky stuff.

I have had this problem , even with some batiks ( end of bolt where it was really "crumpled up". I iron them damp , not really wet but after washing and just a few minutes inthe drier.
Somethimes for the really really tuff wrinkles while damp a give a slight mist of white vinegar, I do not know why but it seems to relax the wrinkle.

I forgot about the vinegar thing. Don't put the vinegar in your iron if you use it. Vinegar will "clean" out the deposits inside and leaves the gunk on your fabric. It always reminds me egg dying. :-)

I totally agree!! Starch will help ease out some of those wrinkles or folds.

I iron.... ever cut of the way......then ever sewing of the way...even when I am finally done with the quilt, I iron the whole thing again!

I iron the piece then align along the selvage and shift until the piece hangs evenly. THAT is where I fold the piece down and cut my strips. It is amazing how "off" the yardage is at times.

Yes, this is exactly what I do. I even refold and straighten after cutting several strips...somehow it does not always stay straight. Especially if I have folded over a second time, it can kinda get "wonky".

Ah...that darned ironing. But fact is, ironing makes all the difference in the world in the finished product whether quilting or garment sewing. I iron after practically every step, it really is important, even if it makes you kind of buggy.

That is so true.

I agree. I rip, but, open up and iron flat (when I put it away I fold without making a pressed fold).

I like to iron out the old crease and press the fabric flat, and then just fold and 'finger press' the fabric. Your rotary ruler will keep the crease flat enough to cut, and you won't have to press out another crease when you piece.

I always starch & press. If I'm in a hurry I use spray starch

I always iron.

I wash all fabric and iron all fabric before I start. In fact my fabric goes straight to the washer when I get home and wash it on declicate and then iron. ( You soon find out just how straight your fabric was cut.) If I bought a little extra, I tear the end to make sure I have a straight grain.

I prewash as soon as I get the fabric home, then trim any strings and refold aligning selvedges to find the grain. I iron and starch before cutting. When sewing, I set the seam by ironing it closed, then open and finger press gently then press with the iron.

I saw a Sharon Schamber video where she showed using a light spray of starch while loading the backing on the frame. Put it on the front bar, roll it onto the front bar, attach it to the back bar, then when rolling it to the back spray each section with starch.

I tried it on the latest one and man, it did good. I didn't iron the backing at all after washing and drying so it had those little tiny wrinkles all over. I sprayed it and just watched all the wrinkles magically disappear and it was tight and smooth.