|
Originally Posted by SparkMonkey
Originally Posted by Carol J.
If the fabric was polyester, I doubt if it needed to be ironed. Only iron if a piece of fabric is really wrinkled.
The test for yarn if it is wool or polyester, is to set a piece in a fireproof dish and light it, if the fire goes out,it is wool and if it is orlon, acrylic, polyester or synthetic anything, it will burn up and disappear. Synthetic fabrics and yarn are an oil by product. I haven't tried burning a piece of cotton fabric or yarn but my guess would be it would burn slowly. I think I will try it and find out. Carol J. |
It could have acetate in the blend. It will shrivel up under high heat.
|
Rayon, nylon, orlon, polyester, ninon, look at the ends of fabric boards and you will see all kinds of synthetic threads used with cotton or alone. All require little or no ironing and that was the feature the manufacturers pushed, the convenience for travel and use, no ironing needed. So we have to be cautious when using old fabric for quilting or crafts.
Carol J. |
most synthetics burn with black smoke - and smell different from all cotton fabrics.
Some cottons do burn "whoosh!" but they always leave a powdery ash. Synthetics either leave a crispy ash, or a sticky glob. This also takes a LOT LONGER to cool down than cotton ashes - Wool smells like burning feathers. |
rayon, poly and acetate....
|
I have a harder time telling rayon from cotton, because rayon is derived from wood pulp, so it will burn more like cotton that polyester.
Some more info about doing burn tests on fabrics. http://quilting.about.com/od/fabrice.../burn_test.htm |
Thanks for the site about burning fabrics, will come in handy when in doubt about the content of the material we buy at sales or receive as donations. This is something we all should take a look at.
Carol J. |
I can "tell" (from most fabrics) with a piece as small as 1/4 x 1 inch.
One's neighbors may think one a bit odd sitting by a table burning snippets of fabric - - - but it's nice to know what one has to work with. If one plans to burn quite a few pieces - it is better to do it outside. I've done it in our laundry tubs that are in the basement (they are cement - not plastic) - but the smoke smell from the synthetics gets to be a bit much. |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:03 PM. |