Quiltingboard Forums - Poly/cotton fabrics

Quiltingboard Forums (https://www.quiltingboard.com/)

- Main (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/)

- - Poly/cotton fabrics - what do you use them for? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/poly-cotton-fabrics-what-do-you-use-them-t152387.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearisgray

One can do a burn test to see if the fabric contains a synthetic:

One only needs a piece of fabric about 1/4 inch wide by about 1 inch long - doesn't take much

Hold it with tweezers in a flame - I prefer a lighted candle - make sure that you have an ashtray and a glass of water handy

If it is synthetic, it will burn with black smoke and leave either a crispy or gooey ash.. The residue stays hot for a long time, even after the fire is out.

All cotton burns with only a little smoke, and leaves a very powdery, soft ash.

Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FroggyinTexas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faren

What if you aren't sure if it is a poly blend or not? I am a fairly new sewer and need an easy way to tell.

Two easy ways: (1) Take a corner of the fabric in your hand and wad it up as tightly as you can. If it is wrinkled when you let it go, it is 99 percent certain that it's cotton. If it isn't wrinkled it's 99 percent certain that it's blend.

If you want to live dangerously:

(2) Cut a swatch of fabric big enough to hold by your fingertips with about 5 inches to spare away from your hand. Stand over the kitchen sink and turn the cold water on. Strike a match and set the flame to the fabric. If it melts, it's polyester. If it burns, it's cotton. The reason for having the water on is obvious. If it really flames, you probably don't want to use it for anything that might be exposed to fire. BTW, I just went to sink to try this because I wanted to be sure about it. froggyintexas

Thank you too, the wrinkle test will probably work for most of them. I have two lawn bags full of fabric that might be poly blends!

I use one brand for sashings and borders. Have never had a problem mixing it with the cotton.

My grandmother used anything that was available. Some were poly cotton's. I have washed her quilts many times and they are still holding together (better than some of the cotton.... ooops, did I just type that?)

here is a test for fabric content.
take a small piece of fabric, 2"x 1/4" is plenty big enough. hold the fabric scrap with a pair of metal tweezers. using a lighter, or match, ignite the end of the scrap, allow it to burn a little then blow it out. if there is a gray ash that smells kind of like wood or leaves burning. it's cotton. if there is a hard bead, it is poly. and if it smells like vinegar (sort of). if it smells like burning hair it's wool or cashmere (or any fabric derived from animal hair.) if there is a combination of elements in the ash, like a soft gray ash with a beaded edge, it's poly-cotton. hope that helps. stores won't let you test in the store, but they will give you a small sample you can take outside and test. at home, of course, it's not a problem.
i wrote this before i'd read the second page. sorry to be redundant!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faren

So is it alright to use them in the same quilt with all cotton fabric? I just had a LOT of fabric given to me and am sure there are some blends. But as a beginner quilter I don't think I could pick all of them out. I want to use the fabric for quilts for Operation Kid Comfort and the Soldier's Angels quilts. I'll have to look back over their requirements too.

I wouldn't worry about it, not too long ago you seldom heard anything about particular fabrics, look at all the doubleknit quilts you still see. If you do decide you are a purist when it comes to quilt fabric you could tear them into strips and make rugs. Homade rag rugs last forever.