stupid questions about wide backing fabric
 

Okay, so I have this ginormous piece of fabric for backing of a queen-sized quilt. If I put it in the dryer for a bit, will it "flatten" some of the folds/wrinkles? I have a pretty big ironing board, but still not big enough for this fabric. Any thoughts/ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks!

It helps if you mist it a bit to relax some of the wrinkles before putting in the dryer. I know some toss a few damp face cloths in to help create a steam. A lot depends on just how "hard" those wrinkles are. I do iron mine on a regular ironing board... just repositioning a lot.

I just finished ironing and starching the backing for a king size quilt. I believe this makes a big difference in a smooth back when I'm quilting. I have a wide (18") board and just take it a section at a time. Not fun, but it makes a difference.

Good luck.

Thanks for your advice, I know you're right. I think I'll mist it, toss it in the dryer to hopefully get the bigger wrinkles out and then iron the heck out of it. My project for tomorrow...

I've stripped my bed and used my mattress as a huge ironing board, kinda low but got the job done.

If you still have wrinkles when you remove the fabric from the dryer, spray the wrinkles with Mary Ellen's Best Press. That is the best thing that I have found for removing stubborn wrinkles. I have only a regular sized ironing board; but by pressing in sections, I iron oversized, king size backing on it. I don't enjoy the ironing; but it is doable.

I use my dinning room table. Covered with a mattress pad and sheet, held down with clamps. Still have to move it a couple of times but works great.

As a longarm quilter, and a prolific home quilter, I gotta say.. if you don't iron it you'll probably regret it. Those wrinkles will creep in and give you grief later and you'll wish you had forced yourself to bite that bullet and make yourself just go ahead and do it, even though it's a pain in the patootie! :(

Ironing the backing is my least favorite part of quilting!! Luckily, I like all the other parts. :) I just reward myself for the ironing...usually with more fabric....

Dina

You don't say if you're quilting on a longarm or a DSM. I have a friend who quilts about 30 quilts a month on the two machines she owns, mostly for charity. She doesn't have time or energy to iron backings. When she gets one that is badly wrinkled, she'll load it in the evening, spritz it with water, and let it hang to release the wrinkles.

If you don't have a frame, then I guess I'd go the damp dryer route. :)

I'd run it thru an easy short wash. The wet will help take out the fold lines.

I have just a regular ironing board and iron all my washed wide backing fabric on it. Not fun but just keep moving it around. It does get a little wrinkled again as it sits on the floor but better than before ironing it.

Test color
 

Just so you know, there are a couple of new products on the market you might want to try. The first is called Wrinkle ease and the other is Magic Wrinkle remover. Both are meant for garments that you don't want to iron, supposed to just press out with your hands. Doesn't solve all the problem, but makes pressing the deep wrinkles easier.


I forgot to mention to be sure to test the product on a scrap to make sure the color is fast.

You didn't mention if your going to quilt it on a longarm or not, but here is what I do when a wide backing needs de-wrinkled. Load it on the first roller, then I spread it up & over the take up rollers & down behind the table & as I roll the backing up I spray each section with Best Press & iron it holding my Quilter's Cut & Press under the fabric. I then roll up that section & move to the next. It sure beats trying to iron it on my ironing board.

I've got a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood on my worktable. I place a blanket on the plywood and using my steam iron, I iron out all the wrinkles. Works great and is pretty speedy!

I didn't strip the bed. I just put my regular ironing board - still folded - at the end of the bed, and ironed away. The bed was able to keep the large piece from pulling off and falling on the floor. Got the job done.

I saw a demonstration at the quilt show a few years ago. Put one tablespoon of vinegar in a cup of water and use it in a spray bottle. It is fantastic!! Gets out the toughest wrinkles, even the ones created by being folded on the bolt.

I do exactly the same thing as Peckish's friend - I load backings several hours prior to start quilting. However- I spritz it with a dilute solution of fabric softener in distilled water. Works like a champ. I have not ironed a backing in years- even the stubborn middle fold fades away. I can only assume the same can be done if you have a way to hang it. Perhaps over a shower rod? May have to refold after the first hanging. Best of luck with it.

[QUOTE=Peckish;6775899]You don't say if you're quilting on a longarm or a DSM. I have a friend who quilts about 30 quilts a month on the two machines she owns, mostly for charity. She doesn't have time or energy to iron backings. When she gets one that is badly wrinkled, she'll load it in the evening, spritz it with water, and let it hang to release the wrinkles.

That was my thought. I usually hang from my balcony or over a fence or clothes line or across the trailer. Just suggestion to get the old head thinking.

I have a big rectangular ironing boad that sits on top of my regular board. It makes ironing a lot easier.

I throw them in the dryer with a wet towel and it does a pretty nice job.

Ironing wide backings is my least favorite part of using wide backings. Throw a wet towel in with it, and at least get rid of some of the smaller creases, then concentrate on the tougher ones with the iron.

If you are going to load it on a long arm machine, I will do a quick press using my dining room table covered with a couple quilts as an ironing board, or my new favorite way, is to load the back on the machine, spray it with mist, roll it back and forth from the pick-up bar and the backing bar a few times and then leave overnite--by morning it's dry and smooth--ready to quilt.

Another method that works is to run it though a short cycle in the washer (when you worry about shrinkage) then hang it on the clothes line until it's barely damp, then put it on the long arm like above.

put in the dryer with a bit of water and tennis balls. I use them all the time to knock out wrinkles. I also use them to fluff towels and feather quilts

My NON-Handyman DH actually made me one of these & it turned out great! We are both so proud of it!

I wonder if that product which takes wrinkles out of garments when you spray them would work to calm down the wrinkles. Can't recall the name, but it's great for traveling.