Tangle Mess!
 

I'm a newbie and I learned that all fabric should be washed before cutting and sewing. Did that and my material came out a tangled mess. Had to get scissors and snip out tangles from one material to another. What should I have done? Any suggestions or is this a common problem?

Not that I know of. It is the nature of washing lots of smaller pieces together. Might put in mesh bags, but I've learned to live with it. Dont sheets and towels get tangled up in the wash?

On a recent thread, someone suggested using a pinking rotary cutter to stop all the tangling of thread from the other pieces. Anyone tried one?

I zigzag the raw edges of all my fabric before tossing it into the wash, using old crappy thread like Coats & Clark. Pinking shears work as well.

If you cut all raw edges with the pinking shears it won't be as bad. You won't have as much tangled mess to cut off and the fabric itself won't get wadded as tight. If I don't feel like using the pinking shears I just bring scissors and cut the mess off before I put it into the dryer.

Serging the cut ends also works.

Thanks but don't have a serger. I hand piece.

You could try putting like colors in an old pillow case and tying it closed. Wash them as you usually would, then put the whole thing in the dryer with a couple of tennis balls to keep it from settling in one place. The fabrics are not directly subjected to the agitation of the machine and usually come out with fewer frayed ends and less tangled. :)

People here will give you as many ways to avoid the tangles as there are days in the month. Try as many as you want and when you find one that works for you, stick with it. I have, even though I've never heard of anyone else doing what I do.

My method of choice is this. I prewash all fabrics, like colors together, on a gentle cycle in hot water, cold rinse. The fabrics do not tangle on gentle. I take each fabric out of the washer, one at a time, trim off any loose edge threads at that time and toss the fabric in the dryer, a very fast operation. I run the dryer about 20 minutes until they're just dry, take them out shortly after it stops, and fold them right away. Without loose threads, they do not tangle in the dryer. They don't get ironed until I'm ready to use them and they never get (or need) starch.

My fabrics never tie themselves in knots, are never deeply creased or wrinkled, and I don't waste my time with pinking or clipping or serging or pinning or zigzagging or sewing the edges together or any of the other suggested solutions you'll get. The added bonus is I get to save the thread trash for art quilt embellishment. :)

I always use my pinking rotary and trim the cut edges of the fabric - learned the hard way just like you. Also, if they are fat quarters on charms, I DON'T pink them but I do put them in a mesh bag (got them at walmart cheap) about 3-4 to a bag along with a color catcher in each bag and wash them in warm water with a cold rinse. They come out rather nicely. I don't pre-wash a kit, just too much trouble but I do make sure then to NOT was the backing for those so that they are all on the same shrink level. Hope this helps.

I don't have pinking shears. I read someplace, (can't remember which magazine,) but i rip both ends of the fabric straight and snip a small piece of all four corners off (selveges), clean off all loose threads then wash. It doesn't eliminate the problem, but it does cut down on the tangled mess.

Thanks for your reply! First of all, where did you buy your pinking rotary and why don't you pre-wash kits?

I have had good results by just cutting a small triangle off each corner (1/4")

I solved the problem by quitting prewashing.

If you cut a tiny bit off each corner of the fabric it will hardly fray. Cut on an angle. I use to serge all my cut edges before washing now I just clip the corners. Much quicker & works wonderfully well.

I don't rip the fabric but I do clip the little triangles off the corners. It really helps eliminate a lot of thread tangles.

I always use the pinking rotary cutter, really all but elimates the ravels, and since I don't always pre-wash everything, I know when I go to use the fabric latter, if it has a pinking edge I have washed it. I also think it helps if you use the most delicate cycle on your machine. USE PINKING ROTARY CUTTER ;)

Me too! Works great!

It is a rotary cutting disc, that looks like a regular blade but have a wavy edge....You usually can find them anywhere you would find your regular blades. Joanns, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, I personally like Olfa, use your 40% coupons...
One trick I have is multiple rotary handles...I have a 60mm, several 45mm, 28mm and a 18mm. Have them standing in a coffee Mug (broken handle).
The pinking blade is also handy to fast grade a seam.

Scissor queen is right prewashing is not necessary, you just need to test for bleeding prior to using fabric

This is the same method I use and it works for me.

Someone referred to Coats & Clark thread as "crappy thread" - what kind of thread do you use to sew with? I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, I'm just wondering. I tend to sew my pieces together with really inexpensive serger thread spools, but use embroidery thread to do my quilting with. Do you have any suggestions that work better for you?

I also clip a triangle off of each corner, then simply clip any (usually only a few) frayed threads, as it comes out of the washer.

Go to website of Superior Threads, based out of Arizona. You will get a boat load of information about thread.
I personally have been in your shoes, and used super cheap serger thread, and what ever else was handy. Do you clean your bobbin case when you put in a new full bobbin, ever wonder where all that lint comes from.....it comes from your THREAD...and can really damage your machine. I now only use the So Fine #50 from Superior and I have next to NO lint anywhere...it sews beautifully and I know the thread will last as long as the quilt fabric...

I have some 20 year old quilts that are used almost everyday - they are our 'couch quilts' - used Coats & Clark dual duty thread (cotton over polyester) - the thread worked great in my machines - it's held up great in the quilts -hasn't 'cut' the cotton fabric - threads haven't broken -

What is the problem with it - other than that it WAS available at stores like WalMart, Hancocks and JoAnn ???

If any one wants to get rid of their old, awful, crappy, cotton-covered cotton over polyester Dual Duty Coats & Clark thread, I would be happy to pay postage costs to 'take it off their hands' and relieve them of the torture of using that kind of thread.

C&C cotton thread is strong thread but is 3 ply, too thick for me for piecing. It tends to have a lot lint. I use a bigger needle for 3 ply, 90/14 and use it only on my machine that has outside threading. Lint is a killer for machines that have inside threading. Serger thread is not made for piecing, it's too weak when used off one cone for a seam. Three or more cones sewing together makes the surged seam strong. I do like the C&C bobbin thread. It's 80wt and works great for machine quilting on white fabric. It only comes in white.

I just tried using my pinking rotary cutter on fabric before washing and it works great. Very little raveling and no tangling.

I use mesh laundry bags for the washing part and take the fabrics out of the bag for the dryer. If you have lots of small pieces hang them to dry instead of the dryer. If you don't have an outdoor clothesline try over the shower rod and towel racks.

You don't wash the pre cut fabric. I don't wash any of my fabrics except for reds and flannel. There is no right or wrong. I use to wash everything but not any anymore and there is no difference. I do wash my finished quilt.

I overlock mine but you could zigzag the edges if you don't have an overlocker

My new washer has a hand washing cycle. It is perfect for washing fabric. No ravels at all, not even on the pre cuts. It was the main reason I bought it. I don't put fabric a yard or less in the dryer. I let it damp dry then iron it.

I was told a long time ago to cut a little bias edge off the corners. It does help, but if you cut a big piece off, you'll waste some fabric on that edge. But I do it. Helps a little
.

When I wash new fabric I wash it on the delicate or hand cycle. Does away with tangles.

I only wash pieces that are over two yards! Fat quarters and 1/2 yards and even one yard that I am going to cut into squares I do not wash until the quilt is put together, and quilted and bound. Then it gets washed. I feel that if you wash a small piece you are going to lose more than you have, so I don't - and I have not had one problem yet!

I learned this from my mother who has been quilting forever! And you know- Mothers are never wrong - especially when they are 96 years old. And, I am almost 74, so by now I should know! She doesn't chew her cabbage twice, so it is a case of learn now or never learn! I have learned to learn to learn!!!!!!! Edie

zigzag stitch all around the edge

I am with you, Bear. Sometimes folks think if they pay a lot for something, it has to be good. Sort of like the old story, "The Emperor's New Clothes." Coats & Clark is my choice. My great-grandmother and grandmother didn't use anything fancy and their quilts are still in use!! I've tried a couple of other threads and keep going back to C & C.

I just sew each raw end before putting in the wash and wash on gentle. then throw in the dryer till mostly dry and fold and hand it on a hanger till totally dry. then fold and put away till I need it. No problems so far.

From my experience, (but I'm only 71, so you have three years on me), if a fabric is going to misbehave, it will do it no matter what size the piece is. The proportion/rate of shrinkage - if treated the same - would be the same if I had a fat eighth or a ten yard length. It just is more easily noticed on a small piece.

I wash all fabric in the bathtub and use shampoo for the soap, rinses out easier, and then throw it in the drier. Less tangles and knots.