What is your feeling on useing used dryer sheets for the base of a block instead of muslin? It seems to me it would work pretty good.

Sounds like something that could work. You mean like iron them flat, draw the pattern on them and paper piece w/o paper?

No, I mean to make like a string quilt. Sew the strips on the used sheets, they are limp (the dryer sheets) from the dryer anyway, iron them and then sew. What do you think? I think they would work and also you would be recycling.

Hey...why not? You may be on to something there! The sheets are super-thin. They could stand the heat from the iron. They wouldn't damage a rotary cutter or scissors. As long as they didn't stretch or tear...why not? One block wouldn't be a big loss of time or fabric to find out. I don't do laundry 'til Sunday, so if you get to this experiment before I get a chance, let me know!

Dear Girls;
Did you know that if you got fusible web on your iron to clean your iron you use a sheet (dryer sheet) then put your iron cleaner on this sheet and it will clean your iron off of it.

Let me know if your idea works or not.
Hope to hear from you again.
athensbabe

I don’t know why not. I have been using them in an appliqué quilt that has some very difficult leaves. I tried every single method and end up using them instead of interfacing. I just place them in the dryer a few times to get the stiffness out of them.
On the other end, I use a new one to hand quilt. After I thread the needle, I make a few stitches through one sheet and the thread goes through the quilt much easier and without ever making knots. I prefer this to the wax.
Lucia

I never get fusible web on my iron. Before I heat it up, I wrap the bottom of the iron with aluminum foil. If I mess up, I just toss it away and use a new one. Got the idea from the aluminum foil box! :mrgreen:
Lucia

now that's a TIP

Hey, Lucia!
You need to tell us more about yourself. How did you get so good at making do? You have a great talent and so much useful knowledge. We could all learn to be more like you. :?: :-)

Hi Mi, I have not had any experience with this but can tell you of a story that was in our local paper about a year ago that I just love & have saved. Seems this fella up in his 70's wanted a king size quilt, but what he wanted was $500 and up so he could not afford the price of having one made.He picked up 2 boxes of material at a flea market for $5, to cut into strips,bought filling and cloth for the front and back sheets for $27. He had no sewing machine, found a used $300 one for $150 & taught himself to sew. He asked all his friends to save their used dryer sheets for him & very well ironed them till they were perfectly smooth, sewed his little strips onto them till he had 160 rectangles, then sewed the rectangles to a top cover sheet, pinned the rectangle filled top sheet to the filler and backing & tied each of the rectangles in each corner & the middle,then added a border. Experienced quilters told him it would take a year to finish, he worked 7am to 6pm everday. He had a quilter next door he could ask questions if he had a problem. And he finished his 16 ft by 10 ft quilt in about a month. The picture in the newspaper is black & white but it looks like it is very colorful & is a lovely quilt. So I would say dryer sheets work just fine, huh? Plus it has to smell great as an added bonus. 8) Betty

Hi Lucia, Yes, what a great tip! I am going to have to learn to stop and read the foil box! LOL Thanks for sharing. 8) Betty

I have used the dryer sheets in yet another method of applique. Place your shape face down on the dryer sheet, stitch around the shape, trim way excess, split the back open and turn. Push the edges out and press flat on the stitch line. Trim the dryer sheet to about 1/4" all around and then applique. I haven't tried it on leaves, but it should work.

WARNING: Be sure to place an old piece of fabric over your ironing surface as there will be a residue builtup from the dryer sheets. No need to ask me how I learned this! I have graduated several times from the School of Experience.
Suzanne

These are all GREAT ideas, I am going to put them in my "steal trap mind" and hope it doens't rust shut! I can't wait to try some of them. :D

Debbie, you must be younger than me. My mind is more like a sieve. :lol: I love the fact that we can read through these posts whenever we want. Some message boards are set up so that after you read a post it no longer shows. This can be a disaster as you frantically try to remember where you saw something you want to refer.

Regarding using used dryer sheets in quilts. I read somewhere that the residue still in those sheets, will aid in the deterioration of the fabric. If that is the case, I surely wouldn't use them in a good quilt or one that I put an enormous amount of time. Secondly, I don't think they are all that stable. When taken from the dryer they seem stretchy to me and easy to tear. Just something to think about. I love the idea of recycling and am always listening to tips like this. The needle and thread thru a sheet would work well when I do binding at the shop. I think I will put one in my portable sewing kit. Thanks. :lol:

Thanks, I will rethink how I want to use them.

I have ironed the dryer sheets flat and used them on larger appliqe pieces but have a lot of problems with the smaller pieces. :( I just can't seem to get the smaller ones to turn out right. I put the right side of the fabric on the sheet and sew around the shape then trim the fabric sheet as close to my stitching as possible then cut a slit and turn the shape right side out, but it doesn't work well on the small shapes. What am I doing wrong? :?:

:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:
Thank you. You made me blush, lots… I will not talk about it now because I am sick with a viral cold, compliments of my husband! When I am better I will tell you about myself and how I learned to make do with life.
Lucia

Hi Norah
You asked me a while ago how I got good at making do and to tell you about myself. :lol: :roll: So, here it goes:
“Once upon a time” I only want the best! I could afford it and I prefer to wait than having something of lesser quality. No, I was never a snob that was my way of thinking. So, one day, because of civil war, I just closed my door – actually, my husband did it because he staid for an extra month -- left two cars parked in front of the apartment building and took an airplane to Brazil to start new life, leaving everything behind! Since I only had a check for $185.00 – could not get anything more out of the country – I had to learn how to make do. My first project was our bed: All day long I carried apple crates that I put all together to make our bed. It was really useful, because I placed the crates sideways and used the spaces to place the dirty cloths, shoes, my sons’ toys, etc... And that way we did not need to sleep on the floor. Placed an inexpensive foam mattress on top and covered the whole thing with a bedspread. Let me tell you, it was the most comfortable – and perfumed -- bed we ever had in 35 years of marriage, and I learned that it was more important to have a cozy, comfortable home than a fancy one!
My life’s story could be a better soap opera than One Life to Live or General Hospital but probably people would not like it since I never “slept” with all the men involved in it!!! :twisted: :twisted:
I will place in the "my profile” section the bio I use to send to places were I teach quilting.
Thanks for asking :wink:
Lucia

I have tried using all brands and all kinds of stuff doing machine applique and for me the used dryer sheets works better than anything that I have bought and tred. It makes it easier turning the material under the needle and you don't really have to worry about ripping it off afterwards, I just trim off the excess with scissors and I am good to go
Hellcat in ohio

:wink: Yes they work but I buy them for that reason cause I don't use DS but for sewing on.

My aunt taught me how to do this. I currently have 64 squares from dryer sheets. I'm trying to decide if I wait until have 64 more to make a twin quilt or use a corresponding fabric to sash the ones I have to make the size. here is some inspiration http://blog.mlive.com/runningwithnee...of_fabric.html