YAY!! I FINALLY finished washing!
 

Well, I stayed up late last night to finish the last load! Litteraly washed around 40 big loads of fabric that was given to me. I about screamed by the time it was finished! Been working on it for 2 weeks now and soooooooo excited that is over!!!!!! Now on to the fun part! Making things! :) Happy Tuesday Everyone!

I know what you mean then I screamed again when I was folding it. But it is all on the shelf and I don't have to worry which one is washed when I need it. I am a starcher also but at least that is a little at a time.

way to go have lots of fun sewing.

When I fabric shop I buy lots of large pieces and am always glad when it is washed and dried. I felt like you when I decided to refold all my fabrics. Didn't think I would ever finish, but I did, had fabric stacked everywhere.

Now comes the fun part!

Wow, sounds like you are going to have a lot of fabric to enjoy!!!

I am back to doing the same thing. The fabric from an estate stays in the garage until it goes into the wash. The airing out there has helped.

Were yours all big pieces.....That makes it so much easier. Look forward to seeing what you will make with all that. Do you have a picture of your new stash all nicely organized and put away?

Your time will be worth it. Enjoy!!

I wanna see!!! I'd love to find a big stash of fabric to try to work into my existing stash! Congratulations!

no, they were not ALL big pieces ... but i made it through it! :) I will def post pics soon of my stash! :)

The washing is the easy part! It's the ironing and folding that wear me out!

I did that once with my own stash. Washed for probably 2 weeks and Ironed it all. It added $10.00 to $20.00 to our electric bill. Then I gave a lot of it away to new quilters. A lot of the fabric was the "what was I thinking" kind. Reduced my stash and made several ladies very happy.
Sue

I did not iron them all, just folded and put away! The ironing will come when I need it for a project! :) I really would've went nuts them!

Don't you have to iron them? I would hate that.

Wow! What a good feeling! Now we want to see what you make.

Have to iron? Not until I use them.........I don't let mine sit in the dryer, I take them them out while the dryer is still going so there isn't alot of wrinkles in most of them! :)

Mimmy96, Enjoy your sewing time! I like to have my fabric pre-washed too. It's so good to just pull something out and start to cut and piece! Did te good fabric fairy visit you? 40 loads??!!!

Yes! Now comes the fun part ... ironing it all!!! :D

How do you handle the fraying that occurs when you wash the fabric? Do you stitch around the raw edges first????

When my husband and I moved to a retirement home because of his health, I was determined to bring my LARGE collection of fabric and sewing notions with me. He had smoked cigars for years; so I washed everything possible, including plastic containers. Then came the ironing, folding, and organizing. My sewing room was in great order!

Then---I started making /finishing multitudes of projects for family and for our annual craft sale here. After 3 years of this, everything is a mess! So, I must finish several UFO's and take ( ?) days to straighten and reorganize. Believe me, at the age of 81 my get up and go is weakening, but I am determined to get this done!

A lady in our church was put into a nursing home and they are selling her house and getting rid of everything.. I got her WHOLE craft room.. She was a major quilter! that is how I got all the fabric! :) ... And as far as keeping it from fraying... My first few loads I just delt with it.. and cut threads after pulling them out of the washer.... but then I got alittle smarter and cliped all the cut edges with pinking shears before putting them into the washer.. WORKED GREAT! ... I WAS NOT going to take the time to sew all the edges.. there was no way! ... and as far as ironing.. I barely made it through all the washing.. So they all were folded and places on shelf WITHOUT ironing... ironing will come on the day I use them for projects..lol.. I have had enough fun for awhile with fabric care .. haha!

I always wash fabric, particularly when it is given to me and they have had it around for a while. I cut the corners off so that down the road if I can't remember if I washed it or not, if it doesn't have that corner cut off I know it hasn't been washed.

Congratulations on your accomplishment! :) Now two things: (1) do you need donations to pay your water/electrical expense?; and (2) what does 40 loads of fabric look like all stacked and ready? Enjoy your classes and your new adventure of quilting.

I will try and take a picture soon.... as far as Water bill, we do not pay one.. it is included with out house.. YAY!... Electric, I will just have to see on next months bill.. haha!!

Wow alot of work but , I am sure you have sat back and just admired all that great stash!

Good for you. I admire your determination.
Congrats to you mimmy96.

Thanks everyone! :)

Lucky you have fun making quilt, crafts and whatever you like. Pictures please.