Originally Posted by
cmierley
I just learned that steaming could shrink your fabric a little. Teacher recommended no steam. Blocks will come out more accurate. With steam your blocks could be off a little. Once your fabric gets wet it could shrink some. She never steams and her blocks stay accurate.
I soak my fabrics in HOT water now - and dry them. None or very little shrinkage for me.
I have had a Michael Miller fabric shrink over 2.5 inches in width. If I had cut a 12.5 inch square from that unwashed fabric- after pressing with steam, that block would be less than 12.25 inches in one direction.
So - yes - steam pressing unwashed/unshrunk fabric can cause the dimensions of the piece to change due to shrinkage.
While in the class - do it the way the instructor says - try it - you might like it.
If other ways suit you better at other times, do it the way you prefer.
I generally do not use starch or sizing, but I will use it on a very unruly piece to get the seams to stay the way I want them do.