Washing fabric
04-15-2011, 03:17 AM
#61
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Hastings, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 116
Originally Posted by Normabeth
Hi,
Since I am fairly new to quilting, I was told that you wash all your fabrics. After doing this for several quilts, I got tired of all the STRINGS - now I use the steam setting in my machine, and steam the fabrics, since steam is hot, I believe the sizing and chemicals are released from the fabric, they come out damp, so I throw them in the dryer for 10 mintues. I then press them with a hot iron. Recently was told about using spray starch, made a baby quilt this week, and all I can say is "What a difference in sewing the seams" a little startch can make.
NormaBeth
Since I am fairly new to quilting, I was told that you wash all your fabrics. After doing this for several quilts, I got tired of all the STRINGS - now I use the steam setting in my machine, and steam the fabrics, since steam is hot, I believe the sizing and chemicals are released from the fabric, they come out damp, so I throw them in the dryer for 10 mintues. I then press them with a hot iron. Recently was told about using spray starch, made a baby quilt this week, and all I can say is "What a difference in sewing the seams" a little startch can make.
NormaBeth
thankyou.
04-15-2011, 10:58 AM
#63
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,667
I am piecing together a lap quilt and washed all the fabric. I was about to use some donated fabric (from my friend) for just a small bit of it (a bird beak or something), and almost forgot to check it. I'm glad I did, it bled like crazy. I just can't imagine doing all that work to have it ruined.
On the other hand, when I made a couple of quilts to hang on the wall I didn't wash anything ahead of time since I will rarely wash them.
On the other hand, when I made a couple of quilts to hang on the wall I didn't wash anything ahead of time since I will rarely wash them.
04-15-2011, 03:56 PM
#65
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Oxford MA
Posts: 943
i've never washed jelly rolls (yet) but i do the charms in a lingerie bag like everything else i bring in...
besides the fact that i know how dirty a freight dock is, and all that lovely fabric was on a freight dock at some point, i have pretty bad allergies & it is just a case of better safe than sorry ...
besides the fact that i know how dirty a freight dock is, and all that lovely fabric was on a freight dock at some point, i have pretty bad allergies & it is just a case of better safe than sorry ...
04-15-2011, 03:57 PM
#66
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Posts: 4,656
Originally Posted by sueisallaboutquilts
I don't wash charms, jelly rolls etc. When I am finished with a project I put Shout Color Catchers in the wash with it.
They work great!
If I think something is sure to bleed I will soak it in a basin first.
They work great!
If I think something is sure to bleed I will soak it in a basin first.
04-15-2011, 07:49 PM
#67
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 164
I pre wash charms, jelly rolls and so on by hand . Did some hand painted ones the other day and they all faded allot. Was glad I did that before appliqued them to my quilt what a mess that would have been. Not only that after all the time it takes to hand do it I would have just cried.
I'm a be lever in pre wash now an lined dryad.
I'm a be lever in pre wash now an lined dryad.
04-18-2011, 10:32 AM
#70
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,449
Originally Posted by Jammin' Jane
Sometimes I do...sometimes I don't. Reds are bleeders!
The last red I had that had excess dye in it (it wasn't a bleeder) was a Moda. Also had some VIPS and some "cheapie" types - no brand name known - the water stayed clear.
I can't tell just by looking how a fabric will behave.
Last two fabrics I purchased at the LQS - a very dark navy RJR - and a solid black Michael Miller -
The dark navy stayed about the same size - the black shrunk about three inches in width.
I measure fabrics before and after soaking/washing/drying them. I have had LQS fabrics shrink considerably - and some not at all - and WalMart/Hancock fabrics that shrank considerably - and some not at all.
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