Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Quilting Fabrics >
  • Quilting Fabrics

  • Quilting Fabrics

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 10-12-2011, 10:36 AM
      #1  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    LisaGibbs's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jun 2011
    Location: Western Kentucky
    Posts: 742
    Default

    I am making quilts for a friend from her mother's clothing. There are a lot of different textures, including silk type blouses. Has anyone out there used this fabric in a quilt and did it turn out okay?? I am going to have to mix it with some of the suit fabric but before I started and ended up ruining something that can't be taken back I was going to ask for advice.
    LisaGibbs is offline  
    Old 10-12-2011, 10:40 AM
      #2  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Location: Michigan
    Posts: 11,276
    Default

    You can use a light weight iron on interfacing, either non woven or tricot. I would make sure that all the fabrics could be laundered before including thm in the quilt unless it will be a wall hanging.
    PaperPrincess is offline  
    Old 10-12-2011, 10:41 AM
      #3  
    Power Poster
     
    QuiltnNan's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC
    Posts: 51,430
    Default

    some of my thoughts are.... is it extremely thin? - may need a light stabilizer. do sewing holes disappear if you have to unsew?
    QuiltnNan is offline  
    Old 10-12-2011, 10:45 AM
      #4  
    Super Member
     
    maine ladybug's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jun 2010
    Location: Maine
    Posts: 2,944
    Default

    Yes, I have made memory quilts using all different fabrics and the key is to use an iron on fusible interfacing BEFORE you cut your pieces. IMO
    maine ladybug is offline  
    Old 10-12-2011, 10:51 AM
      #5  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Apr 2009
    Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
    Posts: 375
    Default

    I agree with all that PaperPrincess mentioned. It makes a tremendous difference in longevity when the fabrics are prep for quilting.
    One other suggestion - in our guild we have used a number of fabrics not recommended for machine washing. We in fact do take them to be laundered and use only the ones that survive. In other words, those that shred will not survive in your quilt as we all know so well, those that shrank will now no longer shrink and you can back them now with inferface and those that seem to bleed can be deleted from the pile for safe quilt making. and if you have a great piece of clothing that tends to shred a little too much for your liking but you really want to use it - wash it, back it with interface and then serge the edges to keep is from further shredding. A number of us have made quilts from family member's clothing (wool coats, ties, silk outfits, etc...) and find these tricks to be very helpful in making a quilt that will last for years.
    Covered in Threads is offline  
    Old 10-12-2011, 01:34 PM
      #6  
    Junior Member
     
    Join Date: Jul 2010
    Location: Pilot Mountain, N.C.
    Posts: 280
    Default

    Miscellaneous fabric is all my mother ever used for quilts when I was grown up. If the clothing item was too small for youngest child, it went into a quilt. Some of those quilts are over 50 years old and are still in good shape.
    niizh is offline  
    Old 10-12-2011, 02:04 PM
      #7  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Feb 2009
    Location: Northern Michigan
    Posts: 12,861
    Default

    when mixing fibers you need to make sure they can all be laundered (cared for) the same- whether it's washing/drying or dry cleaning- as long as the fabrics can all be cared for together they can be used together-
    for thin or (slippery) fabrics adding a lightweight fusable stablizer is a good idea.
    ckcowl is offline  
    Old 10-12-2011, 02:26 PM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Apr 2011
    Location: Bosque County, Texas
    Posts: 2,709
    Default

    You don't have to wash a quilt. It can be drycleaned. I have seen some beautiful silk quilts. If the silk fabric is special, perhaps it would be worth it to showcase it in an all silk quilt, purchasing other silk fabric to go with it. Usually silk quilts are very much a work of art as they have chosen the colors of the fabric so carefully and the fabrics blend so beautifully. The patterns have usually been just squares or rectangles with sashings and borders in solids since usually the showcased pieces are most often prints. They look so very elegant! It is all in the selection of color.
    TanyaL is offline  
    Old 10-13-2011, 11:27 AM
      #9  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    LisaGibbs's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jun 2011
    Location: Western Kentucky
    Posts: 742
    Default

    You are all so awesome. I so appreciate your assistance. This is an exciting project and my only orders are to make as many as I can, no specific pattern or anything. Guess it is time to fire up the washing machine to preshrink!!
    LisaGibbs is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    Prissnboot
    Main
    51
    08-30-2017 08:14 PM
    Granny B
    Main
    78
    07-30-2017 05:44 AM
    Joyce L
    Pictures
    10
    12-13-2010 08:00 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter