Testing fabric for cotton/blends - Remnants from shirt factory find
01-11-2012, 04:33 AM
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Delmarva Peninsula
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Testing fabric for cotton/blends - Remnants from shirt factory find
Well, yesterday my DH and I went new truck shopping down on the Delmarva Peninsula, with other destinations at some nice thrift stores. I found a box of vintage 1970's shirt remnants from the shirt factories that dotted Delaware and Maryland years ago. I need some information on how to tell if these are 100% cotton, or a high cotton blend. How does everybody test for 100% cotton when it is not marked anywhere? I am thinking that it would be okay to make simple square block donation quilts out of these remnants if they are cotton blends, would that be okay, always heard that the "quilt police and lightning" would happen if I didn't use 100% cotton. Am looking for guidance. Thank you all.
01-11-2012, 05:05 AM
#2
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sturbridge, Ma
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bends are ok. Use what you have for a good cause. Think about how well the shirts held up with multiple washings.
Google info for testing fabric. It is simple. However, to me the workability of the fabric is more important than its fibre content.
Google info for testing fabric. It is simple. However, to me the workability of the fabric is more important than its fibre content.
01-11-2012, 05:11 AM
#3
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Illinois
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BEFORE YOU READ THIS: I'm aware that there are many elitists that will dissagree with me however:
It's only been the past decade or so that people began to say that you could 'only use 100% cotton'. Most quilt makers during mom and grandma's eras made them out of anything that was available.
If you're entering it in a contest and it's not an 'art' quilt then maybe it should be only 100% cotton but other than that it really doesn't matter all that much.
It's only been the past decade or so that people began to say that you could 'only use 100% cotton'. Most quilt makers during mom and grandma's eras made them out of anything that was available.
If you're entering it in a contest and it's not an 'art' quilt then maybe it should be only 100% cotton but other than that it really doesn't matter all that much.
01-11-2012, 06:08 AM
#4
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Cheshire, Massachusetts
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Try this: Do this over a sink so if you drop a burning piece it won't take your house with it. Take a small piece of the fabric and hold a match to it to just singe the edge. All cotton (plant material) fabric will turn to ash when you rub the blackened part between your fingers. Polyester/nylon/etc will leave a more solid, melted residue. Test it first on two pieces of fabric that you know the content of so you can spot the difference.
01-11-2012, 06:10 AM
#5
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,688
To answer your initial question, here are two burn charts that will help you determine the fiber content of your remnants.
http://www.lindrix.com/fabcontent.html
http://www.ditzyprints.com/dpburnchart.html
http://www.lindrix.com/fabcontent.html
http://www.ditzyprints.com/dpburnchart.html
01-11-2012, 06:38 AM
#8
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Vermont
Posts: 7,000
BEFORE YOU READ THIS: I'm aware that there are many elitists that will dissagree with me however:
It's only been the past decade or so that people began to say that you could 'only use 100% cotton'. Most quilt makers during mom and grandma's eras made them out of anything that was available.
If you're entering it in a contest and it's not an 'art' quilt then maybe it should be only 100% cotton but other than that it really doesn't matter all that much.
It's only been the past decade or so that people began to say that you could 'only use 100% cotton'. Most quilt makers during mom and grandma's eras made them out of anything that was available.
If you're entering it in a contest and it's not an 'art' quilt then maybe it should be only 100% cotton but other than that it really doesn't matter all that much.
01-11-2012, 07:27 AM
#9
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IN
Posts: 1,153
In my opinion, (and you know what they say about opinions) with the way the economy is, I wouldn't think twice about using a blend. I don't make quilts for showing or judging. I make quilts to be used. I would much rather use a good quality blend than some of the "see through" crummy cottons out there. The price of quality cotton is getting ridiculous, just like gas and everything else. I, for one, have decided to seriously curtail my buying. I can't afford it, and I just don't like enabling greed. Yes, I know that the cotton harvests have been bad, but so is the job market. So, I will be "making do". Not just in my quilting but with everything else too. Use those nice shirts girl!!
01-11-2012, 07:40 AM
#10
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Fort White, Fl
Posts: 2,689
BEFORE YOU READ THIS: I'm aware that there are many elitists that will dissagree with me however:
It's only been the past decade or so that people began to say that you could 'only use 100% cotton'. Most quilt makers during mom and grandma's eras made them out of anything that was available.
If you're entering it in a contest and it's not an 'art' quilt then maybe it should be only 100% cotton but other than that it really doesn't matter all that much.
It's only been the past decade or so that people began to say that you could 'only use 100% cotton'. Most quilt makers during mom and grandma's eras made them out of anything that was available.
If you're entering it in a contest and it's not an 'art' quilt then maybe it should be only 100% cotton but other than that it really doesn't matter all that much.
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