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#1
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: bakersfield,ca
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My family has started giving me fabric since I have put out the word that I quilt. Often I can't tell if itn is 100% cotton. I prewash all fabric unless for a wall hanging. Is it safe to use unknown fabric in quilts, if I preshrink all cotton fabric to prevent shrinkage? deenp661
#2
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 255
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If you try to iron the fabric and it sticks to your iron (set on cotton or just below) it is NOT 100% COTTON. If you singe a snip of it with a match and it melts, , also NOT 100% cotton. Think of something else to use it for.
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,455
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agree. but if they are for donation no worries. If they are for you...I prefer cotton. :-)
Originally Posted by peacebypiece
If you try to iron the fabric and it sticks to your iron (set on cotton or just below) it is NOT 100% COTTON. If you singe a snip of it with a match and it melts, , also NOT 100% cotton. Think of something else to use it for.
#5
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Cut a small piece of the fabric, I usually do about 2inch square and light a corner of it on fire--use a candle or something stable. Let it burn for two or three seconds, being careful to do it over a plate or something non burnable. Blow out the flame and then let it cool a second or two. Now feel the burnt edge. If it is soft and smooth it is cotton. If it is hard and crisp, it is a blend or polyester or rayon. IF you smell the burnt part, the artificial fibers smell like plastic, also.
I like cotton for bed quilts, and use the other fabrics for tote bags, runners, wall hangings and craft projects.
I like cotton for bed quilts, and use the other fabrics for tote bags, runners, wall hangings and craft projects.
#7
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Originally Posted by sewwhat85
i prefer 100% cotton but have used others
#8
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
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you can mix fabrics in your quilting; recycling is a huge part of quilting. there are some who insist that you buy only cotton everything, thread, fabric, batting...but that is just (THEIR) choice it is certainly not a rule...and there are tons of 70's quilts from our mother's made of horrible polyester...the quilts wear like steel and last forever...there is nothing wrong with mixing textiles as long as all can be laundered together.
#9
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Originally Posted by deecnp661
My family has started giving me fabric since I have put out the word that I quilt. Often I can't tell if itn is 100% cotton. I prewash all fabric unless for a wall hanging. Is it safe to use unknown fabric in quilts, if I preshrink all cotton fabric to prevent shrinkage? deenp661
#10
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I get a lot of fabric given to me, as well. I have found that using poly-cotton blends in quilts is fine, although sometimes it isn't quite as easy to work with. You do have to keep your iron set a little lower, though. And prewashing is always a good idea.
I usually do a burn test if I'm not sure what a fabric is.
Also edited to add: for something you really want to be an heirloom, you might stick to cotton. Sometimes the poly blends "pill" more with washing. But my MIL says she has a set of supposedly good, high count cotton sheets that pilled a lot, too.
I usually do a burn test if I'm not sure what a fabric is.
Also edited to add: for something you really want to be an heirloom, you might stick to cotton. Sometimes the poly blends "pill" more with washing. But my MIL says she has a set of supposedly good, high count cotton sheets that pilled a lot, too.
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