KyKat

I bought several pieces of fabric over the weekend, then like a good little quilter, I brought it straight home and washed it all. I put it in lingere bags to wash it, used a color catcher. All fine. Put it in the dryer. Still good. After it mostly dried, there were still several damp spots in the centers, so I took it out of the lingere bags and put them all back in the dryer loose. I knew there would be some raveling, but it wasn't that bad. All the fabric was the same weight, hand feel, price, all 100% cotton. Bought at the same place. It should have all acted the same through the wash. But, wow! When I took the fabric out of the dryer, there was one piece of hot pink (okay I know hot pink, right? but it was for accent for another piece . . . another story) that picked up EVERY piece of lint, thread, hair, fuzz. There was even a ball of blue thread on it that I swear it sucked from the neighbor's laundry, because there was nothing blue in this load! It was also so wrinkled, I would never be able to iron it smooth. I used a sticky roller on it, but geez, if it does that, do I really want to use it in a quilt? None of the other fabric did that. It was only a one-yard piece, and I'm really thinking of throwing it away while I still remember how bad it actually was so I won't have a quilt made and then have it ruin a whole project. Any thoughts? Anyone else ever experience anything like this?

Crqltr

Yes..and I did end up pitching it. I could not get it to look good no matter what. It pilled and caught on everything. Disgusting with the price of fabric.

cholla

I have! I bought a bleeder. It bled the first time I washed it, the second time, the third I ironed it after to set the color. Nope, it kept on bleeding. It went into the pile of scraps and salvage I use for fire starter. Waste not.

valleyquiltermo

I'd take it back where you bought it if at a LQS or Hobby Lobby or Wal-mart.

Lori S

I have learned to toss the bad fabric when I encounter one. It took decades to finally be able to toss . I always saved hoping for the "cure"or a purpose . But I finally got it into my brain that there is no "cure" for some bad fabrics.

ckcowl

i would never throw a piece of fabric in the garbage!
if i'm not going to use it i give it away- i don't throw it away-
chances are- if you dampen it= ironing wont be so bad= or using some sizing/starch on it-
as for using it- if you cut it up- piece it- then quilt it- it should be just fine-
i've had many 100% cottons come out very wrinkled (the sizing is washed out- and it's over dried) just re-wash it- don't dry it so long- iron it dry - it will be usable.
as for it being a lint-magnet---some weaves seem to collect lint more than others- another thing some added sizing would cure. if you really don't want to use it-deal with it---pass it on to a thrift store- or group who is making charity quilts.

KyKat

On the other hand, if it has such an "attractive" quality, I might cut it up into squares, hem it, and use it as dust rags. If it attracts lint, it should attract dust. Like cholla said, waste not.

AnotherMadQuilter

I just cut up poor fabrics like that into small pieces and add it to my tiny scraps from other projects. That is my goto spot for stuffing dog toys, crate pillows, and whatever small items my dog needs.

Quiltingthetownred

Yep. Did it. On purpose. Because it kept bleeding. I have to look at my quilt for years, and a piece of fabric of 10$ is not allowed to ruin that. Out with it!;-)

unclefreckles

rags for whatever sounds like a good idea to me. Then you haven't "really" thrown it away. Just used it for a much different purpose.