HELP! I need help with washing my stash.
#31
I have found that the easiest and quickesgt way - though you will waste about an inch of fabric - is to sew the cut edges together making a fabric "tube"....takes a few seconds per piece of fabric........after you wash and dry it, cut away the stitched edge and press as usual.
#32
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
Thank you so much for all of your suggestions. I just washed the second load on the gentle cycle, and very few strings. I did not want to cut all those corners off! I did add some Oxyclean and not all of it washed out, so I am re-washing the load, and will not put any in future loads. I guess I don't really need any soap since I am just rinsing chemicals out, not any kind of dirt....
#33
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 283
If you don't have mesh bags, what about loosely packing pillow cases, pin them close, then use the gentle/delicate cycle and low or air dry in the dryer.
For the longer than 1 yd pieces I open them up to full width then baste the ends together. Could you use your lime colored gloves to do this? Wish I was closer so I could help you. Hang in there. Have you discussed with your doctor whether or not you should sew in the same room with lots of unwashed fabric?
Hope you can deal with this soon and relatively easily. Joyce in DE
For the longer than 1 yd pieces I open them up to full width then baste the ends together. Could you use your lime colored gloves to do this? Wish I was closer so I could help you. Hang in there. Have you discussed with your doctor whether or not you should sew in the same room with lots of unwashed fabric?
Hope you can deal with this soon and relatively easily. Joyce in DE
#34
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: AR
Posts: 3,604
[QUOTE=Prism99;6611367]Cutting off the corners never worked for me either.
For pieces 1 yard or more in length, I would accordion fold (about 12" per fold) and then safety pin the edges together.
For smaller pieces (1/2 yard or so) I would invest in some mesh bags and put one in each bag. (Check the Dollar Store first for these.)
I've used the safety pin method and the mesh bag and it does work. I've also been know to put some fabric in an old pillowcase and safety pin it shut and put it through the wash. Everything came out just fine.
I used to get dizzy and sick when I went into a fabric store or a clothing store. I guess all the dyes made me feel like that. It doesn't happen anymore. I hope your hands get better.
For pieces 1 yard or more in length, I would accordion fold (about 12" per fold) and then safety pin the edges together.
For smaller pieces (1/2 yard or so) I would invest in some mesh bags and put one in each bag. (Check the Dollar Store first for these.)
I've used the safety pin method and the mesh bag and it does work. I've also been know to put some fabric in an old pillowcase and safety pin it shut and put it through the wash. Everything came out just fine.
I used to get dizzy and sick when I went into a fabric store or a clothing store. I guess all the dyes made me feel like that. It doesn't happen anymore. I hope your hands get better.
#35
Sorry I have no other suggestions other than possibly use the delicate cycle on your washer? Agitation is usually less intense on that cycle and might prevent some tangles???? Good luck.[/QUOTE]
This what I was thinking as well.
This what I was thinking as well.
#36
I have found that the easiest and quickesgt way - though you will waste about an inch of fabric - is to sew the cut edges together making a fabric "tube"....takes a few seconds per piece of fabric........after you wash and dry it, cut away the stitched edge and press as usual.
#38
I understand the mess of threads when washing a bunch of fabric. We had a flood in the basement, and everything was wet and some was moldy. So, any sewing of edges was not an option.
I've purchased some hand-made batiks with zigzagged and others serged, so I was going to suggest that. But the baste the ends together sounds like that may work, too, and it would be faster than zigzagging. I'd wear gloves to do it. It doesn't have to be a perfect seam, so any loss of sensitivity from the gloves wouldn't matter. You can buy the gloves that look like plastic bags in the food service section at Sams/Costco. Then there are the surgical gloves, and if you're sensitive to latex, there are latex free surgical gloves.
I've purchased some hand-made batiks with zigzagged and others serged, so I was going to suggest that. But the baste the ends together sounds like that may work, too, and it would be faster than zigzagging. I'd wear gloves to do it. It doesn't have to be a perfect seam, so any loss of sensitivity from the gloves wouldn't matter. You can buy the gloves that look like plastic bags in the food service section at Sams/Costco. Then there are the surgical gloves, and if you're sensitive to latex, there are latex free surgical gloves.
#40
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Heart of Colorado's majestic mountains!
Posts: 6,026
This sounds like a very big project. My response is to wash a load every day and deal with that load and then go on to something more rewarding. I'm not sure if your body responds negatively to touching the fabric or if you would get the same response to fabric stored in a stash. I keep most of mine in closed containers to keep them clean (no dust) and to protect from the light. If you store in closed containers you could wash just what you need for a project. Systematic approach to getting them the way you need them will allow you to continue to quilt. I do think we all need to be aware that fabrics do have chemicals that we need to deal with. I am always amazed at the amount of fabric stuff I find on my glasses every day as I work with fabric.
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