Preparing fabric for Quilting: a few questions
#1
Preparing fabric for Quilting: a few questions
I used to be a no wash person but recently decided that I wanted to prewash and starch my fabric. I have a couple of questions ( and they may sound really stupid but here goes)
1. Everything I read said that I should prewash and then dry just to dampness because the dryer will creat wrinkles that are hard to press out. Can I just hang dry and then iron later? Will it be just as hard to get the wrinkles out?
2. When do I add the starch? To the water when it is washing? Do I spray it on later? I remember taking a basic skills class a while ago and really liked the stiff feel of the fabric and my seams were much closer to 1/4 inch.
Thanks in advance for everyones help!
Liz
1. Everything I read said that I should prewash and then dry just to dampness because the dryer will creat wrinkles that are hard to press out. Can I just hang dry and then iron later? Will it be just as hard to get the wrinkles out?
2. When do I add the starch? To the water when it is washing? Do I spray it on later? I remember taking a basic skills class a while ago and really liked the stiff feel of the fabric and my seams were much closer to 1/4 inch.
Thanks in advance for everyones help!
Liz
#3
I wash and dry (gentle cycle, hot water, hot dryer) and then fold for storage. It is relatively wrinkle free right out of the dryer. I don't iron until I'm ready to cut. If I were a starch user, which I'm not, I wouldn't add it until I was ready to use the fabric. Storing starched fabric draws silverfish in my location.
#4
I wash in hot water, usually dry completely in the dryer and sometimes (for really big pieces) hang over the banister to dry. I spray with water to get wrinkles out while pressing. I don't starch until I'm ready to cut the fabric.
#5
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
I do as Dunster. It is easier to press if taken out of the dryer slightly damp but I always forget and dry them to bone-ness. I keep a spray bottle at my ironing board and spritz with water as I am ironing. I use starch inconsistently so if I am going to use it, I starch just before cutting. If I am working with big yardage, I may lop off a smaller portion to starch. When starching I spray and let it soak into the fabric before ironing again.
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,127
I don't pre-wash my fabrics because I live in an apt complex. I use spray starch before I cut from yardage and then sometimes just when I am doing a final pressing before I do trim (I like to oversize) the block. There are various ways of approaching quilting and you have to find what works best for you.
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,511
I don't pre-wash my fabrics because I live in an apt complex. I use spray starch before I cut from yardage and then sometimes just when I am doing a final pressing before I do trim (I like to oversize) the block. There are various ways of approaching quilting and you have to find what works best for you.
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,511
The fabric dries with fewer wrinkles if the dryer is not overloaded.
I have a dryer that lets me set how "done/dry" I want things to be. I do dry similar things in together - towels with towels, lightweights with lightweights, etc.
If drying a really long length of fabric - I check every few minutes and untangle it.
Usually the fabric is not very wrinkled when I take it out of the dryer. I think it's letting it set for hours in a rumpled heap before folding it that puts in the wrinkles.
In general, I also prefer to not add starch or sizing to washed fabric before cutting it.
Exception: When I know the pieces will be very small or have several bias edges.
I have a dryer that lets me set how "done/dry" I want things to be. I do dry similar things in together - towels with towels, lightweights with lightweights, etc.
If drying a really long length of fabric - I check every few minutes and untangle it.
Usually the fabric is not very wrinkled when I take it out of the dryer. I think it's letting it set for hours in a rumpled heap before folding it that puts in the wrinkles.
In general, I also prefer to not add starch or sizing to washed fabric before cutting it.
Exception: When I know the pieces will be very small or have several bias edges.
#10
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,511
I prefer to know that ALL the fabrics I am using in an item will not bleed and will not shrink.
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