Steaming fabric - what do you think?
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: California, USA
Posts: 1,318
Steaming fabric - what do you think?
I was watching an infomercial about the X50mop, that steams floors, grout, etc. They mentioned that you can steam the wrinkles out of clothes. I kept thinking that with all that steam would probably shrink your clothes. Then I had an idea about steaming fabric. If you hung it up and steamed it, do you think that it would shrink the fabric, as well as get the wrinkles out? I know that some people don't like to wash their fabric and just stick it the dryer with a wet towel, supposedly to help shrink the fabric, do you think doing it with a high-powered steamer does the same thing? Or, am I just crazy with wishful thinking? Of course, I just had to laugh at the picture I got of me steaming the heck out of my fabric and it blows away with all that high-power steam.
Mac
Mac
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
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I've steamed clothes and don't remember it shrinking the clothes. I've also put clothing in the dryer with a damp towel to get the wrinkles out but never with express intention of shrinking it. I'm not sure steaming it is easier than just washing and drying it.
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Utah
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I don't pre-wash my fabric and I don't use steam in my iron when piecing. So I don't know if my opinion counts.
When I've taught classes, my students will steam their fabrics or spritz them with water and iron, and the fabric always gets warped. I just prefer a dry iron.
However, if I know a fabric will shrink, I'll go ahead and pre-wash and dry it with heat. That's for flannel and duck cloth and clothing fabrics. I don't worry about quilting cottons.
When I've taught classes, my students will steam their fabrics or spritz them with water and iron, and the fabric always gets warped. I just prefer a dry iron.
However, if I know a fabric will shrink, I'll go ahead and pre-wash and dry it with heat. That's for flannel and duck cloth and clothing fabrics. I don't worry about quilting cottons.
#5
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
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Most clothes that you buy at a store have been steamed to get out any wrinkles. I don't think that a one-time, light steaming will shrink the fabric much. That being said, I do not steam my quilting pieces, unless I have something that is really stubborn and giving me a hard time. I usually just finger press my pieces as I put them together. The pieces are small and even an 1/16th of an inch shrinkage can make a big difference in the final product.
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
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Most all non pre shrunk cotton fabric will shrink crosswise when wet with anything. Maybe a smidge or a lot. Once sewn with no raw edges (like clothing) the shrinkage isn't usually a problem. The problem is the fabric shrinkage before sewing units together if using steam or spray.
#7
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,271
It sounds like it would be a lot harder and more time-consuming than pre-washing. And people who aren't pre-washing are probably happy working with unwashed fabric as it is.
I've heard people suggest that pressing with steam will shrink their units that are made with unwashed fabric. So I would guess that steaming unwashed fabric probably would shrink it somewhat.
I've heard people suggest that pressing with steam will shrink their units that are made with unwashed fabric. So I would guess that steaming unwashed fabric probably would shrink it somewhat.