To wash DUCK CLOTH/CANVAS or not... that is the question!
#1
To wash DUCK CLOTH/CANVAS or not... that is the question!
I bought some bright dark yellow DUCK CLOTH yesterday to cover the board I use as an Ironing board..like in Jennys tutorial. I thought it was DUCK CANVAS, but they said, cloth/canvas same thing. It is 100% cotton.
Question: Do I prewash it? I like the stiffness of it, and I know washing will soften it.. at least I think it will...does everything else. But I also don't want the color fading onto the fabric when I iron, as I use steam and/or starch all the time.
So do I wash it before using it?
Question: Do I prewash it? I like the stiffness of it, and I know washing will soften it.. at least I think it will...does everything else. But I also don't want the color fading onto the fabric when I iron, as I use steam and/or starch all the time.
So do I wash it before using it?
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Fox Valley Wisconsin
Posts: 1,920
From my experience....the washing will soften it...and shrink it quite a bit...and it will come out of wash quite wrinkly and need lots of ironing. Maybe washing by hand will help soften it, and take less ironing to make it flat.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Bosque County, Texas
Posts: 2,709
If I understand you right, you like the stiffness and the washing will probably reduce that. However, you are afraid the color may run onto what you are pressing or ironing and washing will prevent that. Why not try ironing at the strongest steam setting and highest heat some scrap white fabric? If it doesn't fade onto that it probably won't fade onto anything. Then you are left with the decision of how you will fashion the canvas to your ironing board knowing that when you do finally wash it, it will probably shrink. If you can staple or tack the canvas down now and leave lots of extra you are fine. If you are going to cut it to fit then you will have to shrink it first. Good Luck.
#5
I bought some bright dark yellow DUCK CLOTH yesterday to cover the board I use as an Ironing board..like in Jennys tutorial. I thought it was DUCK CANVAS, but they said, cloth/canvas same thing. It is 100% cotton.
Question: Do I prewash it? I like the stiffness of it, and I know washing will soften it.. at least I think it will...does everything else. But I also don't want the color fading onto the fabric when I iron, as I use steam and/or starch all the time.
So do I wash it before using it?
Question: Do I prewash it? I like the stiffness of it, and I know washing will soften it.. at least I think it will...does everything else. But I also don't want the color fading onto the fabric when I iron, as I use steam and/or starch all the time.
So do I wash it before using it?
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
I did not prewash duck cloth (canvas) for the big ironing board my dh made for me out of plywood. However, mine is a natural muslin color. It is stapled on; I will simply cover with another layer of duck if/when this layer wears out.
For your yellow cloth, I like the idea of using a portion of it to iron some white cloth with steam. I'd probably use a white cloth that has been washed, so that there are no finishes that might get in the way of color transfer (a dish cloth would probably be fine). If color doesn't transfer with the hot steam iron, then I would also leave a piece of the yellow duck in a glass of water overnight to see if any color bleeds into the water. Afterwards I would also rub the damp piece of yellow duck against several white fabrics to see if there is any color transfer that way.
If there is no color transfer, the only reason to prewash the duck is if you are making a removable cover that you plan to wash later on. In that case, you must prewash to get the shrinkage out of the way before you cut and sew.
For your yellow cloth, I like the idea of using a portion of it to iron some white cloth with steam. I'd probably use a white cloth that has been washed, so that there are no finishes that might get in the way of color transfer (a dish cloth would probably be fine). If color doesn't transfer with the hot steam iron, then I would also leave a piece of the yellow duck in a glass of water overnight to see if any color bleeds into the water. Afterwards I would also rub the damp piece of yellow duck against several white fabrics to see if there is any color transfer that way.
If there is no color transfer, the only reason to prewash the duck is if you are making a removable cover that you plan to wash later on. In that case, you must prewash to get the shrinkage out of the way before you cut and sew.
#8
Don't prewash. Cover the board with one layer of cotton batting then the duck canvas. Spray water to wet the canvas. When it dries it will shrink and make a tight perfect ironing surface. Also never dry your ironing board cover, put it on your ironing board wet and let it dry in place.
#10
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,666
I bought a white canvas ironing board cover from the company that makes the Big Board tops. The thing was made very skimpy to begin with - and I do have to put the thing back on very damp to get it to barely cover the top.
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