Melting fabric - HELP!!!
#1
I am trying to make a memory quilt from my Mom's clothes. She had alzheimers & lived with us for the last 2 yrs of her life - she past about 2 1/2 yrs ago. She was such a joy - even my husband feels that way
I washed & began to cut up some of her clothes - however - I was shocked when several of the pieces melted when I was ironing them - I thought they were cotton but they must be a cotton blend
But what blend would melt when ironed???
Feeling dumb, stupid and FRUSTRATED!!!
Please, HELP
I washed & began to cut up some of her clothes - however - I was shocked when several of the pieces melted when I was ironing them - I thought they were cotton but they must be a cotton blend
But what blend would melt when ironed???
Feeling dumb, stupid and FRUSTRATED!!!
Please, HELP
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
The fabric is probably polyester. Cotton can take high heat from an iron, but polyester requires only a warm iron. Also it's best to iron polyester from the wrong side only, so as not to leave a shine on the right side.
Have you cut the fabric? Polyester frays more easily than cotton, so you may see many more strings along the cut edges. If the pattern you are using allows it, you might want to use 1/2-inch seam allowances instead of 1/4-inch.
Have you cut the fabric? Polyester frays more easily than cotton, so you may see many more strings along the cut edges. If the pattern you are using allows it, you might want to use 1/2-inch seam allowances instead of 1/4-inch.
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
A poly, or poly blend will melt.
Please don't feel frustrated. You might want to do a 'burn'test with a scrap of fabric. Take a snip of fabric, hold it with tongs over the sink & touch a match to it. Let it burn a bit & extinguish & let it cool, or dip it in water. If the burn residue is hard, then there's some poly in it.
Please don't feel frustrated. You might want to do a 'burn'test with a scrap of fabric. Take a snip of fabric, hold it with tongs over the sink & touch a match to it. Let it burn a bit & extinguish & let it cool, or dip it in water. If the burn residue is hard, then there's some poly in it.
#5
A synthetic. :(
You can do a burn test to check the rest of your fabric. Burn a small piece in a safe manner and blow it out. If the burnt part is hard the cloth is not natural fiber.
http://www.fabriclink.com/university/burntest.cfm
You can do a burn test to check the rest of your fabric. Burn a small piece in a safe manner and blow it out. If the burnt part is hard the cloth is not natural fiber.
http://www.fabriclink.com/university/burntest.cfm
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 502
If the fabric was polyester, I doubt if it needed to be ironed. Only iron if a piece of fabric is really wrinkled.
The test for yarn if it is wool or polyester, is to set a piece in a fireproof dish and light it, if the fire goes out,it is wool and if it is orlon, acrylic, polyester or synthetic anything, it will burn up and disappear. Synthetic fabrics and yarn are an oil by product. I haven't tried burning a piece of cotton fabric or yarn but my guess would be it would burn slowly. I think I will try it and find out.
Carol J.
The test for yarn if it is wool or polyester, is to set a piece in a fireproof dish and light it, if the fire goes out,it is wool and if it is orlon, acrylic, polyester or synthetic anything, it will burn up and disappear. Synthetic fabrics and yarn are an oil by product. I haven't tried burning a piece of cotton fabric or yarn but my guess would be it would burn slowly. I think I will try it and find out.
Carol J.
#8
Originally Posted by sueisallaboutquilts
I don't know but I'm so glad you were able to keep your Mom at home and have good memories
That's just awesome. :)
That's just awesome. :)
Left a very big hole in our lives.
#10
Originally Posted by Carol J.
If the fabric was polyester, I doubt if it needed to be ironed. Only iron if a piece of fabric is really wrinkled.
The test for yarn if it is wool or polyester, is to set a piece in a fireproof dish and light it, if the fire goes out,it is wool and if it is orlon, acrylic, polyester or synthetic anything, it will burn up and disappear. Synthetic fabrics and yarn are an oil by product. I haven't tried burning a piece of cotton fabric or yarn but my guess would be it would burn slowly. I think I will try it and find out.
Carol J.
The test for yarn if it is wool or polyester, is to set a piece in a fireproof dish and light it, if the fire goes out,it is wool and if it is orlon, acrylic, polyester or synthetic anything, it will burn up and disappear. Synthetic fabrics and yarn are an oil by product. I haven't tried burning a piece of cotton fabric or yarn but my guess would be it would burn slowly. I think I will try it and find out.
Carol J.
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