Stripes
Today I washed the fabric I bought over the weekend at Fabulous Fiber Fest and learned a few things in the process.
1) Bad idea to throw 20+ small pieces of fabric in the washer at the same time. When I got them out, they were more tangled up than Medusa's hair. No kidding; I had to cut threads and disintangle the various pieces forever.
I read somewhere that you should trim the borders of your fabric with pinking shears before washing. That might work, but to trim all those tiny pieces would have taken just as long as it did to disintangle and trim them afterwards. No? But, unless I hear of other ways to prevent this, I guess I'll get myself a pair of pinking shears.
2) There has to be a trick about ironing that I don't know about. Someone send me that memo, please. Most of my fabric pieces are striped and very light fabric. Ironing them distorted the stripes. What should I have done? And how will this affect whatever I want to make out of those pieces?
I think part of the problem is that the pieces are very small. I thought they were squares, but they are actually long rectangles and I think that makes them more prone to distortion. I sure hope there's a quick fix that doesn't involve rewashing and especially re-ironing the whole lot.
Comments
I use the swearing/untangling/cutting after washing method myself. I'm so stingy with my material that I hate the idea of trimming off even 1/4" because, what if I end up needing it!!!????
As for ironing stripes... I use the same method I use for blocking. I start in the center of the fold and move outward from there. It doesn't completely solve it but it helps most of the time. I've even gone so far as to pin down portions or re-iron portions until the stripes are straight. Good luck!
Posted by: Sachi | August 23, 2006 11:28 PM
No advice from me, just sympathy. Oh but that sounds like a lot of work. BTW, what's an iron? LOL (as I said - no advice from this front)
Posted by: Barbp | August 24, 2006 6:07 PM
Well there are 2 things. Even if you get a longer size, it'll distort. Not many people wash fabric any more unless if you ry to piece for babies, gift or for actual bedding which you need to keep washing. The reason? One is exactly the same reason as you have and also ironing. If you piece and quilt a lot, one can avoid stretch or distortion. Many quilters send out for the long arm machine quilt artist. It's not simple to just explain one thing in one way. Best is to join the Guild or find a quilt shop where you can get all the info eventually. I may be able to but I have rather limited time on hand at this particular moment. Though I'll see you at Gwen's workshop.
I like hand quilting. But machine quilting is also a fun thing to do. Free motion quilting & embelishment with all sorts of thread and needles!
Cheerio,
Mariko
BTW, you bought fabrics made in India, designed by Kaffe who got the idea from Roberta Horton who got it from Japanese who influenced by India in many centuries ago. Isn't it someting?
Posted by: Mariko | August 24, 2006 6:19 PM