| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Back Home Again |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 10:48:12 AM
all your fabrics before sewing them up?! Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.........just wondered what everyone else does.
Until Later,
Audrey
~ Side by side or miles apart....dear friends are always close to the heart ~ |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| fiddlegirl89 |
Posted - Sep 03 2008 : 3:12:29 PM
I don't wash fabric first....just because I always want to get started on something right away. However, I just made a lovely petticoat, and washed it after wearing it......it shrunk really bad and even turned white, instead of the original pink. There is no way I can wear it now....thankfully, I got it for $1 a yard at Walmart, so I guess it's not a terrible loss. Maybe from now on I will take the time to wash fabric first! It was so pretty, too!
http://www.custerfamilyfarm.com |
| Back Home Again |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 10:40:25 PM
Sherri.....I am very interested in the fact that you use a serger....perhaps I should start another thread on this one ... sooooo off I go to do just that!
Until Later,
Audrey
~ Side by side or miles apart....dear friends are always close to the heart ~ |
| LindaMAlbert |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 7:32:40 PM
With a few exceptions,I always wash all my fabric first at the same temperature water in which the finished item will be laundered. If am sewing a garment out of "dry clean only" fabric (I only sew "dry clean only" garments for other people, never for myself or my family. Usually it's religious vestments I wind up sewing on commission)or making a rigid frame hat or bonnet, then I don't wash the fabric. These are never laundered anyway. Fat quarters I wash in the sink and roll up in a towel, the ironing. I do the same for all eyelet trim and crocheted cotton trim that I have either purchased or made before I sew it to the fabric. It's very important to wash cotton trim first, there is some shrinkage with cotton trim and it would be a tragedy to put so much effort and material into making something and have it ruined in the first wash by having the trim shrink and pucker it.
There is no faith which has never yet been broken except that of a truly faithful dog.
~Konrad Lorenz |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 5:01:23 PM
It depends - I like the way a crib quilt looks when I don't wash it first - and and if I use cotton batting. I serge all the seams so I don't have to worry about them coming apart, then machine quilt and it comes out wrinkly and worn - sort of cozy looking, like it's been well-loved. I ususally always wash cheap fabric though. I don't wash Moda, the quality is so good that I don't feel I have to.
Farmgirl Sister #98
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| acairnsmom |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 4:08:04 PM
I don't wash my quilting fabric since I like the vintage look it gets when it shrinks after quilting. I do however do a color fast test on any dark colors I may be using. Snip off a piece and place it in a clear glass filled with water. If the water shows any color that fabric is not color fast and will need to be washed before using or else it will bleed and ruin the quilt. Any other type of sewing I will wash the fabric before hand. I once made a dress and put in a lot of hard work on it only to not be able to wear it due to shrinkage. Some shrinkage is desireable (quilts) other not so much!
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more! |
| JudyBlueEyes |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 2:56:14 PM
My sister (who is the real seamstress) told me to always wash my fabric, so I do...especially now that I get a lot at the thrift, it can be kinda dusty.
We come from the earth, we go back to the earth, and in between, we garden! |
| abigailc1973 |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 10:13:22 AM
I wash almost all my fabric before sewing, unless I'm just making some Christmas ornaments, or something like that...if it's for garmets-absolutely. |
| khartquilt |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 09:41:45 AM
I always wash my fabric. For quilting and garments.
I too worked very had on a quilt top. Gave it as a gift only to find out that after it was washed it was a mess.
That happened to a jacket I made too.
Kathy H
Farmgirl Sister #81
"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world..." (anomymous)
http://khartquilt.blogspot.com |
| electricdunce |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 08:10:12 AM
Our first sewing project at boarding school was ato make a square dance skirt. We had square dancing lessons every Wednesday. It was one of those three tiered gathered skirts. I remember the teacher getting mad at me for making my threads too long and I had to rip out quite a lot of stitches to make the teacher happy. I love hand sewing though, and I think learning to backstitch at age ten was a gift.
When my daughter was little i got her a pair of purple pajamas and boy did those babies bleed. I used them to dye fabric with, they just kept on giving this beautiful color. I remember the pjs were made in Turkey, kind of a surprise. I still have fabric I dyed from them. I guess any intense color can bleed....
Karin
Farmgirl Sister #153
"Give me shelter from the storm" - Bob Dylan
http://moodranch.blogspot.com
http://domesticnonsense.etsy.com |
| ktknits |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 07:42:23 AM
I wash too! Never did before I heard about the chemicals, but now I wash everything when it comes in the door.
http://ktknits.blogspot.com |
| oldfashioned girl |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 07:40:32 AM
Grace, You were lucky to get to make an apron! We had to make night shirts with a placket in the front! What a nightmare! It's a wonder I ever sewed again after that!
Monica
Farmgirls Rule!
www.justducky48.etsy.com |
| Suzan |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 07:19:07 AM
Grace, Ours was an apron too! We were in 4th grade and joined 4-H and made aprons. By the time we got to Home Ec in 7th grade we were proficient enough that she had our first project be skirts! (Went to a small school and all of us friends joined 4-H, Girl Scouts etc.). We learned so much thru 4-H1 It had to make our Home Ec teacher's life alot easier! she just expanded on what we learned at 4-H. She also taught us embroidery, tatting, darning etc. |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 06:47:31 AM
I guess I am a product of my Home Ec classes. We where taught to wash every fabric, pull threads to get cut edge even, and then iron the fabric and store away from light and critters. Remember those first projects? Our first sewing project was an apron.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
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http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| therusticcottage |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 01:23:03 AM
I wash all my cottons before using them. I love washing and ironing fabric - call me crazy. I don't wash decorators fabrics before using them. I usually only use those for purses so I like the stiffness of the sizing.
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PROUD FARMGIRL SISTER #100 |
| StitchinWitch |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 12:58:35 AM
I also wash all my fabric, usually as soon as I get it home. It gets rid of the chemicals and sizing and eliminates any shrinking later on.
Happiness is Homemade |
| katie-ell |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 7:25:37 PM
I always wash new fabrics to avoid shrinkage later, and I wash vintage fabrics to make them fresh and happy! See my blog -- just did a posting a bit ago featuring my vintage fabrics on the clothesline.
www.youaretoocreative.blogspot.com |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 7:23:09 PM
Always wash all my fabrics because of shrinkage and now after hearing the above I'm glad I do.
Denise
farmgirl sister #43
"Take a lesson from the teakettle, though up to its
neck in hot water...it sings!"
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
| Contrary Wife |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 5:39:00 PM
I also wash all my new fabric for the health reasons mentioned above. Then I can also fold athe fabric a certain way so I can add it to my stash and still be able to see it. The smaller pieces I buy, fat quarters,etc I was in the sink and then roll in an old towel and then air dry. The fabric I use to put into quilts, I then press and use spray starch (liquid starch mixed with water that I put in a spray bottle)to make it easier to handle and not stretch out of shape.
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
| chickabella |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 5:32:24 PM
I wash all my fabrics as well, due to what Bonnie and Aunt George writes above. Some fabrics are also treated with sizing to give them a heftier "feel" on the bolt, but once washed, turn out to be flimsy. Better to know it now than to find out through rips or tears later.
Farm blog: http://farmnatters.blogspot.com
Heart of Texas Farmgirls Chapter; Farmgirl Sisterhood Member #275
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| Aunt George |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 5:24:14 PM
I wash all of my fabrics. Due to the reason that Bonne gave above. When working at Hancock fabrics, I had to sign a disclaimer that I would not hold them liable for any allergic reactions that I may incur due to the chemicals used in the processing of the fabrics. It was known that many of the fabrics imported from China were treated with formaldehyde during the fabrication. I know one girl that would break out in head to toe rashes from the fabrics when she was unpacking the boxes.
So....I always wash. I do prewash my reds, blues, purples, batiks in salt water to help set the dyes. I think it helps, but I could be wrong.
Later,
G
http://auntgeorgeshouse.blogspot.com/index.html
http://auntgeorge.etsy.com
"Made With Love" |
| Bonne |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 4:26:33 PM
I never used to, until a friend that worked in the textile business got really sick from being around all the chemicals that are added to fabrics. She told me to always wash new fabrics and clothing to get rid of the junk that is added ~ often to give them that "new" finish.
 http://bonne1313.blogspot.com/ BLOG
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 2:56:00 PM
I usually DO wash all my fabric...but it does depend on what I am doing...for curtains I proabably wouldn't, but for clothing or a quilt I probably would. I don't wash doll body material, but usually do wash the clothing material. Depends I guess.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
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| Beverley |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 2:43:17 PM
I guess I am weird but I don't usually wash my fabrics before using them in a quilt or anything else. When I quilt I like that wrinkly look when the quilt is done and then I wash it and it kind of looks bumpy. So I don't and I have never had a problem so far. so it is just a personal preference I guess. Beverley
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett Beverley with an extra E...
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| Marcy |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 12:44:49 PM
It depends on what I am using it for. If the fabric is for a cloth doll with doll clothing, I don't. If it's for a quilt I usually do. I like to see if it is going to run or shrink before I make a quilt.
Farmgirl #170
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
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| Georgiann |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 12:38:59 PM
What about fabrics that come in jelly rolls or charm packs? They are already pinked on the edges -- do you wash those?
Whatever you do, do it with your whole heart |
