Bonnie Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 Originally posted by Boni with a little H20 and spit. Then you are better than me....I have wonky triangles and my bias sides stretch if I don't seal the fabric with spray starch. With the stiffness, I don't even worry about bias sides...and that is more the worry than points. It all washes out in the first washing so I just go happy with spray starch. I know some don't or won't wash quilts, but I make them to be used so they get washed before they go to anyone..:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelliebelle Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 I have been lurking for over three years, and this is the first time I have been interested enough to reply. I would like to be included in this exchange. I'll send you an email. Thanks, Nelliebelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 Well Nelliebelle, welcome! This is my first exchange too. I've never had the patience to wade through 27 pages of an exchange to find out what it's about. I just waited until I saw the FIRST page of one and JUMPED in. I think it will be fun too. What part of the world are you from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liz2075 Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 OMG Bonnie LOL! should I fix that or just leave it for next person to laugh. Who put those letters so close together on the keyboard anyways. You know I'm on this laptop that likes to get wild on me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Roberta, I absolutely love applique but I make all my quilts to be used and would never not use them so I expect them to be washed. When I buy my fat quarters I always wash them all. To avoid the fraying problem sometimes I will stitch a running stitch along the edge and then it won't fray. The other thing you can do that works great is to put them in a lingerie bag. I give them a good shake out of the washer and throw in the dryer on low. I've gotten so used to doing it that it really is not a bother to me. I also know that my fabrics won't shrink and cause other unforseen problems. Bonnie Russell - I think the spray is over priced and like Bonnie B I prefer my starch. I never have a flaking problem. I spay the starch and press on the opposite side I spray if I cna't be patient. If I give it a second or two to soak into the threads I don't have a problem at all. I have starched now for well over 15 years. I discovered it one day when I had washed some frabric and sprayed it with starch to get some of the wrinkles out. I discovered how much I loved stitching those blocks and everything pieced so much better. To me it is worth the little work that it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roberta Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Heidi - I never thought about stitching around the edge or using a lingerie bag. I am learning so much and can't tell you all how much I appreciate it. Thank you. If I only had started this right off the batt. I think I will start doing this from now on. Other than some wall quilts to decorate with I make all of my quilts to be used. A little off the subject but it makes me cringe to think that I used and washed the quilts my mom made for me growing up only to discover how delicate they were after learning to quilt. They were all done by hand. I don't know why she didn't kick me... Maybe if I go through all my fabric and wash it I can finally get my fabric organized. I really need to do that. Don't worry I don't have that much fabric yet. I am still pretty much just starting out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love2qlt4u Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Count me in too Teresa, I'll send you my address in a e-mail. Barbara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Originally posted by roberta Heidi - I never thought about stitching around the edge or using a lingerie bag. I am learning so much and can't tell you all how much I appreciate it. Thank you. If I only had started this right off the batt. I think I will start doing this from now on. Other than some wall quilts to decorate with I make all of my quilts to be used. A little off the subject but it makes me cringe to think that I used and washed the quilts my mom made for me growing up only to discover how delicate they were after learning to quilt. They were all done by hand. I don't know why she didn't kick me... Maybe if I go through all my fabric and wash it I can finally get my fabric organized. I really need to do that. Don't worry I don't have that much fabric yet. I am still pretty much just starting out. Roberta, LOL I don't mind sharing ideas. I also wash all fabrics with retayne which sets the color. The colors last much longer that way. I loved for my kids to use the quilts I made, even the ones I did completely by hand. My son loved his quilts to death but never gets rid of one. His baby quilt was redone more than once and he had it until he was 14. He used to hide it in his pillow case. I still remember the day he brought it to me and told me he was done with it but don't get rid of it. LOL I still have it and he is 25. I will cut a small piece of it to include in each of his childrens quilts. He promises he won't steal their quilts. I love all the ideas we get on this board! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roberta Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Heidi - I love that story . It makes me feel a tinsy bit better . The pillowcase hiding, how precious is that!!!! My mom does smile when I convey my regrets, though I won't let anyone touch these quilts anymore LOL. You know there is something about quilts that just really touch the heart. I love that you are going to share his quilts with generations to come, that is really special. I wish I had children just so I could share these quilts with them in that way. In the meantime, I have them hidden away :D So retayne. My shopping list just keeps getting bigger. I will have to find some of that too. I see a big project coming on, but I think it will be a good thing. Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Ditto on the gratitude for all the help and ideas. Starch: When you spray your washed fabrics, or not washed, and you turn it over to iron, how do you keep your ironing board from getting all the gunk? I threw a piece of muslin on my ironing board to catch all the excess, and it was pretty stiff by the time I finished a project. So, I'm getting the idea that to do the blocks for this project, we should wash EVERYTHING--not just the muslin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanne.Hughes Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 There seems to be two thoughts about washing fabrics........... some people do, others don't. I prefer to wash mine. If a colour is going to run, then you know so before you have a ruined a quilt! I had a piece of red american fabric, which is a colour that kept on giving. After rinsing for days I gave up and threw it out, it was going to colour everything it came into contact with. (Good quality fabric is $20.00 up to $30.00 per meter here, so any project, even if small, is pricey in Australia! We do have to smile when you girls are worried that prices in the States will hit $10.00 per yard - we've been there a long, long, loooooong time ago!!) I also like to know that shrinkage is going to be at its minimum, as that would have already occured in the wash. I then iron whilst the fabric is wet, which prevents wrinkles from setting in. Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saundra Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I am a non-washer......When my quilts are finished and I wash them I use a product called Color Catcher by Shout. It looks like a dryer sheet and I use it in the washer and dryer. I have never had a problem, not even with reds. Also, Roberta, if you are going to wash you can pink the edges of your fabric before washing. All have a good day. Saundra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Susanne, You need to start mail ordering your fabric. Check out the Cloth Peddler, not the biggest show on the internet but reasonable prices for fabric and shipping. I'm almost thinking that you need to get some care packages from us girls up here in the states. Dianne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Originally posted by Boni Starch: When you spray your washed fabrics, or not washed, and you turn it over to iron, how do you keep your ironing board from getting all the gunk? Thats why they make replacement covers silly....or do like I do...make my own from garage sale fabric finds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rita Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 well, I wasn't going to join another swap, but I'm already jealous! If it's not too late, count me in! Rita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I just throw my covers in the wash when needed and most of it comes out. It also helps to spray the fabric and let it dry some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolene Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Include me in your new block exchange, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Here is why I will be washing my muslin. Its a good quality muslin, I believe I paid over $5.00 a yard. No, its not the best quality but you also pay for that...and it can run as high as $9.99 a yard. I took a piece just a smig larger than 13" wide and 38" long right off the bolt....I then sewed a very tight stitch line down each side as we all know muslin will unraval badly in washing...this way I could control the raveling...between the stitch marks I marked with a Sharpe and that measured 13". [/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 That is remarkable. Thank you for doing that Bonnie. Now what about the 30's fabrics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 It's amazing how much shrinkage there is in some fabrics. A few months ago I decided I needed to organize my stash. I was going to launder all the fabric, something I normally didn't do before use, label and sort by design and/or colors. I got as far as my stash of Moda Marbles. A decent line of fabric. I was more than surprised to find out that I lost between 2-3" per yard. If you're the type that purchases just enough fabric for a project you could find yourself coming up a little short. Dianne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsleader Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Would you please include me in this exchange. I participated in the Christmas exhange and was delighted each time I received a new block in the mail. That exhange was so much fun, I am ready for another one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Sew Simple Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I have lots of 30s fabric as I was collecting a couple of years ago. Some are red and some are blue. They are not bright but I don't know as I would consider them pastel either. I am guessing by this conversation that I don't need to use them. Correct?:o:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Sylvia, it's really hard to tell on the computer the exact value of a color. I have a few 30's too and I'm questioning at what point it leaves pastel and goes into bright. This could be really interesting. It doesn't make any difference to me--30's is 30's. I'm guessing that one or two "brights" mixed in won't create a disaster, right? oh, another possibility: when I make 16 blocks all the same, I'm planning to make it scrappy. If I used only one color or one piece of fabric to make all 16 blocks, then MY blocks would be mono-color on muslin background. So is it scrappy, or ONE piece? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Originally posted by liz2075 OMG Bonnie LOL! should I fix that or just leave it for next person to laugh. Who put those letters so close together on the keyboard anyways. You know I'm on this laptop that likes to get wild on me! Liz leave it there....we all knew what you meant....I just couldn't let it go...it really made me laugh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanne.Hughes Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 :P:D:P:D:P Thanks for making me smile Dianne............ mail order is all very well when our dollar is fine, but in the moment, at between 60 to 68 US cents for everyone of our dollars, buying anything overseas doesn't make sense. If I had wanted to purchase the new Quilt Studio yesterday, at US$15.500 that would have translated to AUS$23,850.00. I know this because I would like it and had to remind myself why I cannot have one!!! I am also a firm believer that you support your local businesses as much as you can (especially in bad times because I know how little her mark ups are!) ......... I like my local quilt store and want to make sure that my dollars help keep her in business. I think when times are this bad, support local first and when they are better, we can go back to more global thinking/spending. In the end, A Dollar is a Dollar, and I will have to work nearly twice as hard (well, at least twice as long) to support my (quilting) habit. As far as care packages ........ I am never too proud to accept fabric.... I love fabric..... can a girl ever have enough fabric?!! I think NOT!!!! (But times are not yet that bad and my own stash fills two cupboards, so this little hoarder has enough supplies to ride out a recession or two!) Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.