Crafts
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
quilt fabric prep question
Hello,
I'm taking my first quilting class. We picked out fabric and the instructor said to wash and press it before the next class. She also said that we could use something (which I forgot to write down) to give it some "body" or something. Is there any special prep I need to do? Just wash and dry on warm with detegerent I think? Also anybody know what she might have meant to use when pressing it (or before pressing it?) and pressing just means iron right? Thanks, I feel dumb!
Re: quilt fabric prep question
#1- if you're using a woven fabric (like quilting cotton), take a pinking shears to the edges before you wash, otherwise you'll end up with a stringy mess.
#2- use whatever detergent you want. I use Woolite and Shout Color Catchers in the load because quilts usually involve a lot of contrasting colors that won't look great if things bleed into them.
#3- pressing just means ironing. She may be talking about a spray starch- many quilters (myself included) use Best Press, a liquid in a spray bottle rather than an aerosol like you'd use on a shirt- it'll firm up the fabric a little bit and allow you to get cleaner seams when you sew.
Stand up for something you believe in.
For applique sometimes, maybe a few other specific techniques. Probably not going to show up in a beginning quilting class, though.
Thank you!! She didn't say the pinking shears so I'll have to grab those to do that. The other advice is great. That best press sounds like what she said too.
I'm surprised by this since the first time you washed it the colors could bleed and the different fabrics could shrink deferentially distorting all of your hard work.
Not saying it's wrong, just saying I'm surprised.
While they said in some cases it would be prudent (red and white, etc) in most cases if you buy quality fabric and use 100% cotton, it doesn't shrink enough to mess up anything.
And if you're ironing fabric you can mess it up more by stretching it out of proportion.
Well that definately gives pause for thought. Makes sense in both ways I guess. Though they've never seen me iron.....now that's a hot mess!
FWIW, I think it is a matter of choice whether you wash and/ or press.
I don't wash and only press if it is really wrinkly and I can't cut a straight line.
Stand up for something you believe in.