Tips on Tuesday

 This week we’re launching our Tuesday Tips blog feature. Each Tuesday, we’ll feature a tip you can apply to your sewing and quilting. Have a tip you’d like to share with the IQ blog readers? Email it to us at intownquilters (at) earthlink (dot) net!

Many folks suggest washing and drying your fabric before use and I have to say we at the shop agree, for the most part. All cotton fabric shrinks — and it all shrinks differently — so it’s a good idea to wash it before you start cutting and sewing. In the case of a quilt, you might end up with holes in the seams eventually, due to the stress of a tight fabric. Varying shrinkage may also cause your quilt to hang or lay funny. Pre-washing is also important when sewing clothing, since a garment may no longer fit following that initial washing. You also might see that the garment does not hang properly after is has shrunk.

When I wash my fabric, I wash it on warm, delicate, in the machine. I usually go ahead and wash my fabric with some other delicate laundry I have in similar colors because I like to conserve water and I actually think things dry less wrinkly if the load is medium size.

After the wash cycle is finished, I pull the fabric out of the washer, shake it hard to get out some wrinkles, tear or cut off all the hanging threads and then toss it in the dryer on the low setting. I put the timer on for about 5 or 10 minutes and check my fabric. If it is getting a little dry, I pull it out and lay it flat to dry the rest of the way.

If I don't have clothing to wash with my fabric, I always put a clean, dry towel in the dryer with my fabric to help it fluff dry. I’ve learned that without additional items in the dryer, the fabric just stays in a little bundle, flopping around, and then it comes out very wrinkly.

As a side note, if you are dealing with a fabric that might shrink more than others (like a shot cotton, a yarn-dyed fabric, flannels, knits, canvas, etc.), you should leave the fabric in the dryer until it’s completely to allow it to shrink as much as it will.