Washing my stash...........

Laura Gilbert

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Mar 23, 2003, 7:18:26 PM3/23/03

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Hi all,

I have been reading about how you organize your stashes, I have just spent
the better part of today washing about 1/3 of my stash. I press each piece
and have been squaring up the frayed ends too. I plan to store them in
plastic shoe boxes by color. Do you wash everything you buy, when you buy
it or do you wash it when you have a project in mind for specific pieces.
Is it better to wash the fabrics right away to find out if they will fade?
I washed them in the washer on Delicate cycle with a warm water wash and a
cold water rinse and dried them in the dryer on medium. Will that insure
that they won't shrink any further?

Thanks all, I really look forward to your responses.
--
Laura in Virginia

Sherry Starr

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Mar 23, 2003, 7:26:41 PM3/23/03

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I wash and press mine as I buy it. I cut a little piece off each corner so
I know that it has been washed. I have some stuff that I got years ago that
hasn't been washed. I wash it as I come across it.
Sherry Starr
"Laura Gilbert" <laurag...@cox.net> wrote in message
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Kathy Applebaum

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Mar 23, 2003, 7:28:34 PM3/23/03

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Laura Gilbert <laurag...@cox.net> wrote:

> I press each piece
> and have been squaring up the frayed ends too. I plan to store them in
> plastic shoe boxes by color. Do you wash everything you buy, when you buy
> it or do you wash it when you have a project in mind for specific pieces.

I wash as it comes in the door from the LQS, but I sure don't bother
pressing it right away. By the time I rootle through my stash a dozen
times, even if it started out pressed, it would need pressing again! LOL

Also, I wash hot and dry hot. I want that first washing to be the most
abuse the fabric would ever get, and I want to know *before* I use it if
it's a problem fabric. :)

--
Kathy Applebaum (Woodland, CA)
Longarm machine quilting, Queen of Fabric Tramps
Kat...@NOSPAM-KayneyQuilting.com
(remove the obvious to reply)

julia sidebottom

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Mar 23, 2003, 2:39:33 PM3/23/03

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Hi Laura,
first of all I don't wash my stash when I buy fabrics. Having the
sizing in it help me with storing the fabrics. I pre wash when I am
ready to use the fabrics. And then only fabrics that might bleed. Red
and purples particularly. I am fortunate to have a special cabinet for
storing my stash... my DH and I designed my studio so that all my
supplies are all together... Lots and lots of storage space in here but
right now it is filled to the gills. I even have a bathroom right next
to my computer, which is also in my studio.
Because of the yardage I need to keep my fabrics sorta stiff just to
store everything.
The fabrics are three rows deep and a forth row going sideways and
there are 7 shelves all together... and under our bed are all the fq's
that amount to about 600 fq's.
So pre washing would not be feasible for me.

My iron is never far from my side as I press every piece of fabric as I
build my blocks. For me that is enough ironing. -:)
juliab (julia)

--
come and journey with me from darkness....
... into New Life http://www.nwlife.com

nzl*

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Mar 23, 2003, 7:41:57 PM3/23/03

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good grief, your studio is a whole quilt shop.
drooling,
j.
*

"julia sidebottom" wrote in message ...
| Hi Laura,
<snipped>

Donna in Idaho!

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Mar 23, 2003, 7:46:22 PM3/23/03

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My fabric purchases never go to my sewing room shelves until they have been
washed. I want to know how they will look when washed before I put the
fabric into a quilt.

That's me! You have to decide for yourself.

Someone just posted that they don't wash their fabric until they are ready
to use it in a quilt. When I start pulling fabric for a quilt, I don't want
to have to stop and wash it before I can start cutting. Much easier to know
that every piece of fabric I pull is washed and ready to go!
--
Donna in Idaho!
SW Idaho Project Linus Coordinator
Website: http://donnakwilts.tripod.com/

The ultimate inspiration is the deadline!

"Laura Gilbert" <laurag...@cox.net> wrote in message
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julia sidebottom

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Mar 23, 2003, 2:55:12 PM3/23/03

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I have a friend that says to me it is more fun shopping at my house
than going to walmart... And my prices are better... I give a lot of
fabrics to friends that love to quilt and can't afford the fabrics. I
have been building this stash for many years now and believe it or not I
do use all these fabrics at one time or another... don't ever want to
run out of something in the middle of a project... did that once and
never again.
Juliasb
(julia)

--

Leslie in Missouri

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Mar 23, 2003, 7:46:40 PM3/23/03

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Laura-

I wash every piece of fabric the minute I come thru the door- or as soon
as possible. Then I never have to wonder if it's been washed or not.
If I have any reason to think it might bleed- red, navy, etc.- I wash a
small piece of white fabric with it. If the white comes out colored, I
know I need to treat the offending fabric. And I don't baby my fabric-
it gets washed just like any piece of clothing in my house. Washed on
warm with cold rinse with my usual detergent on the permanent pressed
cycle, then dried on permanent pressed. Quite often the fabric is
washed with a load of clothing! I do NOT iron the fabric until I am
ready to use it. If I iron it after washing and don't use it for a
while, it will need ironing again- why do it twice? ;-)

Lazy Leslie and Furbabies in MO.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Acquiring a dog may be ,-.~~~.-,
the only opportunity a V)' '(V
human ever has to (_o_)
choose a relative. Golden Retriever
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A dog's life is too short. It's their only fault really."
Alice Turnball
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you love animals~~~~~don't litter!
Spay/Neuter

newsgroupie

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Mar 23, 2003, 8:27:17 PM3/23/03

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"Donna in Idaho!" wrote:

> My fabric purchases never go to my sewing room shelves until they have been
> washed. I want to know how they will look when washed before I put the
> fabric into a quilt.
>
> That's me! You have to decide for yourself.
>
> Someone just posted that they don't wash their fabric until they are ready
> to use it in a quilt. When I start pulling fabric for a quilt, I don't want
> to have to stop and wash it before I can start cutting. Much easier to know
> that every piece of fabric I pull is washed and ready to go!
> --
> Donna in Idaho!
> SW Idaho Project Linus Coordinator
> Website: http://donnakwilts.tripod.com/

I completely agree. I toss the shopping bags down the steps to the laundry room
as soon as they come in the door. I also wash hot and dry on high if they're
quilting cottons. The only fabrics I don't wash are the ones destined to be
gift bags. I wash on delicate or hand wash any delicate fabrics for crazy
quilts. Most of the fabric I buy is destined for a particular project and I
usually want to get started right away. As for the other stuff, I can't stand
it if inspiration strikes and then I have to wait to run a wash load or two.
Auuuggghhhh.

I just bought some canvas to test for slipcovers and it shrunk an amazing 25%.
Thank goodness I didn't start sewing right away! It shrunk so much, in fact,
that I'm going to wash and dry it a second time just to be sure before I order
the yardage needed for 2 sofas... No point in having slipcovers you can't wash!

~groupie
--
What great thing would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?

Sherry Starr

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Mar 23, 2003, 8:27:46 PM3/23/03

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I also wash mine on hot, and dry on hot. I don't baby it; it gets washed
just like the other clothes.
Sherry Starr

"Laura Gilbert" <laurag...@cox.net> wrote in message
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rhianon

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Mar 23, 2003, 8:33:23 PM3/23/03

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I've seen photo's of quilts after they've been washed - the quilter didn't
pre-wash anything. I do NOT want that to happen to me. Even 100% cotton
fabrics can shrink differently and lots of them bleed - especially the
really vibrant colors. I would hate to think that I put so many hours of
love and labor into a quilt only to have the finished effect ruined because
I couldn't take the time to pre-wash.
In general, I pre-wash everything but only iron when I'm getting ready to
cut....or I'm ironing anyway and decide to get ahead....
Rhianon

--
Lady Rhianon, Guardian of the Royal Chocolate

"Laura Gilbert" <laurag...@cox.net> wrote in message
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Jessica Jones

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Mar 23, 2003, 8:46:14 PM3/23/03

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This reminds me, how does pre-washing/shrinking work with the different
types of batting. I was reading in my Heirloom Maching Quilting book, and I
don't remember exactly, but I think it said something about not prewashing
when using 100% cotton batting like Blue Mountain (I think) because then,
when washed, the batting will shrink and the fabric won't. Is that right?
I can't remember.

So, do the content of the batting effect the pre-washing habits? Curious
everyone's experience!

Jessica

"rhianon" <rhian...@hot.rr.com> wrote in message
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MerryStahel

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Mar 23, 2003, 8:55:00 PM3/23/03

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I buy and store and wash just before using.

And as someone else mentioned - reds and purples get washed separately.

Learned my lesson the hard way - a red print bled all over the white back of
one quilt, after completion.

Merry
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once
http://hometown.aol.com/merrystahel/index.html
http://www.stardancerpress.com/MerryStahel/

frood

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Mar 23, 2003, 10:02:13 PM3/23/03

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I just saw the most wonderfully organized stash this morning, but I'm sworn
to secrecy about it, sorry!

I do prewash my fabrics, but I don't iron them until I'm ready to cut. They
get wrinkly in storage, and will need to be ironed anyway, so why do it
twice? I also don't trim up until I'm ready to cut. Some pieces may wait
months or years to be used, why waste my time now?

I am currently storing my stash (FQs up to 1 yd size pieces) folded in
plastic storage bins. I moved up from the shoebox size to bigger bins, so I
have fewer of them. It's fun to have a good rootle through, but sometimes
pieces get tucked under others, and I miss them when I'm looking for
something. When I pull out a piece, the bins are so full, that several
pieces come out at the same time. Well, not in the bigger bins, but when
they were all stuffed into the smaller size bins.

Larger than 1 yd pieces are now stored in a storage cupboard in my
sewing/bedroom. They're neatly folded, but I'm contemplateing rolling them,
but I can't say where I got that inspiration, either!

Right after I moved house, my boxes of stash (cardboard boxes for moving)
got wet when the garage flooded. I understand what it's like to wash a ton
of fabric all at once! Slow down. If you have a project you want to get
started on, go ahead and wash that. Otherwise, you can do it a bit at a
time. I usually have a stack of new stuff in my closet, waiting to be washed
when I have the time and the washer is free - not often in my large
household!

--
Wendy
http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm
de-fang email address to reply

"Laura Gilbert" <laurag...@cox.net> wrote in message
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Mar 24, 2003, 12:09:27 AM3/24/03

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Oh, foo1 I thought we were going to get to see your stash! How can we tell
if it's worth raiding if you don't show us pictures?

--
Wendy
http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm
de-fang email address to reply

"MerryStahel" <merry...@aol.com> wrote in message
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Ellison

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Mar 24, 2003, 12:28:49 AM3/24/03

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Howdy!
Yeah, what Donna said.
I can't abide the chemicals that are put on the fabrics before they leave
the factory. I've seen some of the warehouses that store these fabrics--
yuck! Bugs, dirt, filth--don't want that junk on my fabric or in my house.
And all the other reasons mentioned for washing first. Doesn't take
long, and the fabric looks so good, hanging on the clothes line on the
back porch or spread around the house. <g> I don't iron until I feel like
it,
usually just before I cut into them.
Dye Magnets--a must!
Ragmop/Sandy

"Donna in Idaho!" <da...@citlink.net> wrote in message
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Stephen

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Mar 24, 2003, 3:42:28 AM3/24/03

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Mar 24, 2003, 5:32:56 AM3/24/03

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I get the selvede to selvedge thing, but what if it is a FQ? Can I really
straighten from selvedge to raw edge?

Stephen

"nzl*" <san...@ihug.co.nz> wrote in message
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julia sidebottom

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Mar 24, 2003, 1:51:44 AM3/24/03

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I live near Detoit. If you want to see some of my quilts go to my web
page and follow the links to the quilting section. You will find some
of them there but not all of them.
juliasb

julia sidebottom

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Mar 24, 2003, 1:55:00 AM3/24/03

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That is another reason I don't pre wash until I need something. I
never buy anything under 3 yards at a time
juliasb

--

QuiltR1024

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Mar 24, 2003, 7:59:56 AM3/24/03

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In article <1fsa8bi.11zzvco1vcuztgN%Kat...@NOSPAM-KayneyQuilting.com>,
Kat...@NOSPAM-KayneyQuilting.com (Kathy Applebaum) writes
>>I wash as it comes in the door from the LQS, but I sure don't bother
>pressing it right away. By the time I rootle through my stash a dozen
>times, even if it started out pressed, it would need pressing again! LOL
>>Also, I wash hot and dry hot. I want that first washing to be the most
>abuse the fabric would ever get, and I want to know *before* I use it if
>it's a problem fabric. :)
>><>>>>>>>>>>>

Kathy,
I'm with you. I do this exact same thing. I wash everything that comes in
the house and iron it as I need it. I do use the Dye Magnet (or Color
Catchers) sheets when washing these new fabrics ( just in case the colors
bleed or run).

Kris ( in northern Virginia)

Julia in MN

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Mar 24, 2003, 8:47:34 AM3/24/03

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I wash everything before I put it away so when I pull it out, it is
ready to cut and sew. I've given up on ironing most things. Instead, I
smooth it and fold it right after it comes out of the dryer. I fold it
right side out from selvedge to selvedge, like it was on the bolt. Then
I wrap it around my 6" ruler (or fold as if wrapping around the ruler).
That way it is ready to unroll and cut a little off if I'm not using the
whole piece. I have found that ironing is seldom necessary if I smooth
and fold right out of the dryer. If something is too wrinkled when I
want to cut, I iron then.

Julia in MN
--
This message has been scanned for viruses by Norton Anti-Virus

http://mail.chartermi.net/~jaccola/

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Mar 24, 2003, 10:20:36 AM3/24/03

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Ellison <Elliso...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:

> It's another chance to fondle the fabric and think of all
> the lovely possibilities it offers.

That's about the only thing that gets me to actually fold it up neatly
as soon as it's out of the dryer. Ahhh.... the chance to lovingly pet
and stroke the fabric and ask it what it wants to become. :)

--
Kathy Applebaum (Woodland, CA)
Longarm machine quilting, Queen of Fabric Tramps
Kat...@NOSPAM-KayneyQuilting.com
(remove the obvious to reply)

Kathy Applebaum

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Mar 24, 2003, 10:20:35 AM3/24/03

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Jessica Jones <aci...@attbi.com> wrote:

> So, do the content of the batting effect the pre-washing habits? Curious
> everyone's experience!

I never prewash batting, but instead, choose my batting according to how
much or little I want it to shrink. (Well, that and a lot of other
factors. *grin*)

Kate Dicey

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Mar 24, 2003, 11:12:56 AM3/24/03

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Ellison wrote:
>
> Howdy!
> I don't wash my quilt fabric in hot water; I don't wash my quilts
> in hot water. "Proceed as you mean to go on"--I read somewhere;
> as the quilts will be washed on the permanent press cycle (I'm not
> using them to wipe the floor or cover the roof or soak up grease),
> I wash the fabric on perm press also, cool water.
> Sometimes I dry fabric on the clothesline on the back porch,
> because I like to see them out there,
> because I don't use the dryer unless I have to in summer.
> I always throw wet quilts in the dryer; color can migrate in a wet
> quilt, even w/ fabric that was washed a couple of times before using.
> As for ironing, Stephen: it's your fabric! If you want to iron,
> go for it. It's another chance to fondle the fabric and think of all
> the lovely possibilities it offers.
> Cheers!
> Ragmop/Sandy
>

Funny thing, this... I'll stand and iron FQ's, fabric, quilt blocks,
press seams on garments, do fusing and all sorts, but don't ask me to
iron the laundry! HATE doing that!

--
Kate XXXXXX
Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons!
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Tara Henderson

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Mar 24, 2003, 1:40:43 PM3/24/03

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I used to wash as soon as I got the fabric home until I read "From
Fiber to Fabric" by Harriet Hargrave. She explains why the "abuse it
first to make sure it will take whatever you dish out in the future"
philosophy is wrong. It's very technical - you kind of have to read
the book for yourself and see what you think. But she says that
abusing the fabric when you get it home can actually make it more
likely to misbehave in the future. Frankly she wants you to baby the
fabric and I can see where that would be a problem for people - if you
pay $9/yard and up you shouldn't *have* to baby it! I certainly don't
do everything she recommends. However she claims that pre-washing
stash fabric can have a negative impact on its shelf life - some of
the "chemicals" we turn our noses up at are actually to protect the
fabric, so unwashed fabric does better in storage. Considering that I
am only 30 and I plan to keep quilting until the day I die, my stash
is in for the long haul; I've decided to take the expert's word on it
and I have stopped prewashing. I used to be in the "can't wait to
start" category but now I make preparing the fabric a relaxing,
meditative prelude to the project. It gives me time to get to know the
colors and patterns a little better and make sure I'm happy with my
choices.

My quilts are all hand-quilted with about 50/50 hand and machine
piecing and lots of hand applique. Just based on the construction
methods, particularly the applique, I honestly can't see putting them
in a machine. My construction methods aren't shoddy or anything, but
it's not realistic to expect hand stitched craft items to stand up to
a treatment designed for garments made on industrial-strength overlock
machines. I only give my work away to people who respect handwork and
understand this is not a utility item to be thrown in the washer. So
that already eliminates a lot of the "abuse it just in case" logic for
me. When I'm ready to start a project I wash the fabric on regular
cycle, warm water. I have never had success getting the wrinkles out
of dry fabric. If it's very humid I may dry the fabric for five
minutes, tops. I iron my fabric dry. It's not as tedious as it sounds!
It takes a lot less time than struggling to get the wrinkles out of
bone-dry fabric.

frood

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Mar 24, 2003, 3:31:49 PM3/24/03

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Stephen (and others), just a warning about tossing fabric bits in with
clothing for washing. I don't advise it with your shirts for work. Unless,
of course you *want* your co-workers to pluck stray threads off you. <G>

In my job, a stray thread just holds a toddlers interest long enough for me
to refill my coffee cup, and I don't mind being preened.

--
Wendy
http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm
de-fang email address to reply

"Stephen" <geno...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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caldw...@webtv.net

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Mar 24, 2003, 12:36:05 PM3/24/03

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I have been into fabrics for over thirty years, and always wash fabrics
in warm, cold rinse as soon as I get in the door. When possible, I first
zip the ends up with a zigzag, then wash. Much less mess with strings!
With the invention of Dye Magnet, I always put in one. It's amazing what
it collects. Dry in the dryer on normal (pretty hot) and grab them out
while still damp and iron. It's a joy to go to the stash, and know it's
ready to GO, no waiting, no bleeding of colors, no shrinking. Now if I
could only find a good way to store all this fabric in a way that I
could see all the colors at once. Glass-fronted bookcase? Nancycog in MD

caldw...@webtv.net

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Mar 24, 2003, 12:34:17 PM3/24/03

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Ellison

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Mar 24, 2003, 4:07:58 PM3/24/03

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Howdy!
Iron clothing? As if!
<g>
The local dry cleaning shops will wash and starch and iron a shirt
for less than $1; why should I bother? Darling husband knows this
and drops his clothes off every week, picks 'em up every week,
and I will applaud if necessary.
Stand by the dryer and get those shirts and blouses out of there
as soon as the cycle has ended: fewer wrinkles.
Wrinkles: it's the new black!
Ragmop/Sandy
Thought about getting one of those Big Boards for ironing,
but then thought, nah, that's stash bucks.
"Kate Dicey" <ka...@diceyhome.free-online.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3E7F2E88...@diceyhome.free-online.co.uk...
> Ellison wrote:
> >
> > Howdy!

Kate Dicey

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Mar 24, 2003, 6:55:27 PM3/24/03

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Ellison wrote:
>
> Howdy!
> Iron clothing? As if!
> <g>
> The local dry cleaning shops will wash and starch and iron a shirt
> for less than $1; why should I bother? Darling husband knows this
> and drops his clothes off every week, picks 'em up every week,
> and I will applaud if necessary.
> Stand by the dryer and get those shirts and blouses out of there
> as soon as the cycle has ended: fewer wrinkles.
> Wrinkles: it's the new black!
> Ragmop/Sandy
> Thought about getting one of those Big Boards for ironing,
> but then thought, nah, that's stash bucks.

DH irons the laundry. He's been busy lately, so I'm wearing a lot of
crumpled clothes... I 'iron' the cherub's britches by putting them over
the radiator to dry! He wears poly cotton piquet knit shirts to school,
which don't need ironing, really. 5 mins body heat and the wrinkles
drop out!

Ruth in Happy Camp

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Mar 25, 2003, 2:07:41 PM3/25/03

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Your fabric WILL take up a lot more space if not ironed. Build more
shelves! I do not wash/dry on hot, but just as I would wash/dry the
finished quilt.
--
Ruth in Happy Camp

"Stephen" <geno...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Pat in Virginia

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Mar 25, 2003, 4:13:52 PM3/25/03

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No stash ... but if you rootle around that site you will find
those risers to raise a bed or table ... gaining 6" height!
(click on bedroom, I think) Quite low price for set, but the top
area is rather narrow. Anyhow, this site has all sorts of neat
organization accessories!
PAT

frood wrote:
>
> Oh, foo1 I thought we were going to get to see your stash! How can we tell
> if it's worth raiding if you don't show us pictures?

> "MerryStahel" <merry...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20030323231851...@mb-cg.aol.com...
> > I forgot to mention - my stash is stored in the white-painted metal
> baskets on
> > runners.
> > http://www.organizes-it.com/stordraw.htm

Maureen Wozniak

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Mar 29, 2003, 7:36:21 PM3/29/03

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I don't wash until I'm ready to use the fabric.

Maureen