its fun to watch it grow on the design wall. Not exactly sure what size quilt it will be yet.
you can see all the information about the quilt in my last post HERE
Yes I decided to add in other fabrics , still thinking do I add in a few more beiges and maybe a few tans to give it more of an aged look right away.
Here you can see Linda's she made a blue and white one recently! Still love the red and white one too.
I spent a lot of time washing and ironing the blues and shirtings after reading this post Jan wrote at BE*MUSED blog. About a year or so ago I stopped washing my fabric I never had a problem with colors running when I washed my quilts, I think the process has improved over the years. BUT when I saw the shrinkage pictures she linked to I was convinced to start washing again. I doubt I will rewash all the fabric in my stash just to make sure but when I start a new quilt and pull fabric I will wash all the fabric. From now on when fabric comes into the house I will wash it.
Have to admit after washing and ironing all the fabric this weekend I am using for this quilt I was surprised at how I didn't miss that job! I will admit though it was nice working with soft chemical free fabric you can tell the difference. It was worth the work in MHO.
25 comments:
The fabric is gorgeous and will make a lovely quilt. I have been washing my fabric ever since I started quilting - about 15 years. Recently, some people have been saying that we don't need to and I decided not to wash some of the white/mostly white shirtings, but then went back to washing all fabric again. My washer agitates so much that I decided to serge the ends so I don't have so many strings to cut off. And I iron it right from the dryer. However, I don't wash scrap pieces or precuts. Does anybody? They would have to be washed by hand, which I don't like doing.
I get so many hand-me-down scraps so just can't wash everything. Also, my washer only takes cold water. I did, however, run a lot of red fabric through the machine last December.
I just love this quilt Kathie - the blue and white is so fresh. I think I need to get some!
More fabulous blocks! Loving this quilt, Kathie.
When I first started quilting I washed everything and then as time went on I got very lazy. I wanted to start cutting and sewing. I've wondered about chemicals and such for a while but the laziness prevails.
Oh, that's nice! Linda just posted a blue and white also over the weekend! Great timing! I used to was fabrics also, now hardly ever. I like the shrunk look of a well quilted quilt, especially if it's a reproduction look. I do however, wash all batiks! Bought one a few years ago that bread black about 6 washings...even after setting with several methods. I have since heard some batiks are not holding color as well. Not a problem I have often since I rarely sew with batiks!
Wonderful project! I have seen LC's version and love them both.
Antique modern!! Love it!
Thank you for the link about washing fabric. I just read it and found it very interesting. I wash my fabric but iron as I use it. It would fold nicer if I ironed it before folding for the shelf.
It's just lovely! I have had a photo of something very similar in my to-do folder for years... Perhaps this will spur me on! Are you able to include measurements for your blocks please?
I wash all of my fabrics as soon as they come into my house. I find washing is especially helpful for when working on appliqué. Otherwise the material is too stiff to turn under for me. If I want to stiffen them up again for piecing, then I just squirt them with sizing. Aren't we quilters quirky!?
Oh this is really neat. I love the blues. Luv them!!! Read the link on washing fabric. My oh my but what she says about appliqué - well that makes nothing but sense!!! The entire post makes sense. First time a discussion on this topic has made good sense.
Of course, I'm nonsensical… ;>
For years I washed every piece of fabric that came in my house. Then I discovered scrap bags and small remnant pieces and my first washing of some of those was disastrous. A tightly knotted mess of strings and strips. I quit washing and haven't washed any for a few years. The lingerie bag is a great idea to try.
I looked at Linda's quilts--I really like the look with the beiges, but I guess it depends on whether you want the more modern or the aged look.
I don't wash any more. I had to wash everything after fires in the mountains by my house, and after doing that deed, I swore off! Honestly, the only problem I have ever had with colors running was on dark blue. Haven't thought about the shrinkage problem, though. Good article.
WOW...just look at you go with this quilt project! LOVE IT!
Your quilt is looking good. I was all my fabric as soon as it comes in the house. I put a sheet of color catcher by Shout and never have any colors run. Hugs
Love the look of this, Linda is writing out a pattern for it as she's had a lot of interest. I really like the shirtings and yes, some more browny tan tea dyed looking pieces will add some interest!
till a few years ago I prewashed all my fabrics. I love the feel of a washed fabric without the chemicals. But somehow I quit washing. Think I was lazy after I heard that a lot of quilters don't prewash their fabrics. hmm now I doubt. I do love the antique feel of a quilt which shrunk a bit but I also love the feel of a chemical free fabric...
I LOVE it!!! I wish you lived next door!
Love that blue and white!! I always prewash the fabrics before I use them. Not necessarily as soon as I get them home but they get washed before I start handling. I am always adding bits of fabric in with loads of laundry. To me, it makes doing laundry more fun if you know there's some great quilt fabric coming out of the dryer.
Kathie,
How big are you cutting the pieces?
I love this.
Love how that quilt is turning out. I don't usually wash my fabric. I did see Becky's blog post. I had some Kona black and had planned on washing that. So I took that and some other fabrics to the laundromat so I could use a front loader. The fabric came out beautifully. No twisting like a regular washer. I put a color catcher in and the black did run a little as I expected it would. There was no shrinkage in any of the fabrics. I did buy a red cotton homespun sort of fabric that ran terrible.
I wash, too. I wash because I can't stand the feel of the unwashed fabrics straight from the store. I know it shrinks but I didn't really think about how much. Your blue and white quilt will be beautiful!
Nancy from joy for grace
Love the blue and white - so fresh.
I wouldn't dream of cutting and sewing unwashed fabric, hate the feel of it and the smell, and it's slippery! I have found shrinkage to be quite a problem, and I always buy the best quality, I even wash charms, you'd be surprised that 5"x5" charms, end up being 4 1/2" or 4 3/4", once you straighten them up and trim up properly, I still enjoy using them, but of course they always end up smaller LOL! Rather that, before I complete a quilt top than after I complete the top. Your blue blocks are looking wonderful!!!
All fabric that comes into my house is immediately washed and dried. Then it is folded nearly and ironed only when I am ready to use it. For my quilting cottons it saves having to re iron fabric that I am going to starch. I like to iron, but this 60+ body isn't always up to the fun!
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