- After washing fabric use a liquid starch to press. It gives the fabric that new feeling
we all like Mix 1 part liquid starch to 3 parts water. A 32oz. Bottle (under $2.00) equals
10 aerosol cans (about $2.00 a can.) When mixed in a spray bottle there's no clogging. It
doesn't flake on the fabric. And rotary cutting goes much smoother.
- I save all my scrap fabrics and cut them into small squares before putting them away.
They are ready when I want to make a scrap quilt or when I want to decorate a pair of
shorts or tops I'm making for grandchildren.
- For prewashing fabric and "inherited" scraps: fill the washer with HOT water and
laundry detergent, push the fabric into the water, and let it SIT for *20 minutes*,
swishing it occasionally (NOT agitating). Then drain, and rinse the same way - pushing it
into the water several times, but NOT agitating. Then spin, untangle if necessary, and
toss into the dryer. If you do not agitate, you have almost no tangling or fraying.
- Save 6.5" blocks of all the clothes you make for your children. By the time they are
adults, you should have enough for a memory quilt for them.
- Before washing fabric baste the cut edges together. This keeps the fraying down in
the washer and dryer.
- If you like the look of tea-dyed fabric bu t don't have tea try coffee. The hot coffee you
don't drink in the morning can be used to dye small amounts of fabric. Or make a pot
and use that for larger yardage.
- When I finish a quilt cut all your remaining fabric into various width strips and use in
string quilts
- When pre-washing your material (especially good for reds) place a piece of muslin in
the washing machine....that way you will be able to tell if the fabric is really going to run.
- Applying spray starch to fabric before cutting bias cuts, will help keep fabric from
stretching and distorting.
- After washing fabric use a black marking pen, and mark on the salvage edge the
following information- date of purchase and the store it was purchased from. That way
you have a quick reference if more fabric is needed.
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