Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: patti2
Date: 11-14-2005, 12:19 PM (1 of 20)
After years of sewing I went from a sometimes prewasher to an ALWAYS prewasher after an embarrassing too tight in the "trunk" incident with a pair of pants! My question is more of a call for suggestions...I just spent way too much time trying to decide if a pile of fabric was washed or not. I don't have the room for a dedicated space for my washed fabric and most of the time it is my DH who does the laundry. Any tricks for telling the difference? 
|
User: patti2
Member since: 05-28-2005 Total posts: 78 |
From: carman
Date: 11-14-2005, 12:31 PM (2 of 20)
| nothing goes into my sewing room unless it is washed, it stays in the laundry room till it gets done, that way there is no guessing, i also only wash my fabric for a short less than 5 minute agitation, as it the drying that is going to do the the shrinking that may occur. |
User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692 
|
From: paroper
Date: 11-14-2005, 12:44 PM (3 of 20)
|
I don't prewash unless I expect the fabric to shrink or fade or if I happen to be putting two fabrics of different content together. THEN I wash. How about folding the fabric so that the raw edges are on top and then just clipping across the corner. You should loose too much valuable fabric and most fabric does not come with a clipped corner. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 11-14-2005, 02:43 PM (4 of 20)
|
All -- ok most -- of my fabric has a note pinned to it with fabric content, width, length of the cut, any pretreatment. Sometimes I add where I got it and how much I paid. Then I know a couple years down the line when I go to use it. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: paroper
Date: 11-14-2005, 04:09 PM (5 of 20)
|
Be sure that is you use pins they are stainless steel. Over the years, cheap pins may rust. I've had that happen a few times.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: esrun3
Date: 11-14-2005, 04:18 PM (6 of 20)
|
nothing goes into my sewing room unless it is washed, it stays in the laundry room till it gets done, that way there is no guessing, i also only wash my fabric for a short less than 5 minute agitation, as it the drying that is going to do the the shrinking that may occur. This is what I do also! It stays out of the sewing room until washed! If I'm in a FQ swap and I'm sending unwashed stuff, it is cut and put in envelopes in the dining room, not in the sewing room so nothing gets mixed up. Lyn
|
User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: LauraM62
Date: 11-16-2005, 08:08 AM (7 of 20)
Personally I prewash my fabric 3 times, well fabrics that will shrink that is like denim, cottons, even cotton knits. I like to swatch my fabrics in case I don't get it made into the finished item I wanted it to be  So after the fabric is washed & ready for use a small swatch square is cut from the fabric, the square is placed on an index style card with all my info on the fabric, like contents of fabric, where I purchased it, price, quantity I have. Then it I still have the fabric  I can take my index cards to stores with me for matching to other fabrics and/or for patterns since I know the quantity too.  I could also tell you I built a small Access database to also coordinate projects, maintaining scans of fabric & patterns, lets me mix, match, and decide 
LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246 
|
From: paroper
Date: 11-16-2005, 08:32 AM (8 of 20)
|
Wow! Now THAT's organization! However, it takes all the surprise out of it! Just think how it feels when you go back 20 years after the purchase and open a storage box and look at fabrics you didn't remember purchasing (kind of like Christmas)! I'm sure that NO one is as bad as I am. My storage tubs were in the garage because of moving (7 years ago) and were scattered everywhere because my husband moved them. I've gone through them off and on up until the last 3 years when I couldn't find them during rennovations. This weekend I started cleaning the garage just to get the storage bins back together. When I finally found them all, I found that there are 11 huge tubs of fabric sorted by fabric content!!! That's scary. The more recent purchases are on heavy weight shelving in the sewing room and would probably fill at least 3 more tubs. I've found several containers of thread and notions. You can't imagine how much matching thread I have! I don't know what I would do with myself if I were as organized as you! What a wonderful system! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 11-16-2005, 09:06 AM (9 of 20)
|
Wow Laura, That is definately organized. I know I myself would never be able to keep it that way. Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: pucktricks
Date: 11-16-2005, 10:58 AM (10 of 20)
|
HOw do you keep up with that? I tried doing something similar with my patterns, which was wonderful while I did, but haven't been able to stay that diligent about it. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570 
|
From: patti2
Date: 11-16-2005, 12:42 PM (11 of 20)
| Thanks for all of the suggestions. I am going to try the note with length, date and price on it and just add when (or if) I prewash it! |
User: patti2
Member since: 05-28-2005 Total posts: 78 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 11-16-2005, 03:32 PM (12 of 20)
I'm organized but if I did as much as LauraM62 i'd never have the time to sew. Maybe if I had a house full of servants & a gardner I could do it. More power to you Gal, that's great. 
|
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
|
From: LauraM62
Date: 11-17-2005, 09:11 AM (13 of 20)
Okay well my dh says I'm retentative as does my best friend  I can't stand not to be organized, I figure the time I spend to stay organized actually saves me time when I'm not  Like dh's workshop is a mess, go looking for a tool, can spend 30 minutes looking for what you need add up a few of those times, heck I've spent less staying organized, and I stay more productive And this retentive things spills over to our financials, my cook books (on the computer), etc. Now if I could just get everyone else in the house on the same wave length Oh I've made my own little toolbox after a few times to dh's workshop, couldn't take it  at least he doesn't think someone 'stole it' any more - it is always where ever he last left it
LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246
|
From: DorothyL
Date: 11-17-2005, 09:37 AM (14 of 20)
|
When I find myself slipping into being too organized and patterned I make an effort to break out of it. Otherwise I drive myself and everyone around me crazy. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: LadySloPokes
Date: 11-17-2005, 10:19 AM (15 of 20)
|
Hi Patti2, I don't prewash any fabric until I'm ready to actually start using it. This is the best way for me know without question if I've already washed it. Some of my holiday stash (mostly recent Halloween stuff) did get washed but not used. I've wrapped that yardage up in a plastic grocery bag and put a "washed" note inside of it before I stored it away in my holiday fabric plastic bin. So next year I'll know that all I have to do is iron it real good and I'm ready to go! All of my stash is put away in BIG plastic bins with lids as soon as I get home with it-I don't have any closets or dresser drawers that I can use to store it. The bins work great, and the lids really keep dust and dirt out. I will also use a dryer sheet inside to keep the fabric smelling clean. Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198 
|
From: LauraM62
Date: 11-17-2005, 10:40 AM (16 of 20)
|
When I find myself slipping into being too organized and patterned I make an effort to break out of it. Otherwise I drive myself and everyone around me crazy. Dorothy Over the years I've learned to leave others alone, and that each person is happy with their own way I don't re-organize anything for anyone else, unless they ask for help. But my kitchen, my sewing area, etc, is ran my way  Each person in the house runs their area their way, we laugh, and always work it out  Now work was another story, actually hired several times to streamline, organize, & increase production within offices, but we won't go there, I've been out of it for 6 years, no matter how many phone calls I got
LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246
|
From: mamagoose
Date: 11-18-2005, 08:39 PM (17 of 20)
| I'm here to reiterate double/triple pre-washing denim and twills. I usually buy my twill for pants at 60" width and can get all pieces on 1 1/2 yards. So, I wash that length, even if I bought twice as much. I've had too many pants lose length every time I wash them. Maybe it's not so, but it seems like a fabric shrinks more the shorter the length, like it will shrink from both ends. So, the more cut ends, the more it will shrink??? |
User: mamagoose
Member since: 01-26-2002 Total posts: 168 |
From: bunzino
Date: 11-18-2005, 09:47 PM (18 of 20)
|
MamaG = yep! nancy |
User: bunzino
Member since: 08-16-2002 Total posts: 119 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 11-19-2005, 12:42 AM (19 of 20)
|
This is a first for me. When I was purchasing some fabric this week the salelady said that all fabric from outside Canada or USA should be washed or cleaned before using, especially if it has come from overseas, because all the bolts are sprayed with insecticide before coming into the country, to prevent any little tagalongs. She also said, that she is very sensitive to insecticides and chemicals like that and if she doesn't wash it, she ends up with a horrible rash. Apparently her Doctor was the one who connected with why she was getting the rashes. She also does the same with ready-to-wear. I have no idea how you'd check this out, but it certainly is logical considering how hard it is to get stuff over the border between Canada/USA.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: sewingdiva
Date: 11-20-2005, 02:47 AM (20 of 20)
|
Laura - that is a good point about the rashes. It is true - even if there isn't actual insecticide sprayed on the fabric, the fabric may have some other substance it came into contact with. Why take the chance? I once got a horrible case of contact dermatitis/rash on my back that lasted for days and was so itchy/inflamed i had to take antihistamines that knocked me out. I don't know for sure, but i'll bet there was something on my clothing that did it because i hadn't used any new beauty products. Also - not sure if someone else mentioned this - the manufacturers often put 'sizing' on the fabric so that it keeps its shape and is easier to handle while on the bolt. I read somewhere fabric is easier to sew when the sizing has been removed (washed off). |
User: sewingdiva
Member since: 10-23-2005 Total posts: 22 |
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-17350.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft