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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
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which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: mozeyrn
Date: 06-22-2006, 11:28 AM (1 of 17)
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I stopped by on Friday afternoon (took a "mental health day" from work) at a women's house who does all the "sewing stuff" for members of the rescue squad that my husband belongs to. I was doing a dress for my dd and couldn't figure something out (the layout of the fabric was confusing). I called her (we know each other) to ask if she could help me but she didn't understand what I was trying to say over the phone. She lives about 2 miles away and I asked if I could stop by (she does sewing in her home). I said, "I promise, this will take less than five minutes" so she said to come over. She seemed a little annoyed from the minute I walked into the house. She helped me with my question and I had mentioned that I usually look over a pattern before I wash/iron the material. She looked at me and said (in not the nicest of tones), "What?!! You wash the material?! Why in the world would you do that?? I've been sewing for over 40 years and I've NEVER washed fabric before sewing it. There are plenty of people who come in here with the tags still on their clothes and they're having work done on them. Why waste your time?". Her voice got all loud and stuff. I wanted to floor to open up and swallow me whole. She made me feel so stupid (and mad). I said to her that I've had things shrink on me before and she tried to tell me that it must have been something I did wrong. I wanted to say, "Why offer to help me if you're going to be annoyed the whole time?" but I held my tongue. Then, I went home and washed and ironed my fabric. Sorry, just had to get that off my chest. - Maureen.
Learning something new with every stitch!! Kenmore 16231000 |
User: mozeyrn
Member since: 11-29-2005 Total posts: 349 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 06-22-2006, 11:43 AM (2 of 17)
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Some people just can't understand that doing things different is OK. I always prewash unless I plan on dry cleaning the garment( which has only happened once) I have had holes appear in prewashing ( it wasn't cheap fabric that time) that I would have been devistated had it happened after I spent the time making the garment. In home ec class we had a washer & dryer & ALL fabric went in before we werte allowed to cut anything. The thing I am bad about is notions, you should pre shrink zippers & bias tape also. I have done this with a pressing cloth & iron but you can throw them in with the fabric also. Don't let her get you down! maybe she was having a bad day & just couldn't help herself. Remember people here arte here to help also. If you have a question just ask. Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: mozeyrn
Date: 06-22-2006, 12:00 PM (3 of 17)
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Thanks Barb. This layout was same kind of layout that had me ripping my dd's pants over and over again because it wasn't hanging right (the green outfit from my photobucket). I didn't want to go through that kind of purgatory again.
- Maureen.
Learning something new with every stitch!! Kenmore 16231000 |
User: mozeyrn
Member since: 11-29-2005 Total posts: 349 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 06-22-2006, 12:12 PM (4 of 17)
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Maureen...I agree with washing fabric before sewing. In my younger years, I never wanted to wash the fabric before sewing as it always looked better before washing. But I always found that nothing fit after washing...totally turned me off of making my own clothes. I wonder how the clothes that this lady has made for others have fit after washing??? So continue doing what you feel is right.
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 06-22-2006, 09:55 PM (5 of 17)
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I wash everything thats made of fabric BEFORE I wear it or sew it. I'm allergic to the 'finishing' stuff they use. (and sometimes the dyes...) next time, if there is a next time, stand up and tell the woman, thanks for the advice, but she doesn't know everything about everybody and if she didn't want to help you a simple NO would have been sufficent. There was no reason to make you feel bad...she's an idiot. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: Bama
Date: 06-22-2006, 10:31 PM (6 of 17)
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I also wash fabric before sewing it and rtw clothes before I wear them the first time. My kids are so used to this that when they get new clothes, they automatically take them straight to the laundry room before they wear them the first time. And I always wash and dry jeans and pants before I mark them for hemming. I used to work in a sewing plant and remember how the finish on the fabric used to bother my sinuses. Not to mention I'd hate to go to the trouble of sewing something only to have it shrink in the first washing. I think the lady got upset because it looked like maybe you knew something she should be doing, but doesn't.  I work with a lady who acts like that. HER way is always the best way because she's always done it like that.  Some of us there have learned to ignore her and do what we think is best.
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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From: Tummy
Date: 06-22-2006, 11:37 PM (7 of 17)
| wow! thats mean. I am sorry you felt that way. I hope your project come out great! |
User: Tummy
Member since: 06-03-2006 Total posts: 81 |
From: esrun3
Date: 06-22-2006, 11:54 PM (8 of 17)
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Sorry that woman ruined your day Maureen! She's certainly NOT a very nice person! Blows me away when people are like that. I'm a washer too....fabric, RTW, all of it before wearing, sewing, etc. I'd rather know what the fabric is going to do before I spend my time making it. Also if I'm making something for someone else and I'm not sure how they do their laundry (I do all of mine in cold water) I wash in warm water to be sure it shrinks if it's going to and then dry in the dryer-depending on the fabric of course but if it's cotton and I'm not washing it after it's completed, I do the warm water/dryer thing. Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: swartzrn
Date: 06-23-2006, 05:12 PM (9 of 17)
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Maureen--I am sorry your feelings were hurt. That lady sounds like she wasn't nice at all! I always wash my fabric before doing anything. I don't think you were wrong in doing that at all! 
Julie
"To see the future, look into a child's eyes." |
User: swartzrn
Member since: 02-17-2006 Total posts: 436 
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From: Patty22
Date: 06-23-2006, 06:23 PM (10 of 17)
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Hey Maureen, don't let the old, set-in-her-ways, iritable seamstress get you down. Maybe she was crabby because the outfit she on was way too tight because her fabric shrunk? Hmmmmm....... Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: Bama
Date: 06-23-2006, 11:33 PM (11 of 17)
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116
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From: bluebirdie
Date: 06-24-2006, 02:49 PM (12 of 17)
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That lady must have made this one pretty yellow/black dress I bought. It started ankle lentgh just right for a 40 yr old when I tried it on. It also said machine washable! After one wash, it turned into a miniskirt fit for a 20 something. After that dress, I started prewashing most of the fabrics before I sew. - Robin
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User: bluebirdie
Member since: 03-12-2006 Total posts: 139 |
From: Patty22
Date: 06-24-2006, 04:00 PM (13 of 17)
Maureen.....my daughter was getting a bus today to go to NYCity to meet her college classmates and the Greyhound bus driver was so nasty to her about her ticket stub that she couldn't even turn around to wave because she had sunk into the floor of the bus terminal. I called my daughter's cell phone to make her laugh and told her that maybe he needed a donut pillow from sitting too long  Now, my Katy wouldn't hurt a bug and didn't do a thing to prompt such rudeness; the world is just filled with some very unhappy people. Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: LauraM62
Date: 06-25-2006, 09:00 AM (14 of 17)
Well some people just have bad days, some people think their way is the only way, some of opinions that are very strong. I have a GF that it took years to get her to understand that her mother was one of those people, and that she would have a better relationship if she would just nod, say yes mom, then go home & do it her way! There is no reason to  ! Somedays it is hard to just let those people go, I feel sad that they actually learn so little because they are not open to learn new ways of doing things, or opinions of others which I find interesting. The saying 'Take what you want & leave the rest', she probably has some very good advice on one side, but there maybe info you just might need to nod, say hmm, and leave alone.On the washing - moons ago I had a Home Ec teacher that didn't think you should wash the fabric! It changed the grains, etc, made it harder to lay out the fabric she felt. But I felt it was harder to work with this stiff fabric! So I prewashed much to her dismay. Now years later, I prewash 3 times! Because prewashing just once doesn't seem to get all the shrink out of some cottons, but 3 times seems to get most of it out! So when I get my alterations & ease down, put in all that time, I know the item will fit - even if DH helps do the laundry 
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 
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From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 06-25-2006, 10:03 AM (15 of 17)
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I hear you about cottons! Haven't run into the problem much with my sewing projects, but I once hemmed a pair of khaki pants. I had washed them once, but they just kept on shrinking! Now they are too short. Oh well. Maybe I'll shorten them up to capri length at some point here.
http://www.sew-whats-up.com - the new home for Sew What's New
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User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222 
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From: Patty22
Date: 07-02-2006, 07:07 PM (16 of 17)
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Mauren, I thought of you when I was trying to find some directions from a Simply Quilts episode. Although this is in regards to fabric for quilting, the same principles apply. Also, I thought it was interesting what she has to say about spray starch and using sizing instead. A viewer had written in asking how to treat her new fabric when she brought it home. Here's what Alex recommends: Wash fabrics when you bring them home to get out all the excess dye and chemicals. If you choose not to wash the fabric, at least test to see if the color is going to run. A simple way to test for colorfastness is to place a swatch of the fabric in a bowl of water. Microwave for two to three minutes. If the water is clear, great. If not, you should rinse the fabric until the water runs clear. After washing or rinsing the fabric you can restore that like new crispness by pressing fabric with spray starch or sizing. If you are going to store the fabric for any length of time, you should use sizing. Spray starch attracts silverfish. Always wash your starched fabrics or quilt tops before storing. Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: stephi
Date: 07-03-2006, 11:51 AM (17 of 17)
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Maureen, You are right, she is wrong. NAH NAH NAH ON HER  !!! I always wash before sewing...especially cottons. I have found the material with a print that feel thick will run easy. So NAH NAH NAH NAH ON HER
Stephi
"No body knows what it is that I do until I dont do it" "if you do what you have always done you will get what you have always gotten" |
User: stephi
Member since: 03-17-2006 Total posts: 361 
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