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From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 10-31-2006, 08:49 PM (1 of 9)
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My husband and I spent over an hour yesterday at Joann's trying to find a fabric for our duvet -- I threw our old one in the wash since it was cotton and had never been washed. It ended up with rust colored streaks all over it. I'm guessing the dye wasn't stable or something, since our washer is brand new and we've been washing lots of laundry without problems..anyway, I figured it might be time for a new duvet anyway, and it would be an easy project for me to make a new one. We just couldn't find a fabric we liked. Finally, we found something called "waffle muslin" in the quilting section. Well, maybe this isn't the right thing to make a duvet out of. Not only is there a light colored line running down the middle of the fabric where the fold was (which of course I only noticed *after* washing it, so I supposedly can't return it), it shrank considerably. It was originally 55" wide or so, it only measured 41" wide when it came out of the dryer. It did seem kind of crumpled up with the waffle weave, so we stretched it out and now it measures about 46" wide. Maybe I shouldn't have washed it and dried it? I'm kind of at a loss now. I think I'll still have enough if I cut around the fold line and do 4 sections on each side instead of 2, but it'll be a bit more work. Now that I'm looking at it, I'm not entirely sure it will even work in my sewing machine, it's so bumpy! I should have gotten half a yard to try it out first.  Any suggestions?
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User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 11-01-2006, 08:40 PM (2 of 9)
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I just rolled across this, and I thought I'd reply in order to "bump" your message up and get it some more attention. The first thing that came to my mind was piecing. What if you trim out the one streak down the middle and then, considering that your width is not what it used to be, or even needs to be, make it into 4 square/rectangle sections and get a contrasting fabric to run a wide band in between the pieces, 2 by 2, and even around the edges if needed. This gives you an opportunity to add another texture/pattern to your bedroom, and makes the best of your purchase. I think if it wants to shrink and be really small, then let it, rather than trying to stretch it out and make it be something it doesn't want to be. (just like people!) In fact I'd even wash it again and see if it wants to shrink some more and get it out of its system! B/c I'd like to know when the project is done that it will be an item that is useful and not frustrating. Imagine going to sleep with that thing on top of you after wrestling with it?? (wait, we're talking about the fabric again, right?)
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 11-01-2006, 08:43 PM (3 of 9)
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Also, when shopping for that extra fabric, consider looking in the discount bin wherever you buy bedsheets. You'll always be happy with the widths, and often with the value for your dollar too. You might also find a spare set of sheets which will coordinate perfectly with your new duvet.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 11-01-2006, 10:45 PM (4 of 9)
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Imagine going to sleep with that thing on top of you after wrestling with it?? (wait, we're talking about the fabric again, right?) LOL!!! Thanks for the insight, Andrea! Good thought on washing it again -- my husband had given me some grief for washing it on warm, and I don't think he bought my argument that I wanted to get all the shrink out before I made something out of it!  We had such a hard time finding this fabric that I would hate to go back in search of another, but maybe it might be easier knowing that it wouldn't have to be the *whole* duvet.  And this was supposed to be an easy project!
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User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 11-02-2006, 08:21 PM (5 of 9)
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I know...when you thought you were starting an easy project and it just got much more complicated. That's no fun. Definitely get the shrink out! I mean, think about how you'll feel if one of you gets the flu... You'll want to go wash that thing in something toxic to get it clean before you use it again, and then, wouldn't it be nice if it's more than a lap blanket when you're through?
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: Miss Spring
Date: 11-06-2006, 05:10 PM (6 of 9)
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Oh man.... Hows your project coming? Im with Andrea get all that shrinking out now before you end up washing your new bed spread and finding out your king is now a twin...lol I get my home decor fabric at Hobby Lobby. They have a 40% off of one item coupon and you can get 40% off of 6 yards of fabric. I was able to recover my dining room chairs and make new drapes for $9.00 |
User: Miss Spring
Member since: 05-03-2006 Total posts: 87 |
From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 11-06-2006, 09:58 PM (7 of 9)
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Well, I got held up since I couldn't find a suitable complementary fabric. I wanted some kind of cotton bottomweight, but the color selection was icky. The home dec fabrics had a better color selection, but I just couldn't find anything that seemed to be the right weight and color. I washed and dried the waffle muslin again, so hopefully all the shrink is out. When I went to Joann's, I looked at the bolt of waffle muslin -- apparently it isn't supposed to be dried in the dryer. The texture of my fabric is totally different than the unwashed fabric, so maybe the dryer is where the problem was. Oh well! We washed the old duvet again with some non-chlorine bleach, and it seems to be ok now -- so, no rush to make another one, but I still might. Any other suggestions of what to do with 12 yards of waffle muslin? 
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User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222
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From: grandma C
Date: 01-22-2007, 12:19 AM (8 of 9)
lots of good dish cloths and dish towells, ragdolls, pattern trials, craft musslin, Grandma C
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User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-22-2007, 07:34 AM (9 of 9)
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Maybe valances?
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 |
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