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From: temom
Date: 06-08-2007, 10:10 PM (1 of 15)
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A while back I bought 3 different types of denim on clearance, not really knowing much about the fabric. I've made shorts for dd out of 2 of the cuts, and wouldn't you know it, they come out of the dryer looking like a wadded up kleenex. I noticed that the fabric store has a bunch of denim (not on sale), but I need to see what the secret is to buying the right kind. Does all stretch denim wrinkle like crazy in the wash? Do you have any suggestions? Theresa
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User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 06-09-2007, 09:52 AM (2 of 15)
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In a minute I'm going to iron some stretch denim pants I made and washed once. They do need to be pressed but they have been wadded (my husband calls it folded) in the laundry basket for a while and are not so bad that a lot of people wouldn't just wear them. I got the fabric not long ago on sale at JoAnn Fabrics. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 06-10-2007, 11:32 AM (3 of 15)
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If the stretch denim has spandex or lycra in it, I don't let them stay in the dryer very long, just enough for the fabric softner sheet to work a bit, then they come out and hang to dry. I have read somewhere, that the spandex/lycra breaks down in the dryer.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: grandma C
Date: 06-10-2007, 04:24 PM (4 of 15)
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I have had good success with just taking my rtw stretch jeans out of the washer soon after the wash load is finished and just smoothing them out and hanging them on a hanger to dry. They look nearly like they have been ironed. I hope this works on the denim I just bought and it also came out of the dryer all wadded up. I dried it in the dryer to get it to shrink as much as it is going to before i make it into a garment. I hope this is a help to you. Belinda |
User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: MaryW
Date: 06-11-2007, 09:14 AM (5 of 15)
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I don't have a problem with stretch denim but I do have a cotton/lycra blouse that looks awful. It always looks like I am dressing from the back seat of a car. Wrinkly even after I have pressed it. I am disappointed with the fabric. It has lovely stretch but the overall appearance is not for me.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: temom
Date: 06-11-2007, 11:17 AM (6 of 15)
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OK, I'll try air drying, and see how that goes. Thanks for all your input. I'll let you know how it goes.
Theresa
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User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410
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From: beachgirl
Date: 06-11-2007, 12:22 PM (7 of 15)
The only problem I've ever had with denim is long ago. It was on sale, not on a bolt & felt like a heavy weight so I bought quite a bit. Wrong. I took a piece of it & washed it, didn't come out wrinkled but did come out flimsy. Have never seen that before. I'll never buy denim not on a bolt ever again. Live & learn.
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User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 06-11-2007, 02:10 PM (8 of 15)
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Mary I have a couple of blouses that are made of that stretch material and I'm with you. They always look like they need ironing and after a few minutes of wear look even worse. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 06-15-2007, 12:04 AM (9 of 15)
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I also have a blouse made out of the stretch stuff which I hate, cause I always have to iron it. But the two dresses I made for my daughter out of a stretch poplin are great, came out of the dryer in awesome shape. Guess it depends on the fabric.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: temom
Date: 06-16-2007, 11:14 PM (10 of 15)
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I did air dry on pair of the shorts, and they looked much better! Thanks for the tip!
Theresa
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User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410
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From: plrlegal
Date: 06-16-2007, 11:19 PM (11 of 15)
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There is a twill fabric found sometimes in the denim section or close to it that is called Wrinkleease. It doesn't have any stretch to it but it sure does wash and dry nicely and rarely, if at all actually needs ironing. I do press it occassionally to keep it fresh looking. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: temom
Date: 06-16-2007, 11:34 PM (12 of 15)
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Now that sounds like something I'd like to have! I'll have to keep my eyes open for it.
Theresa
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User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410
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From: temom
Date: 07-06-2007, 05:14 PM (13 of 15)
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On Wednesday I decided to make a quick pair of denim shorts for my daughter out of the 3rd piece of clearance denim. I should have guessed something was up, when I took it out of the drawer (had been laundered a while ago) and it had a funky odor to it. I went ahead and did a quick Kwik Sew shorts pattern, and guess what? My seams shredded, even the serged ones. I serged my seams, noticed some unsewn areas, re-serged, and moved on. Then back to more unsewn areas. I figured something was up, and tugged on the seams, and the fabric just shredded like there was nothing to it. I then sewed a seam with my sewing machine, and the same thing. So today I painted my dining room, and ripped my denim fabric into strips and used them for dropcloths. They worked very well! Theresa
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User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410
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From: PaulineG
Date: 07-06-2007, 06:07 PM (14 of 15)
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Nice to know it was useful for something. Glad to see you're back - did you have a good holiday? Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: temom
Date: 07-07-2007, 10:33 PM (15 of 15)
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Hi Pauline! Yes, I had a good time, but very very happy to be home. I'll post over in the Take A Break Section. Theresa
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User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410
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