Preparing Fabric For Patchwork
There are two schools of thought about preparing cotton fabric for patchwork. Many
people do not like to spoil to crispness of a fresh piece of fabric and want to use it as
it is purchased.
Others prefer to wash it to remove any natural shrinkage and also to remove any loose dye
there may be remaining.
It seems such a shame to risk spoiling a project which has taken a lot of time and effort
by not preparing the fabrics at the start. If a quilt is never going to be washed then the
former option is fine. But if a quilt is to laundered when in use then it makes sense to
prepare the fabrics accordingly.
Sort your fabrics into different colours and depths of colour. They can be placed
separately in hot water for a few minutes to see if there is any loose dye before washing
in a batch of similar fabric. Before a fabric is safe it should be rinsed until the water
runs clear. Fabrics can then be washed to remove the natural shrinkage.
Use spray starch to restore crispness if this is desired.
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