Beginner's Guide to Quilting - UK (2020-02)

Cotton, linen or

viscose without

special finishes

where colours are

fast at 40-degrees

Cotton, linen or

viscose without

special finishes

where colours are

fast at 60-degrees

Handwash (do NOT

machine wash)

Acrylics, acetate

and triacetate,

including wool

mixes, polyester/

wool blends

Nylon, polycotton

mixes, polycotton

and viscose with

special finishes,

cotton/acrylic mix

Wool, wool

mixed with other

fabrics, silk

Do NOT wash

Wool and delicates
where the
temperature needs
to be similar to
handwashing

Although it’s tempting to dive into

a new project as soon as the fabrics

land in your lap, it’s worth preparing

the material before you get started.

Most quilters wash their fabric before

using it, as it might shrink later if the

finished project is laundered, pulling it

out of shape. It’s particularly important to

pre-wash if you’re using different fabrics

in a project – say if you’re making a

recycled quilt from old clothes, – as

different fabrics can shrink at different

rates, which will distort the finished item.

If you’re using 100% cotton, simply pop

it in the washing machine with a little

washing powder and wash on a

30-degree or 40-degree cycle. You can

wash several pieces at once but do avoid

Take some time to give your fabric a little TLC

before you start quilting – your projects will look

beautiful and last longer

WASHING

YOUR FABRIC

mixing dark and light colours. If you’re

not sure whether the dye will run, you

can do a test for colour fastness (see

box-out). Another advantage of pre-

washing, of course, is that if the dye is

going to run it will do so before you’ve

sewn the fabric into a project!

If you’re using a fabric that isn’t pure

cotton then handwash it in warm water.

Whether you machine or handwash your

fabric, let it dry naturally, and while it’s

still slightly damp, gently press it, using

a little spray starch to stabilise the fabric

before you cut it.

When buying fabric, care instructions

are often printed on the selvedge – keep

this for reference, and take a look below

if there are any you don’t understand.

WASHING

IRONING

Iron on hot

temp setting

Iron on warm

temp setting

Iron on cool

temp setting

Do NOT iron

Dry-clean

Dry-clean

using

any solvent

Dry-clean

using

any solvent

EXCEPT

trichloro-

ethylene

Dry-clean

using

petroleum

solvent only

Do NOT

dry-clean

May be

tumble

dried

Do NOT

tumble

dry

Chlorine

bleach

may be

used

Do NOT use

chlorine

bleach

TESTING FOR COLOUR

FASTNESS

To find out whether the dye in your

fabric will run, perform a quick test for

colour fastness. Cut a small piece of

f a b r i c a n d s o a k i t i n a b o w l o f w a r m

water with a little washing powder.

After about half an hour, lift out the

fabric – if the water has become

coloured then the material isn’t colour

fast. If the water’s clear, put the fabric

on a sheet of kitchen paper – if the

paper takes on some dye then that also

means it isn’t colour fast.

If your fabric isn’t colour fast you’ll need

to find another fabric or wash it until it

stops losing colour (you’ll need to

repeat the dye test after each wash).

Note, this means the fabric may fade

before you are able to sew with it.

DRY CLEANING

TUMBLE DRYING

BLEACHING