Beginner's Guide To Quilting - UK (2020-04)

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

Cotton, linen or

viscose without

special finishes

where colours are

fast at 40°C

WASHING

IRONING

DRY

CLEANING

May be

tumble

dried

Do NOT

tumble

dry

TUMBLE

DRYING

Chlorine

bleach

may be

used

Do NOT use

chlorine

bleach

BLEACHING

Iron on hot

temp setting

Iron on warm

temp setting

Iron on cool

temp setting

Do NOT iron

Cotton, linen or

viscose without

special finishes

where colours are

fast at 60°C

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

Take some time to give your

fabric a little TLC before you start

quilting – your projects will look

beautiful and last longer

FABR IC

Washing your

Essential Techniques

30 Beginner’s Guide to Quilting

A

lthough it’s tempting to dive

into a new patchwork project

as soon as the fabrics land in

your lap, it’s worth preparing the

material before you begin.

It’s always a good idea to wash 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 going to be using

different fabrics in a project – if you’re

making a recycled quilt from oddments of

old clothes, for instance – as different

fabrics can shrink at different rates,

which will distort the finished item.

Much better to get all the shrinking out

of the way before you start cutting!

If you’re using 100% cotton, simply pop

it in the washing machine with a little

washing powder and wash on a 30º or 40º

cycle. You can wash several pieces at once

but be sure not to mix dark and light

colours. If you’re not sure whether the dye

will run, do a test for colour fastness (see

the ‘Testing for colour fastness’ box

below). 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 that could

be ruined if the colour later runs!

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 on the washing

line or draped over an airer or banister.

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.

To find out whether the dye in

your fabric will run, perform a

quick test for colour fastness. Cut

a small piece of fabric and soak

i t i n a b ow l o f wa r m wa t e r w i t h 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). This

means the fabric might fade

before you can sew with it.

Testing for colour fastness