Hey quilting enthusiasts!
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting your first project, taking care of your fabric is key to creating beautiful and lasting quilts. Today, I’m sharing 3 of my top tips for preparing and caring for your quilting fabric, so your quilts stay bright and beautiful for generations to come!
1. Prevent Color Bleeding: Use Color Catchers
Ever worried about colors bleeding in your quilt? Color Catchers are your new best quilting friend.They attract and trap loose dyes, making sure dye from one fabric doesn’t run on to another.
I always use Color Catchers at least the first time I wash a quilt (and include these care instructions for commissioned quilts or quilts that I gift).
I usually skip pre-washing fabric if I’m familiar with a brand of fabric and know dyes won’t run. When I’m trying a new fabric line or using brightly colored fabric, I like to play it safe and pre-wash my fabric with a Color Catcher.
Recently, I pre-washed some, new to me, Ruby + Bee Solids by Windham Fabrics with Color Catchers and detergent without optical brighteners (more on the importance of that below!). The Color Catchers came out clean, with no dye transfer whatsover, so I know the quilt I’m making with these fabrics is safe to wash without them in the future.
2. Beware the Brighteners: Protecting Your Whites from Optical Illusions
Speaking of colors, let’s talk about optical brighteners in laundry detergent. These can be frustrating for quilters!
Back in 2018, a project for my local Arts Council (the Lift Up quilt – read more about it here!) almost went awry. Mysterious oil-like stains appeared on the white fabric. Luckily, a quick cleaning with detergent and water seemed to solve the problem.
But disaster struck when the quilt dried! The “cleaned” areas glowed an unnatural fluorescent white due to the optical brighteners in the detergent. I had a complete a panic attack!
Thankfully, with quick research and a test on scrap fabric, I was able to “optical whiten” the entire background to achieve a uniform look. This involved a full day of scrubbing outside on my front porch – not exactly ideal! However, the lesson learned was invaluable: always read detergent labels carefully and avoid products with optical brighteners. My go-to cleaning laundry detergents are now are Soak Wash and Seventh Generation.
3. Starch It Up: When Fabric Stiffness is Your Friend
I don’t always apply spray starch to my fabric, but it can be helpful for certain piecing techniques:
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Curved Piecing
Cutting across the grain for curved shapes can lead to distorted and frayed pieces. Starch to the rescue! The added stiffness makes fabric easier to handle and prevents fraying.
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Strip Piecing
Say goodbye to wavy, distorted strips! Starch helps maintain perfect straightness and accuracy, especially for patterns like Pieces of Love or Modern Love.
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Needle Turn Applique
Fraying fabric can become a real headache when hand piecing. Starch minimizes fraying and stiffens the fabric, making it easier to turn raw edges under for flawless applique.
The bottom line: applying starch to your fabric helps reduce fraying and distortion, adds stiffness for easier handling, and ultimately leads to more precise piecing. Here’s a link to my tips on using starch effectively.
Happy fabric = happy quilting!
By following these tips, you’ll ensure your fabric stays vibrant, precise, and ready to create stunning quilts that will last a lifetime.
Happy stitching and quilting!
Until next time,
Sheri
