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#21
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Well, I wash and dry my fabric when I bring it home. It gets folded as
neatly as possible and placed in the appropriate place until needed. When I finally use it, I fold it cross-wise twice and press it that way. This usually gives me an 11" strip to cut. Then I cut the strips I need all at once. The remainder of the fabric gets refolded and placed back in its place. I don't press the entire piece of fabric if it's large, I only press the section I will be cutting. I like to do all my cutting first, then piecing. I am lucky enough to have enough space in my work area to have my big board right next to my cutting table, and a smaller ironing surface right next to my sewing machine - which is located across from my cutting table. Not much walking space, but hey, I there to sew, not walk, right? -- Alice in NJ RCTQ - "Royal Cybrarian" www.ourcyberfamily.us "A friend is someone who knows all about you and still likes you." Elbert Hubbard "Judy Grevenites" wrote in message ... Try hanging the pressed fabric in the closet on trouser hangers--or any hanger with a padding on it . It will just hang around, looking smart and pressed until you need it. RedQueen, hanging around herself! (but not so neatly) |
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#22
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Another idea I thought of after I posted my last response: how about one of
those folding clothes dryer racks? They can hold lots of flat fabrics of a variety of sizes. Doesn't take up much room, is portable and can be folded and stored when not in use? -- Alice in NJ RCTQ - "Royal Cybrarian" www.ourcyberfamily.us "A friend is someone who knows all about you and still likes you." Elbert Hubbard "AliceW" wrote in message ... Well, I wash and dry my fabric when I bring it home. It gets folded as neatly as possible and placed in the appropriate place until needed. When I finally use it, I fold it cross-wise twice and press it that way. This usually gives me an 11" strip to cut. Then I cut the strips I need all at once. The remainder of the fabric gets refolded and placed back in its place. I don't press the entire piece of fabric if it's large, I only press the section I will be cutting. I like to do all my cutting first, then piecing. I am lucky enough to have enough space in my work area to have my big board right next to my cutting table, and a smaller ironing surface right next to my sewing machine - which is located across from my cutting table. Not much walking space, but hey, I there to sew, not walk, right? -- Alice in NJ RCTQ - "Royal Cybrarian" www.ourcyberfamily.us "A friend is someone who knows all about you and still likes you." Elbert Hubbard "Judy Grevenites" wrote in message ... Try hanging the pressed fabric in the closet on trouser hangers--or any hanger with a padding on it . It will just hang around, looking smart and pressed until you need it. RedQueen, hanging around herself! (but not so neatly) |
#23
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My set-up is a bit more efficient than yours -I can put the ironing board
right next to the cutting table. I don't always press everything after washing, especially not the huge pieces. But FQ size pieces usually remain smooth enough to cut. So if they've been ironed before, check 1st to see if you can cut your strip without more ironing. To speed things up, don't press more than you plan to cut. If it's only a strip, just press a bit more than the width of the strip. Or if you really want to walk on the wild side, RIP strips off, a bit wider than you need, press and trim. Roberta in D "frood" wrote in message .com... I need to fundamentally change the way I prepare fabric for cutting. My current system is time-consuming, and keeps me from doing mass cutting at a time. Currently, I: - Gather the fabric to be cut - Press it, one or two pieces together if they are the same size - Lay it over the half-wall in the bathroom (my pressing area) or on my bed (for large pieces) - Take the pieces to the dining room for cutting The problem is, if I want to do a lot of cutting (like I have this mad hair about cutting strips from each of my fabrics), I don't have enough time to do all the ironing at once, then do all the cutting. If I just do enough ironing to match the amount of time I have for cutting, (say I have 30 minutes {well, just pretend!} I can spend 15 minutes pressing, and 15 cutting) this does not get much done. I cannot think of a way to store the fabric after it is pressed to keep it wrinkle free enough to cut it another day. I'm looking for ideas here. How do you do this? Press and cut as you go? Devote an entire day for it? (in my dreams!) Have a QI-free sanctuary for pressed fabric? -- Wendy http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm de-fang email address to reply |
#24
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I used to iron after washing, but the way fabric gets jammed together and
rootled through, I always had to iron again before cutting. So I stopped the first set of pressing because it was a waste of time. -- Wendy http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm de-fang email address to reply "Roberta Zollner" wrote in message ... My set-up is a bit more efficient than yours -I can put the ironing board right next to the cutting table. I don't always press everything after washing, especially not the huge pieces. But FQ size pieces usually remain smooth enough to cut. So if they've been ironed before, check 1st to see if you can cut your strip without more ironing. To speed things up, don't press more than you plan to cut. If it's only a strip, just press a bit more than the width of the strip. Or if you really want to walk on the wild side, RIP strips off, a bit wider than you need, press and trim. Roberta in D |
#25
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I seldom press fabric before cutting. I wash everything as soon as I buy
it. I smooth it out and fold it as soon as I take it out of the dryer. I fold it in half lengthwise, then fold one end over about 6 inches and keep folding it over itself, similar to rolling it on a bolt, until I have it all folded. Then I fold that in half or thirds and put it away in large rubbermaid tubs. When it is time to cut, I smooth it out on the cutting board and start cutting. Occasionally, I find a piece that I have to iron and do that just before cutting. Julia in MN -- This message has been scanned for viruses by Norton Anti-Virus http://mail.chartermi.net/~jaccola/ |
#26
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Spare bed? Thanks, Dannielle! I needed that laugh! Won't be any spare beds
around here until at least 2 of the kids go to college! :-) -- Wendy http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm de-fang email address to reply "Dannielle Beitzell" wrote in message ... Just a thought, but if you press a piece and then cut off what you need at that moment, but you don't want to fold it again, do you have a large wall that you can somehow attach it to so that it won't get those nasty fold marks? Is there a spare bed that you can leave it lay out or do one fold over (much faster to iron than 20 of the dang things)? Heck, I'd even try to fold it around a pillow to help reduce those creases.... Can you tell that I have a crease problem too? I haven't tried any of these yet....so let me know if anything works! ;-) -- Dannielle from NY http://www.beitzell.com/dannielle/index.htm |
#27
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A flittering flit of a friend just emailed me about such a solution, and by
George, I think that's the ticket! I have a clothes horse, up in the attic. Our last house had so little towel hanging space that we really needed it. This house has 3 full bathrooms each with lots of towel rods. I know - I installed them! G And I have a little space next to my sewing cupboard where it can live when not needed. Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! -- Wendy http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm de-fang email address to reply "AliceW" wrote in message ... Another idea I thought of after I posted my last response: how about one of those folding clothes dryer racks? They can hold lots of flat fabrics of a variety of sizes. Doesn't take up much room, is portable and can be folded and stored when not in use? -- Alice in NJ |
#28
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Haven't read all the notes here Wendy...but my favourite is an old fashioned wooden clothes dryer..the accordion, foldy type. It's especially good if the fabrics are damp after ironing, as mine often are, and they dry while staying wrinkle free. You can double up on the fabrics, too, if they are not too damp. They can stay there till you find another half hour or so to cut your strips., etc. Cheers, lynne in Toronto ......................... frood wrote: I need to fundamentally change the way I prepare fabric for cutting. My current system is time-consuming, and keeps me from doing mass cutting at a time. Currently, I: - Gather the fabric to be cut - Press it, one or two pieces together if they are the same size - Lay it over the half-wall in the bathroom (my pressing area) or on my bed (for large pieces) - Take the pieces to the dining room for cutting The problem is, if I want to do a lot of cutting (like I have this mad hair about cutting strips from each of my fabrics), I don't have enough time to do all the ironing at once, then do all the cutting. If I just do enough ironing to match the amount of time I have for cutting, (say I have 30 minutes {well, just pretend!} I can spend 15 minutes pressing, and 15 cutting) this does not get much done. I cannot think of a way to store the fabric after it is pressed to keep it wrinkle free enough to cut it another day. I'm looking for ideas here. How do you do this? Press and cut as you go? Devote an entire day for it? (in my dreams!) Have a QI-free sanctuary for pressed fabric? -- Wendy http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm de-fang email address to reply |
#29
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I've turned to the dark side of not washing. The chances are that we'll be
living somewhere in September that doesn't have a washing machine, therefore we CANNOT afford to wash anything other than clothes that really need it! My quilts during this time may be slightly shrunken and dishevelled, but it's going to save us so much hassle! Charlie. "frood" wrote in message .com... A very dear friend of mine (Hi, C!) has been trying to lure me to the dark side of non-washing for years now. But the Force is strong in me. -- Wendy http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm De-Fang email address to reply "Polly Esther" wrote in message ... Wendy, I may be a card-carrying sloth. There. I've confessed. Confession is supposed to be good for the soul and I hope my soul feels better. That said, I do not wash my quilt fabric and I do not press it. I store it very gently. So far, I haven't had any problems. I guess I would mend my ways if I were doing something in red and white. Assuming that you belong to the "wash first" group, maybe you could grab it out of the dryer and place it flat and smooth to cool, and fold softly. That might save you some pressing time. However, membership in the "don't wash" club always has an opening for one more busy quilter. When the Quilt Police drop in, we just fix them something chocolate and have a nice visit. Polly frood wrote in message .com... I need to fundamentally change the way I prepare fabric for cutting. My current system is time-consuming, and keeps me from doing mass cutting at a time. Currently, I: - Gather the fabric to be cut - Press it, one or two pieces together if they are the same size - Lay it over the half-wall in the bathroom (my pressing area) or on my bed (for large pieces) - Take the pieces to the dining room for cutting The problem is, if I want to do a lot of cutting (like I have this mad hair about cutting strips from each of my fabrics), I don't have enough time to do all the ironing at once, then do all the cutting. If I just do enough ironing to match the amount of time I have for cutting, (say I have 30 minutes {well, just pretend!} I can spend 15 minutes pressing, and 15 cutting) this does not get much done. I cannot think of a way to store the fabric after it is pressed to keep it wrinkle free enough to cut it another day. I'm looking for ideas here. How do you do this? Press and cut as you go? Devote an entire day for it? (in my dreams!) Have a QI-free sanctuary for pressed fabric? -- Wendy http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm de-fang email address to reply |
#30
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frood wrote:
Spare bed? Thanks, Dannielle! I needed that laugh! Won't be any spare beds around here until at least 2 of the kids go to college! :-) -- Wendy http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm de-fang email address to reply "Dannielle Beitzell" wrote in message ... Just a thought, but if you press a piece and then cut off what you need at that moment, but you don't want to fold it again, do you have a large wall that you can somehow attach it to so that it won't get those nasty fold marks? Is there a spare bed that you can leave it lay out or do one fold over (much faster to iron than 20 of the dang things)? Heck, I'd even try to fold it around a pillow to help reduce those creases.... Can you tell that I have a crease problem too? I haven't tried any of these yet....so let me know if anything works! ;-) -- Dannielle from NY http://www.beitzell.com/dannielle/index.htm Spray the ceiling with glue and chuck it up there! -- Kate XXXXXX Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk Click on Kate's Pages and explore! |
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