To wash or not to wash | susies-scraps.com

Postage Stamp Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt Top

Hello Dear Friends and Readers, and a warm welcome to today’s post. This is a post, I have been working on for a long time. It is a great way to use all kinds of scraps. This quilt top is made from small squares, which, when incorporated together look good, despite their many differences.

Today I am sharing a kind of scrappy Irish chain variation made with postage stamps blocks.

By collecting up all the small pieces of fabric and cutting them to a size that will actually become something beautiful down the track. Cut Up Your Quilting Off-cuts and Obsession with Pre Cuts / Make Your Own

As a project is completed, cutting the leftovers into useable strips or squares means they are ready to use when the need arises!

Postage Stamp Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt Top susies-scraps.com

Today’s quilt has been put together by using two different blocks and alternating them. The challenge with the postage stamp blocks is to try to make them as even as possible, and with the points being as sharp as possible. I have to admit that I began making these blocks a long time ago, My seam allowance in the beginning was really too small. At this stage have decided to accept the fact that my blocks are a little bit uneven. I am putting it down to a learning curve, from which I believe I have progressed in that time. Sometimes finished is better than perfect. I did become waylaid with this project because I ran out of the background fabric hand despite looking around I could not really find a perfect match, so, with those imperfections in mind, I believe it’s better not to dwell on it any longer, and to complete the project. Despite that, it’s still a pretty quilt top, I am sure you will agree, and learning from the journey is good.

I have mentioned it before, but one thing which I believe I have done correctly, is to pre-wash all these fabrics so that when the finished quilt finally is washed, there won’t be too much shrinkage in the fabrics, given they are all so different.

I understand it is a personal choice. To Wash or Not to Wash?….This is the Question

Finished quilt top size 81 ½” x 63 ½”

Requirements for Making the Postage Stamp, Irish Chain Quilt Top

32 of postage stamp blocks 36 Patch Postage Stamp Blocks Tutorial

31 of Around the Garden in Scraps Blocks Around the Garden – In Scraps – Block

This quilt top could be made in any size you like, using the same approach whether it was a cot, single, double queen or king size, depending on how many scraps you would like to use.

Making the Postage Stamp Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt Top

Beginning with a Postage stamp Block, attach an Around the Garden in Scraps Block. Next row, Begin with an Around the Garden In Scraps Block and attach a 36 Patch Postage Stamp Block.

Repeat until this pattern has been repeated for a total of 9 rows. Begin the next row alternating the blocks as before so that the quilt top will be in a 9 x 7 configuration.

I call this scaffolding a quilt top. Please use the same method as making the 36 Patch Postage Stamp Blocks Tutorial.

This makes it very easy to put the quilt top together.

TIP

Use binding clips on the edges of the first row set to keep the blocksin order and prevent twisting.

Thank you for joining me for the is fun use of scraps. If you enjoyed this post, you may also like

36 Patch Table Mat

And this great scrappy quilt block Arkansas Cross Road Quilt Block Tutorial

Scrappy Jacob’s Ladder Quilt Reimagined

Happy stitching,

Susie

To Wash your new quilting fabric or not to wash? This is the question.

Hello dear Friends and Readers. Time and time again, I see the question. Should I wash my new quilting fabric? I see so many people say, it’s good quality fabric, it’s not necessary…. Is that really the answer?

I’m not so sure. If the fabric is good quality, then it shouldn’t matter if it’s washed. What is the worry?

To Wash or Not to Wash?….This is the Question susies-scraps.com

The main reasons people sight for washing fabric is worrying about dye bleeding, and although it’s not so common these days it does happen and some of the worse culprits are red, blues and black.

Not so many people seem to worry about shrinkage, but it is a factor. 100 percent cotton and linen may shrink up to 5%. The shrink rate may vary in width and length. This may not seem like a lot but it does matter If you consider the whole garment or quilt. Apparently most of the shrinkage will occur with the first wash and not a great deal of progressive shrinkage in subsequent washes.

The manufactures of cotton need to use a lot of chemicals and treatments to “tame” the cotton fibres and make them sit perfectly flat. When the fabric is washed the fibres relax and the chemicals and sizing wash away to a certain extent.

Thousands of chemicals are used to produce fabrics including quilting fabrics. Have you ever noticed how many garments have written in their instructions, wash before use.

Would you ever put new unwashed sheets on your bed without washing them? (I tried it once and developed shocking hives). Have you ever noticed when you wash fabrics or garments for the first time the smell and colour of the water coming out of them? We may not be able to eliminate all the chemicals from fabric by washing them but maybe there is some reduction.

I think it is something to consider that every time you touch, cut and move unwashed fabric there is an exposure to unknown chemicals and they are aerosolised into the air as well. I don’t think it would be unreasonable to say that the fresher the fabric, the higher the chemical content, as some of them break down over very long periods of time. Some people are allergic and find themselves feeling unwell or wheezing during the use of these unwashed fibres. As the user of the fabric, I don’t want unnecessary exposure.

Here is some information about chemicals used in cotton farming and manufacture.

toxic-chemicals-of-conventional-cotton

Anyhow, it’s only my opinion, but I always wash my fabric when I bring it home. I don’t know where it’s been before I got it!!! And there will be some degree of dust or”shop soiling”.

I take the trouble to separate light and dark colours. I don’t put them through a harsh wash, just nice and warm and a gentle spin. I now use a wash bag too, to reduce tangling. This is also an opportunity to see how a fabric is going to behave. Like a first test.

I shake them out well and hang on the line to dry. I usually observe the crease and keep the fabric folded on it to make cutting easier later.

When it’s dry I fold it neatly, and put it away in a cupboard with my stash, all ready for use. This way, I never have to worry, will my fabric shrink or will the dyes run? My fabric smells fresh, and it’s all ready for use.

I keep these in my cupboard too to keep any insects away.

Cupboard Keeps

I just think, when making a quilt, so much work and love goes into it, why miss out a critical first step. I like to avoid disappointment.

There is a saying in the medical world, if you are thinking about it, maybe you should do it. Perhaps this applies to quilting too!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like

Wash your Pre-Cuts?

Happy washing,

Susie

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