Pressing and Cutting Paradigm Shift needed

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?

Reply to
AliceW
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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?

Reply to
AliceW

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

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

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.

Reply to
frood

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

Reply to
Julia in MN

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! :-)

Reply to
frood

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! 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!

Reply to
frood

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 >

Reply to
Lynne in Toronto

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.

Reply to
Charlie

Spray the ceiling with glue and chuck it up there!

Reply to
Kate Dicey

On the subject of glue, this may work. I had my little boy pup neutered yesterday and when I picked him up the doctor reviewed the home care for him. He showed me the incision to let me see what it should look like in case it became infected or inflamed, and then he said there are no stitches - they glued the incision shut!!!! I will look at SuperGlue in a whole new way now!

Reply to
AliceW

Superglue was invented in the vietnam war for use on field patients! As BF was telling me a few weeks ago:

"They just scrunched it up, shoved it back in and stuck it together".

Charlie.

Reply to
Charlie

Hullo Wendy And if this clothes horse *is* one of the old wooden ones, in case it has any splinters, you can wrap each rail with torn strips of fabric (eg old sheets). My Mum did that on hers when it started snagging stockings!!! It looked like it had been completely bandaged - but it really worked >g< . In article , frood writes

Reply to
Patti

Reply to
TerriLee in WA

The kids or the fabric?

Reply to
frood

omg, girl. i started reading u'r post, got half way thru and had no idea how i do it or how to help, then thot 'just do it'. then thot silly question. you got too much time on your hands. then i opened the thread and saw gazillions of replys. there goes my day reading just this thread in case i'm missing something or doing it wrong. arghhhhhh, dont want those quilt police knocking at my door. jeanne*

Reply to
nzl*

Which ever works best! Experiment...

Reply to
Kate Dicey

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