Q about Metallic Fabrics

Hi Rene,

I have not used any of the "Fairy Frosts", but I have used some of the cotton glitter fabric from Fabric Traditions and it washes beautifully and the glitter stays on the fabric. I think Polly uses the Fairy Frost in her quilts and I know she makes lots of things for babies and children so I'm sure she will be along to answer your questions.

Judie in Penfield NY

Here I am. Somewhere between Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. I do love the Fairy Frosts but I don't put them in preemie quilts. Those little lives are so very fragile and I believe it is *possible* for a bit of the glitter to come off. Something you may want to pay attention to - it appears to me that the Fairy Frosts have a nap. (Can't think of a better word.) Sort of like velvet or corduroy. It you turn it one way and another - one direction will appear lighter and glitterier than another. Last year I made a red, white and blue quilt for the Soldier's Angels using Fairy Frost 'snow' for the white. It looked like there were several whites in the quilt top all though there was only one. I probably would have been really irked if there had been a block that looked like it didn't belong. That was not the case; the quilt is gorgeous. Polly

Some metallics come off easily, but I've never had a problem with the Fairy Frosts. I prewash (hot) and tumble dry every fabric the minute it comes in the door, and never had an issue with FF.

Hi Rene' I love the Fairy Frosts too.......... and, like Kathy, I wash them in hot water and throw them in hot dryer before they ever get cut. They come out just fine. I don't think I'd use it in baby quilts though........ but, that's just me. Lovely stuff, isn't it?

Patti (formerly) in Seattle

Kathy...hot water? really? now,see, i dont prewash anything but reds. i guess i should. and i use warm/cold water. should i be using hot? i only do the reds because a long time ago....stoneage....i used red in a granny's flower garden...the corners of the adjacent blocks turned pink.....so... hot, eh? amy in CNY

Prewash however you want!

I want my fabrics to undergo the harshest treatment they might ever encounter *before* I use them in a quilt. I want all the bleeding and shrinking DONE with, so I know what I'm dealing with. I had the red disaster too, in one of my very first finished items, so I may be overly paranoid. But it works for me, so I stick with it. :)

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Thank you all for your great advice! I think I can go ahead and use the Fairy Frosts for what I had in mind. I did notice that "nap," and can see how that could be a plus or minus -- depending on what you have in mind. I like the differences in texture and lighting.

As for the other metallics, I think I'll wash them first, just in case. I don't prewash my newer, good manufacturer fabrics. But reds

-- I'll prewash them, too. You never know...

It's a funny thing -- I have always been a "traditional" quilter. Using good ole patterns and wanting things to look like Gramma made them. But, I just turned 60 (gasp), and am wanting to do some art quilts. I used to think art quilts were weird, but the ideas are churning up and wanting to get under the sewing machine needle. I think that all the new fabrics and embellishments have turned me on to a great quilting avenue that I never considered before.

Thanks again for all of your help. I don't have much time to read this prolific group, like I used to, but I still lurk occasionally and see what's new. And I know if I have a question or concern, this is where it will be answered. You are all so generous!

Ren=E9