Benta’s stacks
Three blocks for the January Lotto (donated please Sophie) and I seem to have a full house (or a full forest LOL) for the liberated trees, thank you all very much!
As part of the learning curve of making blocks with other people … I’d like to ask whether most of you do wash your fabrics before making blocks for your own quilts. I don’t, so I am having to create a stash of Block lotto fabrics separate to my own stash, and I wondered if anyone had any suggestions on how to manage this.
Benta
I have a "mixed" stash too! If I pull fabric for the Lotto, I may just wash it in the bathroom sink, but I am also starting to wash fabric as soon as it comes in the house so I don't have to worry about "what if."
Most of the guidelines are to keep blocks made by a bunch of different quilters as similar as possible. As a lesson in WHY washing makes a difference, I offer as proof, my summer tote–for which I used fabrics washed and not and some from swaps (that I don't know for sure whether they were washed or not). Something liquid was spilled on my tote and the red fabric has run all over the white … and I am NOT a happy camper.
Ps. I've added your blocks to the list. With your blocks and Sarah V's, our new total-so-far is 341 Stacks.
I usually wash my fabrics when I get them because I don't have a washing machine. However, I have a salad spinner that got damaged from being too close to the stove (don't ask). If I have small pieces of fabric, I wash them in the sink and spin them. At that point, they can be ironed dry.
I have started washing all my fabrics when I get them to keep them all the same.
Benta:
I try to wash everything when it comes into my house. When I need "stiffer" fabric to sew, I simply add a starch when ironing. I don't iron fabrics until ready to sew – I have too many helpers that keep things from being not wrinkled. Many times the good pieces I have purchased leave me with colored water, colored color catchers and on one occasion – when washing a small piece in the sink, letting it dry somewhat and then ironing dry – a colored ironing board cover which was brand new!! I don't want ruined projects.