Quilt Challenge 2013-2014 is The Farmer's Wife Quilt! I purchased the book a few years ago when I was looking for a pieced project with NO applique... However I didn't get started straight away cos I was stuck on selecting colours. Stuck until I saw these
colour variations! This gave me the idea that I could do this in fresh, bright colours - so I have raided my stash (and purchased a lot more fabric) to use in this project. It is a massive project and I'm not quite sure how I will fit it, University and work in but I'll give it a good go - it will also be the only project I'll work on this year... LOL!
Anyway I have decided to use mostly Tilda Fabric - not all of it is from the one range, I'm trying to go for a scrappy look so the different ranges and the fact that I have not selected any background fabric will hopefully give it that look.
Today I started with washing my fabric. I stopped pre-washing a few years ago but recently read an article that outlined the pros and cons of pre-washing and the look of the quilted project after the first wash. Most fabric shrinks the first time washed and I'd rather it shrink before I use it rather than when in a finished quilt, the shrinking of the fabric gives your completed quilt a slightly puckered look and while I don't mind it there have been some quilts where this happened and I was very disappointed. Pre-washing also gets rid of all the chemicals that the fabric is treated with to keep insects away - great when you are making a walling hanging that you don't plan to wash, not so great for you while sewing as you are exposed to these chemicals!
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| Washing line full! |
Now I'm off to iron all forty-five pieces!
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| The only time I like ironing! |
