Wash Day

I was experiencing some paper jams trying to print my Inklingo hexies for my Value Propostion Quilt so I thought I would go back and look at the instructions on Linda's blog. There was no escaping it, I was doing everything except washing the fabrics so I thought I'd better get to it.

Linda recommends folding the fabrics as soon as they come out of the dryer but it was a perfect blue sky day so I couldn't possibly use the dryer. We are lucky to still have a very old Hills Hoist clothes line - these are an Aussie backyard icon. Please note the paint roller also hanging on the line :)

I couldn't believe how many fabrics I had pulled for this quilt. I ended up doing two loads!

Luckily I put a couple of colour catchers in to take up the red dyes in particular.

Despite carefully cutting all the sides with a wavy blade and washing on a delicate cycle I still ended up with masses of tangled threads. I hope some birds might use them to line their nests - a bit hopeful this time of year.

I hadn't washed quilt fabrics for years but it was quite a nice thing to do. I got to really see some of the patterns and their effects on fabrics that were fully opened out, so often I'm just looking at them as a fat eighth or quarter. The fabrics also feel a lot softer and nice and warm after being in the sun. Do you wash your fabrics?

It was also another chance to sort them out into their values, lights medium and darks.

Here's Block #3 finished...

Yes - I know, I know, I should be working on AWS. I have pieced up these little babies for the next block but got stuck when I didn't have one of the templates and I no longer have the book (well that's my excuse for now).

Oh yes, I did all this washing sorting and folding whilst the tradies were installing our stone bench tops - looking very smart.

Now off to the Warrandyte chapter applique group - I'm taking Dear Jane.

Happy sewing (or washing) Sunday.

Cheers

Carole