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amyable
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| Posted: June 18 2007 at 2:00pm | IP Logged
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Kristen's post on her blog here about living the simple life made mention of not using t-shirt type material (holds stains, etc).
I have been interested in moving away from that also (it's practically all my kids own - I'd like to branch out!), but am a total "fabric dunce".
What I really need to know, because my iron and I have a hate/hate relationship  is what I should look for at Joann's (for making my own) or even just at the store to get LOW wrinkling fabrics that look good wash after wash. I don't let things sit in the dryer - I run as soon as it buzzes - but some things look great and others look like they have been sitting at the bottom of a pile!
I know there must be such a thing as low-wrinkle fabric, some of my husbands shirts are like that, but I don't know what to look for unless it specifically says "Wrinkle free!" in big letters on the package 
Can someone teach me?
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Tami
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| Posted: June 18 2007 at 2:42pm | IP Logged
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When I've shopped for fabric, I always do my own 'wrinkle test.' I simply scrunch a handful of fabric in my hand, and squeeze tight. When I let go, I can see how much it wrinkles, and try smoothing it with my hand to see how many of those relax away.
Not scientific or technical, I know, but it helps me avoid some fabrics like the plague!
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Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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MicheleQ
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| Posted: June 18 2007 at 10:01pm | IP Logged
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amyable wrote:
Kristen's post on her blog here about living the simple life made mention of not using t-shirt type material (holds stains, etc).
I have been interested in moving away from that also (it's practically all my kids own - I'd like to branch out!), but am a total "fabric dunce".
What I really need to know, because my iron and I have a hate/hate relationship is what I should look for at Joann's (for making my own) or even just at the store to get LOW wrinkling fabrics that look good wash after wash. I don't let things sit in the dryer - I run as soon as it buzzes - but some things look great and others look like they have been sitting at the bottom of a pile!
I know there must be such a thing as low-wrinkle fabric, some of my husbands shirts are like that, but I don't know what to look for unless it specifically says "Wrinkle free!" in big letters on the package
Can someone teach me? |
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Amy I don't know the answer to your question but in general I would say the more cotton in it the more it will wrinkle. BUT I have had good luck with even 100% cotton by a) promptly removing it from the dryer and b) spritzing it with water to remove wrinkles.
For stubborn wrinkles I spray with water, let it soak in (this is an important step!) and then lightly press. Works like a charm! I have a denim skirt that always turns up at the hem when I take it out of the dryer. I spritz it with water, pull the hem down and hang it up. It dries straight and I never have to iron it.
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
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Fuzzy
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| Posted: June 19 2007 at 6:42am | IP Logged
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Amy, I have the SAME relationship with our iron! My ironing skills are so terrible, that it usually looks worse AFTER I iron it! The thing I like to use is the Downy Wrinkle remover Spray. I will even use it while I am wearing something, spray, pull and it dries great!
Sorry I am not a help with the wrinkley fabrics.  I would go shop with my mom or Jenn for that!
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 Fuzzy
Mom to DS 12, DD 10, DS 7, and DS 4, and DD 1!
Fuzzy Memories
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 19 2007 at 8:42am | IP Logged
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Like Michele mentioned, usually the more cotton, the more wrinkles. The wrinkle-free clothing many stores are selling these days have some chemical added to the cloth to make it less prone to wrinkles. The down side is that they don't breathe as well.
Tami's method of squeezing the fabric in the hands is very good, and what I do, as well. There is some sizing on fabrics in the store that when washed will lose some of that "wrinkle-free" look...so even crumpling isn't foolproof. Heavier fabrics don't wrinkle as much, but linen, cotton sheeting, lighter fabrics do have a tendency to wrinkle. But you could also go for the "wrinkled look" in cotton gauze and not worry about ironing!
If you add any polyester or other synthetic to a cotton, it puts it in the class of "permanent press". But I find they don't get clean. They absorb odors, and I can't treat them with bleach to clean them.
While I enjoyed Kristin's post, there's just no way I can live like that with boys. I love the button down shirts for ds, but not for play. And my own personal experience with the cotton lawn fabrics (shirting) is that they stain as much or worse for me as knits. I have the darndest time getting out mustard and perspiration (my biggest offenders) stains out of either. So my mantra is cotton, and usually light colors, so I can either Oxy-clean or bleach them. I admit I really like the Ultra-Care Bleach which isn't as strong as pure bleach. I know I'm in the minority about bleach...
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Non-wrinkly fabrics?
