Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry (Forum Locked Forum Locked)
 4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Subject Topic: Non-wrinkly fabrics? Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
amyable
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: March 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3798
Posted: June 18 2007 at 2:00pm | IP Logged Quote amyable

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?

__________________
Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
Back to Top View amyable's Profile Search for other posts by amyable
 
Tami
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Dec 27 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1066
Posted: June 18 2007 at 2:42pm | IP Logged Quote Tami

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!



__________________
God bless,
Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
Back to Top View Tami's Profile Search for other posts by Tami
 
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
Posted: June 18 2007 at 10:01pm | IP Logged Quote MicheleQ

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?


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.



__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
Back to Top View MicheleQ's Profile Search for other posts by MicheleQ Visit MicheleQ's Homepage
 
Fuzzy
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: March 07 2007
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 393
Posted: June 19 2007 at 6:42am | IP Logged Quote Fuzzy

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!

__________________
Fuzzy
Mom to DS 12, DD 10, DS 7, and DS 4, and DD 1!
Fuzzy Memories
Back to Top View Fuzzy's Profile Search for other posts by Fuzzy Visit Fuzzy's Homepage
 
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
Posted: June 19 2007 at 8:42am | IP Logged Quote JennGM

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...

__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
Back to Top View JennGM's Profile Search for other posts by JennGM Visit JennGM's Homepage
 

Sorry, you cannot post a reply to this topic.
This forum has been locked by a forum administrator.

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com