Successful Steam Blocking

[Betty J.]

I just finished a wall art quilt that, for a variety of reasons, I did not want to wash or wet-block. So I just took my steam iron and thoroughly steamed the quilt, holding the iron just above the quilt (actually, letting it touch the fabric in some cases, but not fully resting on it, and then letting each steam section on the ironing board dry and cool before moving to the next. I am very pleased with the results. The quilt now seems to have no waves or dips or mounds, though it does have a lot of trapunto and a variety of stitch density for design purposes. The iron should not rest on the trapunto section, just steam across it. I did not steam the small section with angelina fibers on it, because that affects the fibers. Many of you may already know about this, but this is the first time I've done a complete steam block of a large quilt (I have steam blocked stubborn sections in the past). I'm happy, and now I'm ready to bind it.

[Betty J.]

Thanks for sharing that BJ.

[Betty J.]

Ritzy, it sure beats getting down on the floor and I had hand painted sky and Angelina fibers and digitally painted face on it. I am sure it would have washed well enough except for the Angelina fibers...don't know how that would have gone. So I considered all kinds of ways to get around that and just decided to simply give steam a try. I used to do a lot of steam blocking when I made garments a lot to great success. It does require a steam iron that puts out a lot of steam. I refilled it several times, so I know I got a lot of moisture in the quilt. Makes me happy to get that done.

[wendy w.]

It's a great feeling seeing a quilt come into shape isn't it. I've just done a steam blocking for the first time as well, the difference is amazing.

You are brave doing it on painted fabric BJ. Is this your lovely ocean waves quilt 8)