QUESTION I have read that after washing (no soap) one's new material that one should iron it. Yet, if it needs a little stretch later on, it would be better not to have ironed it. What do you advise? - Joanne S. ANSWER First, I'd pop in some soap as long as I was washing fabric for quilting. The soap (try Mountain Mist Ensure, or Orvis) will remove the sizing, which is a benefit of washing. The other benefit would be checking for bleeding and making sure the fabric is shrunk before you put it into a quilt. And, yes, I would iron all washed fabric. That way your patchwork and applique will actually be the size the pattern calls for. Think about it—wrinkled fabric cut 2" x 2" for example, is bigger (once you take the wrinkles out) than pressed fabric cut to the same dimensions. Or, another way of looking at it: If you don't iron your fabric and then you cut the pieces for your quilt, when you press your seams, your patches will grow. (And don't say, "As long as it all grows the same, it's OK." It isn't!) So, for accuracy's sake, iron your fabric before you cut it. It will be easier if you dry your fabric in the dryer and remove it immediately after it has dried. Don't let it sit in there for days, which will make the creases much more difficult to remove. If you should miss the end of the dry cycle, mist the piece of fabric you want to iron with water, wad it up in a tight ball, and spray another piece of fabric, then another. By time you spray the third one, the first will be ready to press. Now that the fabric is pressed, you might just as well fold it selvage-to-selvage (holding it by the center fold area until the selvages are parallel, not simply matching the corners of the fabric), then fold it again. Then fold the other way until it is the size of the shelf on which it will be stored. Careful folding now will ensure that your fabric will be almost ready to cut when inspiration hits and you take it off the shelf. You might need to press out the more recent folds, but it should be fairly wrinkle-free. Now, while I'm all for ironing, I don't get into starch—certainly not for applique (at least the way I applique), and not for patchwork either. Although starching fabric might prevent it from stretching during cutting and piecing, I don't think it's worth the extra work. Besides, a little stretch is what makes the fabric "forgiving." (I also refuse to iron bed sheets, underwear, and dish towels...oh yes, and my husband's shirts.) Speaking of shirts and other “iron-able garments,” you didn't ask, but hey, I'll pass on a hint from my mother-in-law, Dorothy Simms. I have probably made an entire quilt in the time she has saved me. After the wash cycle, toss everything into the dryer on medium or high heat for 10 minutes. Time it. Open the door and grab one garment and send the others spinning again until you get to them. Hang up the garment. If you feel like working really hard, you can give it a good shake. Button the top button, straighten the seams, or uncurl the hems if needed. Repeat until all you have left is your quilting fabric. (Yes, I do wash fabric right along with my other laundry.) When the garments cool and dry, they will be almost wrinkle-free. I wear most stuff "as-is." Only a few things ever need a touch-up. Your next time-saving measure is to teach family members how an iron works. They don't like the wrinkles? Let them learn how to remove them. And while you're at it, teach them how to load the toilet paper dispenser, too. Think of how much time that will save! Answer ©2001 by Ami Simms.