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While at the Puyallup 2000 Sewing & Stitchery Expo, I found Carol Lane Saber's class especially inspiring with tips on texturizing fabric in a pressure cooker! Yes, it works!! Of course the fabric must be a heat-sensitive, man-made synthetic. Here are her instructions:
Use any size pressure cooker. An adjustable weight is not necessary, but if you have one, set it for 15 lb. pressure.
Twist the fabric tightly as you would if scrunching a skirt or yardage
Secure with heavy 100% cotton string
Place a metal rack or metal basket in the pressure cooker to prevent the fabric from resting on the bottom of the pan
Add 3+ cups water
Drop in your fabric and begin timing when the steam forces the weight to move.
"Cook" at full pressure for 30 minutes
Cool the cooker, open and remove the fabric
When the fabric is cool, cut the string, gently straighten fabric and allow it to dry
Options:
Create random texturing by wrapping small sections of fabric with string and process as directed above
Place small rocks in sections of the fabric, tie with string, scrunch remaining fabric and process as directed above
Offset your machine tension enough to gather your fabric. Sew random or straight lines, process your fabric then remove the stitches. The design created by the stitching will be permanent
More information on Total Embellishments
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