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Texturizing In A Pressure Cooker
By Pauline Richards, Total Embellishments

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

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