16/08/2026
I've been (safely) setting fire to things this weekend. Burning tiny scraps of second hand bedlinen to identify any fabrics where the label is missing or worn to a blank.
My cupboard was all mixed up and I didn't know what was what so I went through it and some other pieces to finally sort the cottons from the polycottons! Some of the biggest duvet covers have gone into storage bins in the sewing room or spare bedroom separated by cotton/polycotton, a couple are off to the charity shop, while the cupboard is now rearranged and restocked with a nice mix for use on my future projects.
Some will go into project packs, anything from yardage or FQs/layer cakes to mini charm squares.
I even have some pale stuff for dyeing, when my friend comes over next week.
Where's all the purple grey and green? Ah, a lot of it is downstairs waiting to go into the winter/summer quilt for the spare room...I needed to identfiy everything as that will hopefully be ALL cotton.
How do you know which fabric is which by burning a scrap? Firstly do it safely on a cooker top (power or gas OFF) in a fireproof dish, with ventilation. and water or a fire extingusher to hand. Cotton burns reluctantly unless it is loose woven, and leaves a silky grey ash behind. Polycotton burns more merrily, the more polyester is in it. The poly leaves behind a tarry black mark, sometimes a fine charred black ghost of the burnt area and gritty residue. I had a mystery one that was smooth black ash, which I think is viscose. Be careful not to breathe the smoke/fumes! And let everythign cool down before you touch it or dispose of it in a bin.
Where do you get your fabric stash from?
