marjoriekh
 
Intermediate
VA USA
Member since 8/28/10
Posts: 547 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 6/21/11 9:38 PM I just finished a dress that called for 4-way stretch knit, and now I've started another one. I have read that these fabrics should be stored folded, and not on hangers. (I've had a 4-way stretch knit dress I bought from Garnet Hill on a hanger; now I know why I seem to be getting shorter each time I wear it!)
I wouldn't have a problem with keeping these dresses folded, except that they end up quite wrinkled that way. These are rayon/lycra and bamboo knits, not slinky or poly. I don't want to look like I'm living out of a suitcase whenever I put one on, but there's no way I'm ironing them every time, either. (I wear dresses most days, but I try to avoid the iron. Thus, the knits.)
Aside from carefully folding them in tissue paper like a wedding dress, which I know I won't do, does anyone know any tricks or have any suggestions about storing these? Is there a gadget for this situation?
Thanks for any assistance/ideas! ------
marjoriekh |
squirrellypoo
Advanced
UNITED KINGDOM
Member since 3/27/05
Posts: 1525 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 6/22/11 4:52 AM Have you thought about inserting hanging loops made from narrow ribbon to the inside waist seam? That way the ribbon will take the strain on the hangers, rather than stretching the fabric. ------
www.fehrtrade.com |
marjoriekh
Intermediate
VA USA
Member since 8/28/10
Posts: 547 |
Login to reply to this post
In reply to squirrellypoo
Date: 6/22/11 10:40 AM Ahhh -- thanks, I like this idea. This way only half of the weight would be hanging. Maybe I could take some of the weight off of the skirt hem with loops somehow, too, without causing wrinkles.
I will try this out and report back! ------
marjoriekh |
a7yrstitch
Intermediate
TX USA
Member since 4/1/08
Posts: 4402 |
Login to reply to this post
In reply to marjoriekh
Date: 6/22/11 11:30 AM I fold this type fabric over one or two hangers. For instance, when drying pants, place hanger one 1/4 of the way down the pants and hanger two 3/4 of the way down the pants. When dry, either hang that way or fold in half and drape over hanger. Same thing with dresses. If you're dresses are pretty long, you may have to improvise with a third hanger. There is something called a huggable hanger that works very well for this. They are thin, but haven't been leaving any marks. If your fabric is super sensitive have a supply of bar mops (small inexpensive towels) on hand to use over the hanger and under the fabric or use foam pipe insulation from the hardware store over your hangers. ------
I have no idea what Apple thought I was saying so be a Peach and credit anything bizarre to auto correct. |
MNBarb
Intermediate
MN USA
Member since 4/3/10
Posts: 1522 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 6/22/11 6:59 PM Yes, this is a problem with Rayon or Modal. I have a wrap dress that I hang by looping the ties back up and around the neck of the hanger. Or, you could take the bottom of the skirt portion and bring it up to hang over the horizontal portion of the hanger so there is less weight on the entire garment. ------
Barb
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." Woodrow Wilson |
marjoriekh
Intermediate
VA USA
Member since 8/28/10
Posts: 547 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 6/22/11 9:22 PM I've got a plan I want to try out that involves both loops at the waist and using skirt clips to hold up the hem, but I need one of those combination hangers, like you find in every hotel room, to do it. I have looked high and low at our house, and we have not a single hanger like that. How can that be??
I'll try to get one tomorrow (my next-door-neighbor/friend, who has lots of career clothes, must have one), and if it works I'll post a photo. ------
marjoriekh |
marjoriekh
Intermediate
VA USA
Member since 8/28/10
Posts: 547 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 6/23/11 5:29 PM Still haven't found a combination hanger, and haven't gotten around to sewing ribbon loops into the waist seam yet, but here's a pic of my interim solution, using a padded hanger and a skirt hanger with rubber-coated clips:
(This dress has a skirt lining and a hem flounce, so I've caught the hem with the flounce turned back in order to catch the lining also.)
Once I have the ribbon loops in, I can hang the bodice from the waist, with the bodice inside-out, and again catch the dress hem on skirt clips (this all on one hanger). Then only 1/3 of the garment will be hanging from each level. Also, with it all on one hanger, it should take up less room in the closet than this way. The above 2-hanger method will work for a dress without a waist seam. ------
marjoriekh |
ladylola
Intermediate
QC CANADA
Member since 2/10/04
Posts: 246 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 6/23/11 7:48 PM I have lots of clothes in rayon-lycra fabric and when they get wrinkled, I just toss them in the dryer for 2-3 minutes. Much easier than ironing! |
stirwatersblue
Intermediate
KS USA
Member since 12/13/08
Posts: 2474 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 6/24/11 2:35 PM Lola, great tip!!
Marjorie, I like your solution! To save space, you could hook the second hanger around the neck of the padded one, or you could fasten them together with twist ties, like dry cleaners do. You might be able to find the two-part hangers at Bed, Bath & Beyond or a similar store (our local JoAnn actually carries the padded hangers and the Huggable Hangers). ------
~Gem in the prairie |
MNBarb
Intermediate
MN USA
Member since 4/3/10
Posts: 1522 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 6/24/11 4:10 PM Perfect solution! ------
Barb
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." Woodrow Wilson |
|Login|Help]
Printable Version
