Muslin is an inexpensive woven cotton or cotton blend fabric that has a high heat tolerance. In crafts, muslin is commonly used for photo backdrops, but it can also be used for backing quilts, testing the fit of sewing patterns, and other textile projects. Muslin wrinkles easily, but two different methods will remove the wrinkles.
Things You'll Need
Muslin
Steamer
Shower rod or clothesline
Video of the Day
Method 1: Steaming
Works best for: Large pieces of muslin, including backdrops
Video of the Day
Step 1
Hang the muslin over a shower rod or clothesline with the right-side facing out.
Tip
It can be difficult to identify the right side versus the wrong side of muslin since both sides look very similar. For a painted backdrop, the right side might be obvious because it is painted. But if you are unwrinkling muslin that you plan to use to test the fit of a sewing pattern, for instance, then identifying the right side is not as important.
Step 2
Set the steamer to the cotton setting and allow it to heat.
Warning
Use steamers with caution. Direct contact with a steamer can result in severe burns. Work slowly and carefully when you are using the steamer.
Tip
If you do not own a steamer, you can steam the muslin in the shower. Hang the muslin over the shower rod, turn on a hot shower and allow the muslin to steam for a few minutes to remove wrinkles.
Step 3
Hold the steamer about an inch away from the muslin. Working from top to bottom, slowly move the steamer back and forth until the entire piece is unwrinkled.
Warning
Do not steam muslin that has been painted; steam can cause the paint to crack and peel. If you need to steam painted muslin, steam on the side of the muslin that is not painted and use a lower heat setting.
Step 4
If desired, turn the muslin so that the wrong side is facing out and repeat Step 3 to steam the opposite side.
Method 2: Ironing
Works best for: Small pieces of muslin fabric
Things You'll Need
Muslin
Iron
Ironing board
Wet towel or spray bottle (optional)
Step 1
Soak the muslin in water to dampen it.
Step 2
Place the muslin on an ironing board right-side-up. Set the iron on the cotton setting.
Step 3
Iron the muslin starting on one side of the selvage and slowing moving to the other side until the entire piece is unwrinkled.
Tip
If the muslin dries while you are ironing, use a wet towel or spray bottle to dampen it again.
Step 4
Repeat steps 1 to 3 as many times as necessary to unwrinkle the fabric.