There has been a buzz about fire-retardant fabrics in the quilting forums.
And for those who operate a quilting business there is much questioning.
Are business owners to be held responsible for a quilt catching fire? Is it a worry for quilters of baby products or is it not necessary to be troubled.
The possibility of an infant or a young child being burnt in a quilt is usually a rare incident.
However, there are people who are making their quilts with 100% cotton and cotton fill which are labeled fire-retardant or fire repellent.
I made dance costumes which required many fancy types of cloth which were imported from other countries.
I had spoken with my suppliers and vendors who imported these fabrics.
They told me that the United States government rules stated that fabrics from their countries needed to be fire-retardant.
I also had two experiences with fire:

1. My dance studio rental had burnt
2. The next door neighbor's house burnt from faulty wiring waking me with flames cracking at my bedroom window.
   

Doing a walk through in the dance studio revealed that cotton, paper and wood products had burnt to cinders.
Fabrics of polyester or other synthetic blends melted onto or into objects.
The outside of our house which was burnt displayed any and all plastic construction items had melted from the intense heat.
The scare is the polyester batting fill and other synthetics.
My research has shown that most quilters work with 100% cotton fabrics and cotton fills when making quilt items for children.
There are fire-retardant products which can be sprayed or soaked into fabrics as added precautions.
There are also fire resistant fabrics.
The problem with the synthetics is that the cloth will burn into the skin making matters worse for both the victim and the medical staff.
Cotton will flame into ash.
Yes, it will burn, but it will not stick or cling to the burning area.
Each quilting business may make customers aware of the differences or not say anything.
There is a mixed feedback as some quilters are very concerned and others are worried.
Consider the fact that most mothers do not leave quilts or other loose crib linen about or around an infant or a young child when napping or sleeping.
It is not always fire which causes problems.
Having extreme heat near any synthetic fabric will melt and curl into ruin.
A simple cigarette ash will burn a hole into plastic.
It is always best to check with an attorney if you are unsure, however, in reality anything burns.
If all necessary precautions and safety measures to use fire-retardant fabrics has been done for your quilting products, what more can you do? For more information about the quilting business visit the home business section at http://www.
Infotrish.
com and review "Want to Quilt up a Storm and Make Money While You Do It?"