Another side note about "wash or don't wash."
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,380
I used to wash and press my fabrics but that got to be such a drag. So now I have unwashed and washed in the same quilt and I haven't found any problems with it. I wash all my quilts using the color catchers before giving them to the recipents as they are all gifts. Only one quilt ever bled and someone here told me to wash it again though its been in the dryer too. The stain came out just fine to my relief. It was a quilt for my mother no less. I also starch my fabrics these days before cutting so if they're going to bleed or shrink, some of it will have already happened.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: England Alton Towers
Posts: 6,674
I would definitely recommend washing red fabrics before quilting. I made a lone star quilt then washed it and the red dye ruined the quilt even with 3 colour catchers in.hope the picture shows the mess not washing before quilting caused.white became pink.
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,578
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: West Texas
Posts: 2,073
To reduce the confusion of having a stash containing both washed and unwashed fabric, I put a tiny safety pin in the fabric that has been washed. I do wash all of my fabric before using, but not necessarily right away. For small scraps, I have Ziplocs for each of the various colors or for finished projects. I put a small piece of paper in each bag saying "WASHED." If I happen to have a bunch of non-washed fabric, I do the same thing but with an "UNWASHED" notation in the bag.
I do the safety pin thing with batting remnants that have been pre-soaked.
I do the safety pin thing with batting remnants that have been pre-soaked.
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,335
The main reason I pre-wash is to remove the chemicals that destroy my hands, otherwise I wouldn't. If I am going to hand sew my pre-cuts I wash them in mesh bags or a salad spinner if it is a charm pack. I bought a cheap one at Bed, Bath & Beyond with a coupon, but should have checked out the local thrift stores.
#17
Thanks, everyone. The scrappy I wanted to start has 2.5" squares. I was more worried about the uneven shrinkage than the color bleeding by mixing them. Without W&D in residence, not prewashing will be fabulous!
#18
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Uneven shrinking is not an issue in a quilt with a normal amount of quilting. This is because, once quilted, the batting controls shrinkage of the fabrics. Fabrics vary a lot in shrinkage when washed on their own. However, this changes after quilting.
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lebanon Missouri
Posts: 2,668
I don't wash store bought fabrics but I do wash fabrics I find in 2nd hand stores or yard sales. They all get used together with out any problems. But I wash every thing in cold water. I have noticed that by washing in cold and hanging to dry I don't have to do hardly any ironing on yardage.
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