Becoming a prewasher
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Knee deep in fabric!
Posts: 372
Becoming a prewasher
In my quest to become a prewasher, I am spending my day going through my enormous stash, cutting 2.5" strips and then cutting my yardage into 3yd cuts and washing them. I can't even believe how much fabric I have!! I'm trying to get into the prewasher mode to keep from ruining the quilts I make. I wish that I had always done this because it is hard doing it now. I keep trying to wash like colors for piles that have 3yds or less. But that's tough with my rather eclectic stash and having to do repeated washings to clear out the dye! Long day ahead of me here.
Tanya
Tanya
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 11-24-2012 at 04:00 AM.
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Somerset, England
Posts: 285
Prewashing fabrics
In my quest to become a prewasher, I am spending my day going through my enormous stash, cutting 2.5" strips and then cutting my yardage into 3yd cuts and washing them. I can't even believe how much fabric I have!! I'm trying to get into the prewasher mode to keep from ruining the quilts I make. I wish that I had always done this because it is hard doing it now. I keep trying to wash like colors for piles that have 3yds or less. But that's tough with my rather eclectic stash and having to do repeated washings to clear out the dye! Long day ahead of me here.
Tanya
Tanya
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Knee deep in fabric!
Posts: 372
That had been my plan until I had some bleed and some shrink more than I wanted them to later. Plus, we will be moving to another base by the summer and if it's Stateside I will want it all washed by then because it will be stored in a crate and then shipped on a boat before we get it. It took 3 months for our stuff to get here. I can only get so much done per day anyway since we have shared washers and dryers here. I never used to prewash and I may go back to that after today-lol!
#6
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Knee deep in fabric!
Posts: 372
My problem is that I never washed. Now I have so much and as I am planning new projects, I am wanting this fabric washed already. I may need to start washing as I buy and then I won't have so much to catch up on later.
I have always prewashed my fabrics but I don't do it when I buy them - only when I am going to use them. I overlock the raw edges before washing, starching and ironing them. This way, I know which fabrics have been prewashed, and which haven't - and it prevents a real mess of tangled threads in the washing machine and on the fabric!
#7
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,827
When fabric comes home with me, it is all washed before it enters the stash!
That way I know anything I have is ready to go ... and if I'm wanting to start a project, I can, rather than needing to wash it.
What I don't understand, is ..... Why would you want to cut your longer lengths into 3 yd lengths?
That way I know anything I have is ready to go ... and if I'm wanting to start a project, I can, rather than needing to wash it.
What I don't understand, is ..... Why would you want to cut your longer lengths into 3 yd lengths?
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Knee deep in fabric!
Posts: 372
When fabric comes home with me, it is all washed before it enters the stash!
That way I know anything I have is ready to go ... and if I'm wanting to start a project, I can, rather than needing to wash it.
What I don't understand, is ..... Why would you want to cut your longer lengths into 3 yd lengths?
That way I know anything I have is ready to go ... and if I'm wanting to start a project, I can, rather than needing to wash it.
What I don't understand, is ..... Why would you want to cut your longer lengths into 3 yd lengths?
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,827
It's mostly just because I haven't needed it in more than 3 yd lengths at present. It isn't all getting cut like that. Just when I have anything that is more than 6 yards. I cut a 3 yard chunk off of those. The stuff that is 6 yards or less is left as is. Plus I have friends that I trade with and it's usually 3 yard cuts that they trade.
Yes, JIMHO!
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,325
I always washed everything I bought when I got it home. Somehow along the way I have stopped doing that, in favour of washing the colors I think might bleed. I normally cut a snip off the piece and put it in a glass of hot water and watch, then I decide if I need to wash.
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