Judie

I always wash my fabric before using it.. It comes from the car straight to the laundry room, after it's washed, dried and neatly folded it can go join the others waiting to be selected.

My question is how in the world do you wash 4 yards of 108" wide fabric? I don't want to cut it until I know [i]where[i/] it will need cut. I'm using it for a backing for a king sized quilt.

Do you machine dry that much? at home? or a commercial laundry with one of those huge dryers? How do you keep it from being one giant ball of wrinkles?

amma

I would wash it in a commercial washer, and half way dry it in the dryer, finish drying it with the iron :D:D:D

Gerbie

I think I would use a comercial washer and dryer if you think it won't fit in your home machines. However, you might want to think about the comercial dryer, they do get how. Do you have a outdoor clothes line that you might could use? If it's white, why do you really need to wash it, it won't fade, unless you just prefer to wash every fabric, because of sizing. I will not ever use a fabric that is colored anymore without washing it first. Ask me how I know to do that :( lol Gerbie

Gerbie

I like amma's idea about the half drying part, sounds like a real winner there. Gerbie

Judie

Yes, this fabric is colored.. and dark colored to boot. I don't think I'd dare put it on my quilt without washing it. The quilt is BIG and if it ever was washed the backing would shrink I'm sure.. so I'm prewashing, somehow..

The commercial washer and part way dry sounds like a good plan... thank you.

Julie in NM

When I buy yardage, I sew the cut ends together. Stick it in the washer so the "hole" goes around the agitator. Helps to keep it from twisting too much. You have LOTS of fab but if you sew it together, it will be easier to manage.

Judie

Thanks Julie.. I'd never thought of doing that.. I'll try it... sounds like a good idea!

bearisgray

I take long lengths of fabric to the commercial laundry and dry them in the big dryers. My home washer and dryer just isn't adequate for big chunks of fabric.

The one I used in Dade City, Florida, had various size washers, and the dryers could be set for low, permanent press, or hot, and cost 25 cents for 8 minutes of drying time.

Judie

That's probably the best bet... Take it where they have a BIG machine. :-)

bizybess

I don't have any trouble washing a wide quilt back- it's not much bigger than a flat sheet. Shaking out good before putting in dryer and again about halfway through will keep it from twisting up on itself. Don't let it get bone dry and it will have less wrinkles.