shortcake2012

I always prewash my fabric but it just dawned on me that maybe I should also prewash the batting, should I?

Bree123

No, but I do soak 100% cotton batting in the washer and line dry the batting. I honestly think it would almost certainly be fine to not pre-soak it, but I am really picky about getting rid of potential allergens.

I definitely would not actually wash it. It distorts the batting too much & leaves it really wrinkly. I try not to apply too much heat to the batting. Just a tiny bit to get the fold marks out if I don't soak it first (e.g., with wool batting).

The reason you don't need to pre-shrink the batting by washing it is because that 2% or so that it shrinks actually helps give the quilt that nice crinkly look.

bearisgray

if it is washable, I wash mine. Read the instructions.

I like a look that is as flat - and close to the original size - as possible.

Jeanne S

I preWash my cotton batting to reduce the crinkling in my finished quilts. By prewashing batting, I mean I soak it in hot water either in the sink or washer, then spin dry and dry in the dryer. I don't use the agitation cycle of the washer on batting. Comes out of the dryer just fine, very few wrinkles.

ManiacQuilter2

NO, you could have a total mess on your hands if you agitate it. I don't think it is worth the trouble. I use Hobbs 80/20 and sometimes due to their packaging, it may be quite wrinkled. I just throw it in a dryer on low heat with some wet towels and it comes out smooth and wrinkled free.

NJ Quilter

I pre-wash my fabrics as well but never my batting. I use W&N and like the crinkled look. I usually just make my quilts a bit over-size so the shrinkage isn't a factor.

shortcake2012

Thank you so much for everyone's reply. I think it comes down to the look I want, wrinkled or more flat. I may wash my next one to see if it's worth the extra effort. Thanks again

PaperPrincess

This is basically what I do. Decide what look I'm going for. Most batting will have the instructions for pre shrinking on the packaging. If it's not there, check the manufacturer's web site. In general, you are trying to get the entire batt wet, not washed, so depending on the size of the piece I'm working with, I soak in laundry or bath tub, let it drain, roll in towels to press excess out, then dry on med heat. Don't agitate. Don't pull or stretch. Lots of dryer lint, so empty trap often & rearrange the batting in the dryer occasionally.

Buckeye Rose

I prewash all my fabrics, but never the batting. If the prepackaged batting is wrinkled or poofy, I put it in the dryer with several wet washrags for about 15 minutes.

joe'smom

I pre-shrink my batting, as I like to minimize the crinkle effect. The only one I've found with directions on the package is Warm and Natural, so I follow that same procedure with the others (as PaperPrincess describes). I haven't pre-shrunk a wool bat yet, as the projected shrinkage for those is less. Has anyone pre-soaked a wool bat with success?