I'm using all flannel for I believe the first time and need advice
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Small town in Northeast Oregon close to Washington and Idaho
Posts: 2,795
I'm using all flannel for I believe the first time and need advice
I don't know if I've used flannel before, but if I did, it could have been in 1992 and I need a little advice. I don't ever wash my fabric. Could I not wash any of this fabric and have it all shrink the same or do I need to wash it? I'd rather not, if I can get away with it. But if I need to, I will. What is your advice? Thank you in advance.
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,401
I always wash my flannel on warm and dry it on warm because it does shrink. If you have a very high grade of flannel it may not shrink as much, but there will be some shrinkage. You can always starch the fabric after washing it.
#3
I have not made a flannel quilt, but reading and hearing the advice of others, it seems it would be smart to wash the fabric first, because of shrinking. I fact, I have heard of some who wash their flannel twice before cutting. I guess that depends on the quality of the flannel. I hope to make a flannel quilt eventually.
#4
Just curious, why you don't want to wash it?? Is it the time involved, or is there a property of unwashed fabric that you prefer?
Personally, I wash all of my fabric as soon as it walks in the door, but even if I didn't - I would still pre-wash flannel .... twice ... in HOT water. It shrinks a LOT and not necessarily evenly (especially if you have flannel from two different manufacturers).
Personally, I wash all of my fabric as soon as it walks in the door, but even if I didn't - I would still pre-wash flannel .... twice ... in HOT water. It shrinks a LOT and not necessarily evenly (especially if you have flannel from two different manufacturers).
#5
I have done it both ways and really didn't notice a difference. That being said, I'm always a bit leery of deeply colored flannels--the colors sometimes run.
Good luck to you--I love working with (and covering up with) flannel.
Good luck to you--I love working with (and covering up with) flannel.
#10
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Cedar Falls, IA
Posts: 923
Flannel is about the one fabric I do pre-wash. It generally shrinks more than regular quilting cottons. The inexpensive stuff from Joanns can shrink a bunch, high quality quilting flannels not as much. You can tell which one you've got by how close the threads are. Loose threads, lots of shrinkage.
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