not prewashing and using poly batting
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 241
Does anyone not prewash their fabric and use 100% polyester batting (Hobbs poly-down specifically)?
I have some 4" and 5" precuts I would like to use. The quilting will more than likely be SID.
After the quilt is complete, then washed and dried, I am worried about odd shrinkage and/or pulling?
Anybody have any expereince with this combination?
I have some 4" and 5" precuts I would like to use. The quilting will more than likely be SID.
After the quilt is complete, then washed and dried, I am worried about odd shrinkage and/or pulling?
Anybody have any expereince with this combination?
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
How far apart will the quilting lines be? If they are close together, the quilting will stop the fabric from shrinking more than the batting (which, if poly, won't shrink at all).
If the quilting lines are far apart, however, you could get enough fabric shrinkage between lines to cause a problem. If that happened, I would probably re-wet the entire quilt and block it to stretch the fabric back into shape, then add a lot more quilting lines. It would be a lot of extra work, though. Easier to quilt closely to begin with.
Edit: I do think it would be okay with quilting lines 4" or 5" apart on your pre-cuts. Most fabric will not shrink enough to matter over that amount.
If the quilting lines are far apart, however, you could get enough fabric shrinkage between lines to cause a problem. If that happened, I would probably re-wet the entire quilt and block it to stretch the fabric back into shape, then add a lot more quilting lines. It would be a lot of extra work, though. Easier to quilt closely to begin with.
Edit: I do think it would be okay with quilting lines 4" or 5" apart on your pre-cuts. Most fabric will not shrink enough to matter over that amount.
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
I don't prewash charm squares and I generally use Cotton batting with SID. I would imagine that you should be OK because while the fabric might shrink a bit, the poly batting should just be fluffier/fuller than before. I'd go for it.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,991
I don't wash my fabric and I use polydown all the time as it is my favourite batting. I also often do STID and after washing, my quilts are fine. I have seen little evidence of shrinking or pulling. I haven't seen anything that has made me switch batting or start washing fabric.
#9
According to my little chart showing the properties of different battings (yes, I'm THAT anal!) Polydown doesn't shrink at all so you should be fine. I have made kaleidoscope quilts where you don't prewash the fabric and used poly batting (Quilter's Dream Select generally, but it has the same properties as Hobbs) and the quilts have washed fine with no puckering.
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