pre-wash? Pooey!
#32
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington state
Posts: 4,303
I prewash a lot of my fabrics, if one in a project is prewashed they all are. I have had a couple of bad experiences myself, and seen even worse ones from friends, where entire quilts were ruined. it is a personal choice for sure. if a problem is going to arise, please let it be before i put all that effort and money into a project.
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: north Alabama
Posts: 1,906
I haven't been much of a pre-washer before now except on the darker colors that usually bleed. But I think I may have developed an allergy of some kind to the finish on some of the fabrics. I can get around certain fabrics in my sewing room that have a different feeling finish to them, and I itch like crazy! So they will go into the bathtub to soak for right now, as they're precut strips from a thrift store. I've wondered if I might have gotten some mites or something in with them, but I'm the only one that itches.
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Some where in way out West Texas
Posts: 3,041
I too sew the ends together with a zig zag stitch across the end, sure helps with the tangling. Yes it takes a little time to rip out, but if there is fray going on, i just trim off the stitching. I hate tangled fabric.
Pre wash YOU bet I do. I have always prewashed fabric, since I began quilting, didn't much when making garments, depended on the color. Well even with prewashing (before I found out about Retayne and those amazing color catchers), about 5 yrs ago, I made DD a beautiful in my opinion queen size DWR with fabric of cream with specks of green at $12.00 a yard, for inner circle portion and same for the back. I used various shades of greens for the rings. All of the fabric was prewashed, but the first time the quilt was washed one of the greens faded in different places all over the quilt front and back. The quilt was Air dryed, and washed 3-4 times using everything I heard about to get the green spots out, but to no avail, they are still there. It has never been in a dryer. Greens seem to be really bad to bleed. You won't catch me not prewashing all of my fabrics after that incident. I was working when I made her quilt, and it took me about a year and a half to complete it. Too much time and expense spent, only to have it ruined in my opinion. I even prewash fabrics no matter the color that I have never had a problem with bleeding and am almost postive they won't bleed, but just not chancing it, rather spend a little time before all my work, than be devestated from a ruined quilt later.
Pre wash YOU bet I do. I have always prewashed fabric, since I began quilting, didn't much when making garments, depended on the color. Well even with prewashing (before I found out about Retayne and those amazing color catchers), about 5 yrs ago, I made DD a beautiful in my opinion queen size DWR with fabric of cream with specks of green at $12.00 a yard, for inner circle portion and same for the back. I used various shades of greens for the rings. All of the fabric was prewashed, but the first time the quilt was washed one of the greens faded in different places all over the quilt front and back. The quilt was Air dryed, and washed 3-4 times using everything I heard about to get the green spots out, but to no avail, they are still there. It has never been in a dryer. Greens seem to be really bad to bleed. You won't catch me not prewashing all of my fabrics after that incident. I was working when I made her quilt, and it took me about a year and a half to complete it. Too much time and expense spent, only to have it ruined in my opinion. I even prewash fabrics no matter the color that I have never had a problem with bleeding and am almost postive they won't bleed, but just not chancing it, rather spend a little time before all my work, than be devestated from a ruined quilt later.
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Morganton, Ga
Posts: 944
It's like the leftover food saying, when in doubt, throw it out. When in doubt, wash it. When I dyed fabric for a small business venture, I washed, rinsed, rinsed, rinsed and rinsed some more, and still some colors tended to run. Love the color catchers.
#38
Same with me- I started in the garment industry, too, so it's a natural. I'm about to start a red whole cloth quilt with a beautiful back that has a cream background with red...you bet I'll be trying color catchers, too!
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Horse Country, FL
Posts: 7,341
I prewash and have found even some expensive batiks bleed and bleed and bleed. So, no more of those for me. For Father's Day, bought my husband two pairs of jeans (what he needed, not wanted) and could see that they probably should be prewashed. He was amazed at all the color that came out on the Color Catcher! We washed them twice and the Color Catcher picked up dye both times.
#40
Washing and drying is not the biggest issue for me....it is all of the straightening, starching and ironing that I object to. I pre washed a few yards waaaay back when and then never again. It takes way too much of my time away from the creating, piecing and quilting. I buy yards and yards of fabric and am not willing to spend time pre-washing.....just sayin..... I have yet to have a regret or ruined quilt. To each his own though.
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09-04-2011 07:48 PM