my sister (who got me addicted to quilting) told me about connectingthreads.com. they had charm packs very reasonably priced so i ordered some. now my question - a lot of them have reds in them. do i wash them first? would hand washing be ok to do since they are already cut?

I know, arnt they great! I spent $25, and got 11 charm packs and a spool of thread! I thought it was a great deal!

I don't pre-wash LQS fabric. When you wash the project for the first time, you can use color-catchers in the wash.

i know what you mean. the day i ordered them they were anywhere from 1.55 and up. good way to experiment with them without spending a whole lot of money!

i have this weekend off (woohoo!) and after i get back from a christmas craft show i will probably get started on making some table runners with them. i would like to get started tonight but gotta be at work in the am so it will have to wait i guess!

I think soaking them in warm water to see if they bleed would be good, otherwise I'd just use them. I am bad and don't prewash because I do my laundry by hand and hang it to dry..

I don't prewash these, but I do use a color catcher when I wash the quilt.

I haven't had any trouble with Connecting Threads fabric bleeding.

Even hand washing can distort them, I would just use color catchers in the washer. :D:D:D

No,I wouldn't wash the charms either. Usually the fabric from those shops don't bleed that badly. Use a color catcher when you first wash the quilt after it's done.