Hi Everyone,
I just purchased a Debbie Mum Christmas tree skirt panel from WM. When working with panels, do you prewash? Aslo, what is the best way to quilt a panel. Is there any rule of thumb?
I have been learning a lot from the quilting board over the past year. I started a baby quilt a year and a half ago and have recently started working on it again. Found out this summer my sister will be having a baby in January. Now have a reason to finish. Hope to get it finished in the next couple of months. Will try to post a picture.
Christine

If you are planning on washing your completed tree skirt at some point and time then I would definitely prewash, just to make sure it doesn't shrink. It would be cute to quilt Christmas patterns on it.
Aww, I can't wait to see the baby quilt.

I would prewash the fabrics too, just to be on the safe side, reds do tend to bleed more so than some other colors.
You could use some metallic threads and outline some of the designs on the panels to make them stand out more and the christmas patterns that live2teach brought up would be cute also.

You may want to use a color catcher when prewashing. Metallics would be pretty in the quilting especially for Christmas.

what is "color catcher'?

A color catcher is a product that you put in the washer that catches colors that bleed into the water. You can find it in the laundry aisle.

the color catcher looks like a wash rag, everytime you use it , it turns darker because it catches the loose dye in the wash water. I don't remember the brand but I paid about 5$ for mine and it's good for 30 loads. Well worth it for peace of mind.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I will look into those color catchers. I have never tried them and was wondering if they really worked.
Christine

Hi Christine;

If it was me and and the fabric is the same, same pattern or same company, I would sew it together--top only and then bottom seperatelyzig zag edges. that way it would not fray and you would not have to clean off threads.

Will love to see that and baby quilt !!

imak

By the way, a few years ago I took some just red material and bought some lace x-mas lace panels and sewed it on top It came out so nice did some green ones too. Kind of striking and even got to trade one for my 1st used computer. Spent the next 4 months teaching self (and GETTING LOST IN SPACE) LOL

imak