I just read a blog that recommended preshrinking batting before using if it is not polyester. I hadn't really thought about the batting shrinking! Do most of you preshrink the batting before you make you quilts?

I never have, but I will be interested to hear opinions on this.

I almost always use Warm and Natural and have never pre-shunk it. I also have never had a problem with it after washing a quilt.

I never do

How do you pre-shrink batting? Wouldn't it come all apart in the washer?

You just get it wet in the washer, do not agitate, let it drain and spin. Put in the dryer.
I don't prewash mine :D:D:D

Never have. I don't think I will start now either.

I purchased Warm & Natural batting this week at JoAnn's and asked about prewashing it. The sales clerk said to definitely not wash it because it will practically disintegrate. She said a customer had returned what was originally a 2 yard piece of the batting and after washing it it was the size of a ball of yarn. I don't know, since I've never prewashed it, I'm just passing along what she told me.

nope...I do not.

I always preshrink my Warm and Natural Batting. I put it in the washer with hot water and let it soak till its completely wet. Keep pushing it down into the water because it will float. DO NOT LET IT AGITATE!!! Then I spin it out and put it in the dryer. I've never had a problem with it shredding. It softens it so that I can hand quilt it easier. It prefer that if its going to shrink, that it shrinks before i put it in a quilt. I also preshrink my fabrics, too.

Prewashing and shrinking Warm and Natural sort of defeats the purpose of using it. It's mainly for that antique look. Other batts will give you a flatter, quilt appearance.

Same here :-)

I like to pre-shrink Hobbs Heirloom 80/20. Like every body else said, do not let it agitate!! You'll end up with a giant cotton ball. LOL

I prewashed Warn and Natural once and it came out with a slightly rougher finish, but I used it just like I normally would. It probably did shrink some, but I didn't measure it. I couldn't really tell by just looking at it. My mom always preshrinks it with good results. I washed it and dried it by machine.

no, never...if i want a batt that isn't going to shrink a little that's what i buy, if i want the soft/fluffy outcome for my quilt i buy warm & natural or Dream Wool and use it out of the package :thumbup: seems like such alot of work to even consider it when you can just buy the batting that is right for your project

I never prewash my batting, but that's because I use fusible batting.

Warm & Natural comes with instructions on how to pre-wash it. I usually don't, but I did for one quilt, when I didn't want the batting to shrink, and it worked fine. I used the washing machine but didn't agitate.

If I want the quilt to have the crinkle old fashioned look I do not pre-shrink. If it is something like a table runner or I want to keep the flat appearance that I want to be flat , I always preshrink. I use warm and natural because it holds up the best to preshrinking. ( this is for cotton battings)
As was mentioned earlier do let it soak overnight to fully saturate the fibers , yep it floats , so you will need to reposition a few times. Do not agitate , just spin and put in the dryer.

I definately agree with you!!! Why make more work for yourself!!!

No way I'd wash batting before using. I can see one big wad of mess.

I tumble the batt in the dryer with a damp towel for a few minutes to relax the creases, but I haven't ever pre-washed the batt.

I like my quilts to look crinkly after they're made, so I wash them after they're finished to shrink up the batt and wrinkle the fabric. :)

Never have. I love the "used" look that cotton batting gives when it shrinks a little with the first washing of the finished quilt.

Thanks so much for your opinions! It is good to listen to the voice of experience.

Never. I choose to make my life simpler and ignore lots of things, like the possibility of batting shrinking. There are too many things that I choose to do that make a difference. And if it should shrink (I've never had that happen), it will just add charm to my quilt.

It's very interesting to read your postings...most of you do not prewash battings as I do, I want to have that typical "antique" look especially cotton battings have after washing the complete quilt.
In my handquilting workshops many of my students ask how to preshrink and prewash, most of them want to do it. They don't like to have that used look. That makes me a little sad...

I haven't used the cotton batting much But do like the 80/20. I spray it with a water bottle and put it in the dryer for a very short period of time. But I do it to get the wrinkles out. I don't have room for one to lay out over night. Besides too impatient. I guess it shrinks it a little.

Never. I only imagine the pain of having all that batting stinking wet in my tub and then having to wait for hours for it to dry. UGH

I never have, but may try a small piece to see what happens.

seems like a lot of extra work which myself being a lazy quilter do not want

I have not shrunk W&N because it only shrinks 3% and gives the quilt a little puffy look when washed. I did wash the Hobbs Heirloom Premium though because it said it would shrink about 5% and I thought that was too much for the projects I wanted to use it for. I wet it in the washer and dried it in the drier and it turned out just fine.

I spray with water till damp. Roll it up and wait a few hours. Then tumble dry. Figure it probably shrinks somewhat but I don't know if it shrinks the entire 3% as claimed on the label.

I never do. I love the look of the quilt when it shrinks.

No,never

The only time i washed my batting was when i got a huge smudge of dirt on it, from it being on the ground

I like the scrunched look of an older quilt, so I wouldn't preshrink either batting or fabric.

However, I have a sister who uses 100% wool batting (her grandkids live in Alaska) ..I don't believe she has ever pre-shrunk, but then I'm not sure that she realizes that wool batting will shrink badly if washed. If I were to use wool batt, I surely would preshrink. It has occurred to me that I really should mention that to her, but she may know it.

I have never tried it, but I am always open to learning anything that would make my quilting life easier.

Never.. I wait until the quilt is done, then wash the whole thing.
But then, I seldom prewash my fabrics either.

I would never have thought to do that! I just take it out of the bag and use it.

I don't pre-shrink batting. I like how it scrunches up the top when it is washed. I like the crinkly look. I find it also helps hide a multitude of "quilting" sins when it is crinkled up. :)

I do try to spread it out and let it rest to get some of the creases out if it is from a bag.

no one i know does that
whats the point?