Help: quilt still stiff after 1st wash
 

Hi, lovely quilters! This is my first time posting here, but definitely not my first time at this board. I've been sewing for most of my life, but just completed my first quilt and need the advice of the more experienced. I made a baby quilt to give as a gift at a shower this week and decided to wash it first so that it would be soft before I wrapped it up. I just used the safest thing I had on hand, which was some Woolite. (*wince* That was probably a novice mistake, I'm sure.) I washed on cold/gentle and dried on low. When I pulled out the quilt, it was still quite stiff, possibly more stiff than before I washed it. What should I do? I don't really have the time or funds to go out and get any special products before the shower. Would washing it again and adding Downy fabric softener be safe? Should I just go ahead and use my liquid Tide this time? I'm wondering if the Woolite wasn't enough to get the sizing out, and maybe just angered it instead. The quilt is made with Moda cotton and Warm & White batting. I've attached a picture of the quilt.

It's a beautiful quilt! I would try the tide and the downy. I use both of those products and haven't had any problems. I agree, I think the woolite wasn't strong enough to remove the sizing.

I always use regular laundry soap to wash my quilts that are machine quilted and never had a problem.

I agree. I use my regular laundry detergent and Downy all the time on my quilts. Do wash it on gentle though.

The problem isn't the fabric. You used Warm and White. It's stiff. It'll take several washings to break it down. It doesn't matter what detergent or fabric softeners you use, it'll just take time and use for that batting to break down. If you want a softer quilt to start with you'll have to use a softer batting.

same here.....

welcome to the board and i would also use regular laundry detergent.

What a lovely quilt. Sorry to hear it is so stiff. I usually wash mine twice. Once in plain warm water to remove all markings and the sizing. Then again with laundry soap and fabric softener. Both washes on gentle cycle. I have used Warm & White batting before and I have never had one compile out stiff. Was it the fusible kind?

Thanks! Not fusible, but I did use 505 spray to baste it.

So pretty!!!Sorry for your problem!!!