Pre wash or not to pre wash
 

:confused: I purchased some pre quilted fabric and cannot find any information regarding whether or not I should pre wash fabric before sewing? Any suggestion, experiences, etc., are appreciated :o

It is completely your choice on whether or not to prewash. I was raised prewashing, still do it for most of my fabrics but am aware it takes time I could be piecing. However, I have skipped prewashing occasionally and have had some fabrics run when washed. Supposedly there are color guard sheets you can purchase to minimize this from happening....but all my stash is already washed, so it's easier for me to keep up with my habit. Best of luck!!

I'm a firm believer in pre-washing fabric, but with pre-quilted fabric I think the answer depends on what you intend to do with it. If you're making a shopping bag, for instance, you might not pre-wash.

I always pre-wash as I have had some bad things go wrong when I did not.

I either prewash all parts for a project or I don't prewash any. All swaps REQUIRE that the fabric is prewashed. It is easier to stick with the prewash because then you don't have to keep track in your stash what is - and isn't washed. Washing takes out the chemicals but it does make the fabric whimpy. To counter that, you can spray it with sizing before pressing.

Batiks, I generally wash because they tend to run a lot. Also, saturated intense colors, I always do a color test to see if they run or not. But it IS personal preference.

Always prewash, just as a precaution. Even though I prewash soaked a wallhanging that had red on it in cold water. It ran a little bit so there was some pink on the white. But wonder what it would have looked like if I hasn't prewashed. But I did buy some sheets for coloring and it did take the pink out, was so relieved.

i wash all fabrics that i buy. the washer is on the way to the storage shelf :)

I don't prewash because it is going to be washed later. I've never had any problem. It will conserve water.

ALWAYS prewash, to avoid colour running and shrinkage.

Like many, I prewash because I was raised that way. The fabric goes straight into the washer from the bag. Since so much of my stuff is already washed, I think it's going to continue that way, or else the project would be have some prewashed and some not, and that is really a no no.