I saw another thread about washing baby quilts before giving them away. In the same vein, should I wash the quilt before I list it for sale? I was thinking the same thing a couple ladies said--if it's going to fall apart, I want to know while I still have it! And if I wash it, should I put it in the dryer?

Thanks!

I would wash and dry it using detergent that is fragance and dye free. I always use Shout Color Catcher sheets to catch any dyes that may wash out so that I don't end up ruining my project because of fading.

That's a toughy. I think that any fabric once washed looses it "new" look and feel. If I was buying something, even handmade, I would want it to look new!
But I wash everything after I am done making it. I want it to bleed or get destroyed or whatever else may happen while I still have it. Once you gift it or sell it, it's theirs. I want the bad stuff to happen while its still mine.

I gave a few away as gifts and did not wash them...I regret it now...I find when I wash them they look great...and one of the ones I first made was not sewn correctly. I still need to fix it. Thankfully it was mine. I hope the ones I made are ok and I hope they tell me if not...in the future...I will wash them before I give them away.

No I do not always prewash before I give it away. I do tell people if it was washed or not and give them laundering/drying instructions.

Good fabric still looks and feels good after it is washed - if it didn't there would be no point in making quilts. I use starch while I'm quilting, and I want it gone before I gift a quilt. Many people have smokers, cats, dogs, or other critters in their homes while they are quilting, and the recipient may have allergies. I can't think of a single reason why a quilt shouldn't be washed when it is gifted, even if the fabric was pre-washed.

I put most quilts in the dryer under low heat and take them out when they're still just a little damp. I then lay them on a clean surface (e.g. a sheet on the floor) for blocking, if that's necessary.

Interested in this topic.

Whether you wash them before giving them away is up to you, but if you're going to SELL it, yes, by all means, wash it first. If for no other reason than you want it sparkling clean! :shock:

I always wash my quilts after completing them to get rid of any marks and to fix up any 'errors' that show up. Yes it loses its 'new look' but I would prefer that than the recipient receiving a 'shabby' gift. I also print out instructions for washing and care of the quilt.

I wash all quilts after finishing them *except* for wallhangings.

To me, it's a matter of ethics. Since quilts are meant to be used - even as wall hangings - they will eventually need to be washed. The customer/recipient should not be unpleasantly surprised by the results of that first wash.

I always wash my fabrics and then starch them rather heavily. Because of the starch, they MUST be washed before presentation. I always toss in a "Color Grabber," and I'm always amazed by how much color it grabs! I'm considering giving future recipients a "Color Grabber" along with each quilt.

That's the very reason I DO wash quilts before gifting or selling them....BECAUSE I want it to look old-fashioned/cuddly/not new, LOL!

Vive La Différence!

Jan in VA

Should I ever make a quilt for sale, I would absolutely wash it before selling. I use a lot of "crap" putting my quilts together, like I said in the baby quilt thread. People have so many different sensitivities, at least if I wash it in a scent and dye free detergent, whoever is getting my quilt (whether it's a gift or a purchase) is wrapping up with a minimized risk of irritants. I do (and will) tell my quilt recipients that I did launder the quilt using "this" detergent, these are the washing instructions for reference.

I wash mine too. With all the pets here, I would not want any stray pet hairs on it.

I just finished a prayer quilt today, and I washed it in Cheer Free & Gentle, no fragrance or dyes, and dried on low heat in the dryer until just damp, now laying flat to finish drying..am including laundering and care instructions to the recipient, including storing and folding your quilt.

I quilt and sell sewing machine covers and I definately wash them before I sell them. Same reasons as above. If going to have an issue I much rather it be while still with me and I definately use color catchers. They are a must in every wash.

I alway wash as soon as I finish, that way theres no surprises.

yep!

i vote on the washing also

Sometimes I wash before giving away.Other times I do not. I am not worried about the fabric. I prewash all my fabrics before using.

All quilts get washed in this house before they go out. I want to spot any potential issues ahead of time and I feel like it should be fresh and clean.

Do I dare speak up?--I have given away hundreds of quilts --small, large, and in-between. I have NEVER washed one before gifting it and I do not wash my own before using them.
Never entered my mind to do so and I doubt if I will begin now. My feeling is, especially with the baby quilts, that the user is going to wash them before they use them, so why wash them twice? I do give laundry instructions.

absolutely ditto.

never use detergent in washing quilts. there is a special soap strictly for washing quilts at the quilt stores. Faye Cassity

If I'm selling a quilt and saying it's machine washable and/or dryable then I HAVE to check myself first if this is the case. Any wall hangings with delicate embroidery or beadwork I sell as 'specialist clean only.'

If I buy faric or batting at JoAnns, I always wash a quilt before gifting or selling. All of their fabrics come from abroad, and have to be fumigated before entry to this country. It scares me that fumigation residue might get onto something in a baby quilt

I always wash, one to be sure it doesn't have a seam somewhere that just wasn't sewn in correctly, and two because I have dogs, and I don't want any dog hairs to go along with the quilt. I do tell them I have washed it and used a color catcher, so if has a little color on the catcher, I tell them, and tell them to use the color catchers until it doesn't run. I don't usually have a big problem with colors running, but I would hate to spend all that time on them just to be ruined because of color running.

i always wash mine...even had one dry cleaned!!

If it's to be sold, I wouldn't wash it. Just like you wouldn't want to buy clothing that was already laundered.

i always wash mine before it goes your right i want to make sure it holds up and is clean

Just don't understand why people are so afraid to wash/dry the quilts they make. Think about the the stitches in that sucker. How can it fall apart? I tell everyone I give a quilt to that is should be washed and dried like it was a towel and to add towels to balance the load.

I always wash/dry before giving away. Washing makes the quilting pop and I can see if I missed an area.Oh, and I dry it completely in the drier! Never an issue.

I'm a "washer" as well. I want them clean and fresh for their new owner. I always let them know it's been washed, I tell them about Color Grabbers, and tell them how to launder in the future.

I always pr-ewash my fabric, and then wash my finished product to rid of quilting marks, threads, etc, and then I use sizing when I iron it and hang in with a pants hanger with a bag from the dry cleaners over it! I use everything fragrance free as well and put a care label with it!

I do not wash prior to giving them away.However... I do tell them it hasn't been washed and it should be washed the first few times in COLD water and Woolite.

I have dogs, cats, and a smoker in the house, so I wash everything and put it in plastic bags as they come out of the dryer(where I let them cool), just before they go out the door (next to the dryer).

I usually wash the hand quilted ones. I like to get any oils and soil/blood of the piece before calling it finished.

when i finish a quilt i wash and dry it the same way i believe the recipient will care for it. i want to know how it's going to handle it. and if i sold a quilt without washing it then the new owner washed it and a color ran or a seam came apart...they would not only be mad as all get out, but demanding their money back, i never want to be in that position, so i take on the task of ensuring it will handle laundering ok. i even washed my wool-silk-velvet-corduroy quilt...came out beautifully! tossed in the washer, tossed into the dryer...out FABULOUS!

I just saw your post. I live in the Shenandoah Valley, too. West of Edinburg.