should I wash my finished quilt
02-18-2014, 08:13 AM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 32
should I wash my finished quilt
My grand daughter and I pieced a nine patch that she designed; every other block is solid black. All the fabric was pre washed; now I'm putting on the binding but some of the black has white marking lined on it. If I wash it what would you use to be sure the colors wont run?
02-18-2014, 09:19 AM
#4
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,401
If your fabric colors were stable/ fast before sewing them, they should be okay after sewing them.
If you are going to use a stick stain remover, test it on a scrap of fabric. I used one on a bedspread, and it took out the color. I do not remember the brand name.
If you are going to use a stick stain remover, test it on a scrap of fabric. I used one on a bedspread, and it took out the color. I do not remember the brand name.
02-18-2014, 10:29 AM
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
I don't prewash fabric, so I am particularly careful with the first washing of a quilt. If there are bleeds, I do not want them to discolor neighboring fabrics. What I do is take the quilt to our local laundromat and wash it in their largest front-loading machine. This ensures that there will be enough water to dilute bleeds. I also use Synthrapol and wash in hot water (Synthrapol requires hot water to work).
It's important to use enough water to dilute any bleeds. In my opinion, Shout color catchers are not enough if you are not using lots of water and/or if there is a major bleed.
If you have some of the black fabric left, you can test it to see if it is going to bleed a lot. Drop a square in a clear glass of water and let it sit for a day. If you see wisps of dye color in the water, it is going to bleed. If you can't see any dye, rub the dampened fabric against other fabrics in your quilt to see if any dye transfers ("crocking"). If it passes both these tests, you are safe against a major bleeding problem.
It's important to use enough water to dilute any bleeds. In my opinion, Shout color catchers are not enough if you are not using lots of water and/or if there is a major bleed.
If you have some of the black fabric left, you can test it to see if it is going to bleed a lot. Drop a square in a clear glass of water and let it sit for a day. If you see wisps of dye color in the water, it is going to bleed. If you can't see any dye, rub the dampened fabric against other fabrics in your quilt to see if any dye transfers ("crocking"). If it passes both these tests, you are safe against a major bleeding problem.
02-18-2014, 11:20 AM
#7
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 8,107
I prewash everything for that reason. If the color is gonna run, then I don't use it. I also want the fabric to shrink before I put it in a quilt, too. Different fabrics shrink at different rates. I don't like surprises when it comes to my quilts.
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