teddysmom

If I pre-wash my fabric should I pre-wash my cotton batting?

Scissor Queen

Depends on the batting. You could end up with a giant cotton ball or handfuls of shreds.

bearisgray

Read the package directions and decide then.

Warm and natural washes up well. I've also destroyed some battings that I thought would wash up okay.

117becca

Don't prewash Quilters Dream - it says not to, and it doesn't need it, only 1% shrinkage...

Neesie

It also depends upon the final look, you want your quilt to have. I like the old-fashioned look of a quilt, after the batting shrinks a bit, kinda puckering the quilt.

DACO48

Personally I don't. I usually use warm and natural, cause I like the slight puckering. I have a friend who always washes and irons her warm and natural because she says her quilts then lay perfectly flat. It is just a personal preference.

T-Anne

I agree completely!! Maybe because I make a lot of Civil War era quilts.

hopetoquilt

My personal rule: do not add any extra steps to quilting. I have never washed batting. Sounds like more work to me!

Petey

Hopetoquilt is my kinda of quilter - I do nothing that adds to the "work" side of quilting - I never wash my fabric either but always wash my quilts when done. I guess it just depends on what you like you finished product to look like after a wash.

lfletcher

No, I wouldn't. I have had batting shred that I tried to wash. It was my fault, though. I shouldn't have agitated it but I forgot to go back and stop the washer (twice) prior to that cycle. Learned my lesson.