ging10ging

i prewash most everything i find especially dark colors safer. sue

djvaug

I never prewash, because:
1)I'm too lazy and don't like to iron before I did anything with the material.2) As it is, I have a hard time with cutting and sewing straight - I figure the stiff material helps control that. 3)I have too much material that isn't washed already, so what's the point.
HOWEVER, I made a quilt with dark blue, dark wine, and very, very white. Guess what happened? After I washed it, there was pink on the back. I might change my mind and prewash (at least when I'm working with white)

LivelyLady

Same here :-D

Coreyquilter

I pre wash reds, blues and other dark colors if mixing with lighter fabrics and batiks.

Annya

I always wash ALL of my fabric as soon as I can before putting it away in the drawers. I hate unexpected surprises.

bearisgray

Some commercial/ready-made bias tapes and trims also shrink.

I was surprised to learn that a cotton/poly bias tape would shrink - but that would explain the "cupping" that occurs after something like a bib is washed that has been bound with bias tape.

mac

In the past I didn't prewash my fabrics, unless they were dark colors or bleeders.

However, I changed my mind a few years ago when I started coughing and tearing up when I worked with the fabric. I worked in a LQS for a few months and that's when it started happening. A lot of the fabric has Formaldehyde and other chemicals in it, which is not good to breathe. Many people have alergies to it and then don't even know it.

Since then I prewash all of my fabrics, adding Shout's Color Catcher to the wash to get any extra dyes that want to bleed. I fold it up as soon as it comes from the dryer to keep the wrinkles out. I don't iron the fabric until I actually need it and only iron the amount I really need. For example: I have a yard of fabric, but I only need 1/4 yard of fabric, I cut that amount off and iron that amount. While ironing I use a heavy duty starch on the fabric, which gives it the feel of new fabric, making it easier to cut and sew on.

In short, one vote for prewashing.
mac

eeraemore

I wash after, never before.

Scissor Queen

Yes, that is the question and the answer is totally up to each individual.

penski

i prewash all my material before it goes in my sewing room , i dont want to have a surprise of it shrinking or bleeding on other colors in my quilt after it is all done