Thread: to wash or not to wash

Hey y'all...

When you buy material for a quilt project do you wash it first or wait until it is finished project? I have heard it both ways and thought I would take a survey.

So the survey says :?:

Bev

I wash the finished project. No pre-washing here..

I don't pre-wash, but I do test suspicious fabrics. I wash the finished quilt in Synthrapol (with lots of water).

wash only if it is a bleeder or a batik that might bleed.

if the quilt will be washed during its lifetime then i wash the fabric first.

if its for a swap and the rules are washed, then i wash.

if its an art quilt or a show quilt i do not wash.

If it's all new fabric, and I trust that the colors won't run, I may forego washing. If I am in doubt, I may do a color test. If I pull from my stash, then the new stuff gets washed because I won't mix unwashed with washed. Worried that things will shrink unevenly.

I don't wash mine. I like the feel of working with it before it gets all of the sizing out. I wash it after the project is done (except for all hangings) and it shrinks a little which makes it look a little older and I like that. (OK, I am older too and understand the quality age brings)

I wash everything washable before cutting it.

Hi and welcome to the board from Iowa. I do not prewash.

I don't prewash, I actually like the look if it shrinks a little, makes it more comfy.