Washed & Unwashed
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 136
Washed & Unwashed
I've been in some I spy swaps and plan to do some more. Some say prewash fabric and others say not to. My question is about mixing them both in the same quilt? Is it going to show a difference?
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 4,961
It could. Some fabric doesn't shrink at all, other fabric can shrink a lot. Also some fabric is more color fast than other fabric. Don't know what to suggest for you and the mixing them. I wash all my fabric and iron it when I'm ready to use it. That is why I don't do fabric swaps - don't have any control over what others do.
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
You can mix washed and unwashed in the same quilt top, but you need to be aware of a couple of things.
Once quilted moderately, the batting will control shrinkage so variations in shrinkage of fabric are really not an issue. (It *is* an issue if quilting lines are far apart -- say more than 6" -- or if a quilt is tied; then you would not want to mix washed and unwashed.)
To prevent possible bleeds from settling into other fabrics, it's a really good idea to wash the finished quilt with Synthrapol in a machine that uses a *lot* of water. Synthrapol suspends dye particles in the water so they are rinsed away. You need a washing machine that uses a lot of water so that any bleeds are diluted enough. Domestic front loaders don't use enough water for Synthrapol to be effective; however, domestic top loaders and laundromat front loaders are fine.
Once quilted moderately, the batting will control shrinkage so variations in shrinkage of fabric are really not an issue. (It *is* an issue if quilting lines are far apart -- say more than 6" -- or if a quilt is tied; then you would not want to mix washed and unwashed.)
To prevent possible bleeds from settling into other fabrics, it's a really good idea to wash the finished quilt with Synthrapol in a machine that uses a *lot* of water. Synthrapol suspends dye particles in the water so they are rinsed away. You need a washing machine that uses a lot of water so that any bleeds are diluted enough. Domestic front loaders don't use enough water for Synthrapol to be effective; however, domestic top loaders and laundromat front loaders are fine.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
I'd guess that it isn't going to be make a big difference unless you are working with large pieces or denim. Denim tends to shrink a lot--but if you wait until after you finish it to quilt it, things will be better. Usually 1 spy pieces are pretty small--5 or 6"--I think you are fine.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York City/Manhattan
Posts: 1,316
if it is a swap, you really should abide by the swap rules. If it is for yourself, I never prewash and find that after it is quilted, moderately to very close together, there is minimal shrinkage.
#7
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sturbridge, Ma
Posts: 3,992
If you do a swap then one needs to follow the swap rules. If you don't agree with the washed or unwashed then don't do the swap. Unless, you are prepared to wash the fabri you get and take a chance of bleading or shrinkage and prepared to recut the pieces (that is if you get small pieces. fat quarters are not necessarily a problem.
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: East Oklahoma - pining for Massachusetts
Posts: 10,477
I do not pre-wash, but have been given fabric that was. Have used everything together, and don't give it a second thought. As Prism99 said, the amount of quilting will help.
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 136
Thank you all for all the answers, it sounds like it will be ok to mix them. The first swaps were for 4" squares and now I want to switch to 5" squares.
I do abide with what ever the swap says, that wasn't the question. If it says to wash, I wash, if it says not to, I don't.My concern was mixing the two.
Thanks again for all the help.
Linda
I do abide with what ever the swap says, that wasn't the question. If it says to wash, I wash, if it says not to, I don't.My concern was mixing the two.
Thanks again for all the help.
Linda
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