washing fabric
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: LaSalle Ontario
Posts: 95
washing fabric
I know this has been brought up before but I need to see the answers again. I wash all my fabric including FQ's. I wished I hadn't started this. Can I use unwashed charms with my washed fabric? Can I stop washing altogether and combined washed and unwashed?
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,535
I hand wash and use a salad spinner for small pieces of fabric that I suspect might bleed. I usually do not wash pre-cuts if I will be using the whole size as they can fray. As for combining washed and unwashed, it is completely up to you.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 402
Shrinkage and bleeding are at issue here. For me it is dependent upon the quality and the color of the fabric. Some fabrics have so much dye the fabric is stiff. This is low quality fabric in my opinion. Reds and blues bleed and should minimally be tested whether they come in a pre-cut or not. This is just my own rule of thumb. Good luck.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: in the sticks of PA
Posts: 2,312
I am a washer with my fabrics however I don't wash my charm packs or jelly rolls (these are the only pre cuts that I use). That being said if they were batiks I probably would being as careful as possible not to make the fabric fray.
#5
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: suburbs of Dallas, TX
Posts: 64
I started out washing fabric as it came into the house, but grew tired of it very quickly. So I just stopped. I mix the unwashed with the washed all the time, and have not had any problem. Nearly all of my fabric is from quilt shops rather than big box or craft stores. I'm so happy that I gave myself permission to stop pre-washing. Laundry isn't on my list of favorite activities!
#6
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 130
I started out washing all my fabric as soon as it came in the door. I later realized it was way too time-consuming for me. i stopped cold turkey and never looked back, using pre-washed and non-washed together without paying attention to which was which. I have had zero problems and don't regret the decision. I do toss color catchers in when i wash the finished quilt. If they "catch" a lot, I include a box of color catchers when i give the quilt away.
DebD
DebD
#9
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: LaSalle Ontario
Posts: 95
That brings up another problem. I went to my local WalMart and they don't know what a color catcher is. They didn't know what freezer paper was either. My husband found me some freezer paper at Zehrs Grocery. I don't know if it is the right stuff. It's by Reynolds and says its plastic coated. I did not check their for color catchers yet. I also don't know if is makes a difference on unwashed fabric when I use my disappearing marking pens.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Iowa
Posts: 495
I never wash any of my fabrics before using them in a quilt, but have never done a quilt that has high contrast...red/white...either. In my life, the need for washing would just add another stumbling block to getting started on a project! I normally use good yardage from our LQS which sells high quality fabric. I always wash my quilts when they are finished and ready to gift, and always use color catchers. No problems!
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