Washing Fat qtrs
07-08-2011, 01:31 PM
#11
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,770
Originally Posted by Barb44
I wash everything because of the chemicals. FQ go in a mesh bag. If there is a little fraying, I feel it is a necessary evil.
I worked in a clothing store for several years. When we opened a box of imported garments the odor was awful. We would hang them outside behind the store to air out or the whole store would stink. They not only treated fabrics with sizing, but imported items were treated with insecticides or we would open a box of bugs. I am assuming that since almost all fabric is imported that quilt fabric is the same.
I worked in a clothing store for several years. When we opened a box of imported garments the odor was awful. We would hang them outside behind the store to air out or the whole store would stink. They not only treated fabrics with sizing, but imported items were treated with insecticides or we would open a box of bugs. I am assuming that since almost all fabric is imported that quilt fabric is the same.
07-08-2011, 01:36 PM
#13
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Westminster, Co
Posts: 2,675
Originally Posted by mcdaniel023
Originally Posted by gaigai
Originally Posted by blueangel
I have never washed fat quarters.
07-08-2011, 03:04 PM
#15
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Behind my sewing machine
Posts: 7,202
I don't see why a person would not wash fat qtrs...its so easy...very little fraying and seconds to iron...I have also seen some fabrics fade after washing and so glad I did wash since I ended up not using it for the project I was doing.
07-09-2011, 04:38 AM
#17
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota
Posts: 1,653
If I'm making a quilt that will be washed, I prewash w/ detergent. If it'll be a wallhanging I don't. I've not had problems with the fabric and my skin, but if I did, I'd prewash everything and then starch afterwards to give the fabric back some body and control for cutting and piecing.
07-09-2011, 05:40 AM
#18
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 1,537
07-09-2011, 05:59 AM
#19
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Duluth/ Superior, WI
Posts: 1,038
I wash fat qtrs. in a dish pan of hot water and rinse several times. Use the salad spinner to get rid of the water and press while wet. Takes care of bleeding and shrinking. All big pieces of fabric I surge the edges or zigzag them and in the washer and high heat of the dryer. That was there will be no mishaps. You never know how someone will wash their quilt once it has been gifted, so I do the worse that they can do,
hot water and hot dryer.
Brenda
hot water and hot dryer.
Brenda
07-09-2011, 06:18 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Jackson, Georgia
Posts: 611
Don't prewash because of all the strings and then the ironing. Lazy? probably. I did when I first started quilting, but then found I like cutting the unwashed fabric better. But then, I'm not allergic to the finishes.
