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Washing quilt top

Washing quilt top

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Old 10-24-2010, 07:45 PM
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I have a quilt top done. did not prewash the 75 pre-cut strips. Is it okay to wash the quilt top (no batting or backing yet) before I sandwich and quilt it or will washing it alone distort it?
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Old 10-24-2010, 07:48 PM
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I don't prewash my fabrics either. I would not wash your top before quilting - you could have lots of problems with frayed edges. I always wait until it is quilted and bound then wash in cold on gentle cycle. Good luck with your quilt!
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Old 10-24-2010, 07:49 PM
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That's probably a good idea, to wait until it is quilted and bound. Then you can wash the backing at the same time.
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Old 10-24-2010, 07:51 PM
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I agree...wait 'til it's done...too much scope for disaster if you do it now.
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Old 10-24-2010, 08:23 PM
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I also agree!
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Old 10-24-2010, 08:26 PM
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finish the quilt totally and then wash ... everything will shrink together hopefully at the same percentage...
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Old 10-25-2010, 04:28 AM
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wait until it is quilted and bound then wash your finished quilt! if you do it as just a top everyone of those piecing seams you so painstakingly worked on are going to fray and be a horrible mess!
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Old 10-25-2010, 04:31 AM
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Definately wait until the top is completely finished. I learned the hard way :-(
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Old 10-25-2010, 05:33 AM
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It can be done. I had a completed top that a cat puked on before it was sandwiched and quilted. I went ahead and washed it at that stage and nothing bad happened. Unfortunately the puke stain did not come out :thumbdown:

I had no problems with it unravelling or anything. I tumble dried it until it was just slightly damp and then ironed it. Sat as a UFO for years. It is currently on my new longarm. First quilt on the longarm. Good candidate because at this stage of the game I don't care if I ruin it. Maybe once it is all quilted I will try and get that stain out again but if it doesn't come out it will be a good utility quilt. Stains don't keep it from being warm. ;-)
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Old 10-25-2010, 06:27 AM
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You got LUCKY!! I had a customer bring three tops that she pieced then washed. One wasn't too bad, but the others were a mess!! I spent a lot of time clipping threads just to get them to lay flat (and yes, she paid for that!).

Unless something really nasty happens (cat puke counts!), just quilt, then wash.
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