why you do not wash fabrics before cutting?
03-01-2015, 06:55 PM
#91
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Oxford, CT
Posts: 126
I love the crisp feel of new fabric. If you buy quality fabric & quilt it heavily it all shrinks together at the end. However, if I mix batiks with regular cottons I would pre-wash/pre-shrink the regular cottons. Same with flannel. Ok by itself but will wash if mixing with "flat" cottons
03-02-2015, 12:12 AM
#92
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
03-02-2015, 09:24 AM
#93
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: around Indianapolis
Posts: 3
I only pre-wash for two reasons 1) If I use flannel for my back. It shrinks more than the regular cottons so I will prewash it. 2) If I am making something that will be heavily quilted like a wall hanging. I love the wrinkily look quilts get if they aren't pre-washed, but if you are doing lots of FMQ you don't want that look. Otherwise I never pre-wash, waste of time that I could use on getting the quilt made. And I am too lazy to do boring things. Laundry is boring. P.S. I love color catchers.
03-03-2015, 06:21 AM
#94
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 674
Love the answers here. I did start off washing, but just hated it and honestly if there were rules you had to wash first I wouldn't quilt. I love the crinkly look, I don't get runs because I use 4-8 color catchers and use them for the first few washes. And I always wash after I'm finished with it. I want to enjoy my crinkles and it always has a different look after washing.
03-03-2015, 10:58 AM
#95
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,472
My main reason is because it seems odd to me to wash out sizing and then put lots of starch on it to piece it! With today's technology, there isn't a lot of shrinking on most cottons & since that's all I use, it's just personal preference. Plus, living in a camper, I have to use a Laundromat and that would get very expensive! I usually wash the quilts before I give them away unless they're in a particular hurry & then I just add Color Catchers in case something runs.
03-03-2015, 12:51 PM
#97
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
Actually I don't know anyone who does that. My first wash would be after it gets dirty, not before I wear it the first time.
03-04-2015, 08:54 AM
#98
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 5,896
Originally Posted by beadywoman 
Consider the clothes that we buy at the store. That fabric is not prewashed prior to garment construction. The first thing that we do when we get new clothes home is put them in the wash.
I NEVER wear new clothes without washing them, first. The only exceptions would be shoes and maybe packaged socks. Many years ago, I worked at a department store, which sold clothing. Let's just say that cured me of wanting to wear anything without washing it, first!
03-04-2015, 09:06 AM
#99
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 449
Originally Posted by beadywoman Consider the clothes that we buy at the store. That fabric is not prewashed prior to garment construction. The first thing that we do when we get new clothes home is put them in the wash.
I NEVER wear new clothes without washing them, first. The only exceptions would be shoes and maybe packaged socks. Many years ago, I worked at a department store, which sold clothing. Let's just say that cured me of wanting to wear anything without washing it, first!
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