Will Emily Post or the quilt police come after me?
#21
I always wash my finished quilts, just part of it being finished. I try to always tell the receiver that it is clean. People normally wash quilts like sheets and I don't tell them to use color catchers or anything else. I try to tell them not to wash them to death.
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Some where in way out West Texas
Posts: 3,041
I just finished a BOM quilt for a wedding gift. Since it was a BOM, the fabric was not pre washed, because each month I only got small pieces of fabric. Is it okay to give a box of color catchers in with the gift or will 'they' come after me? Have any of you given color catchers with a quilt?
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Horse Country, FL
Posts: 7,341
Color Catchers always accompany a quilt when given from me. I put directions in with the quilt so they know what to do with them. I wash before giving, but still, you never know. And the quilt police can 'pound sand,' while I think Emily would say to go ahead and include them so the gift remains in good condition.
Last edited by coopah; 04-28-2015 at 04:05 AM.
#24
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 115
I don't like to wash my quilts before I give them due to I want the receiver to see the before/after look from washing. I just include 1 or 2 color catchers, depending on the fabric, and instructions to use them the first and second washing.
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 4,299
So many reasons to wash before gifting! Most quilt recipients have no clue what happens to a quilt in the wash, no idea that it might "crinkle" or look entirely different when they take it out of the washer. I don't want them to think the quilt is ruined, so I always wash first. Washing also gets rid of any dirt, oils from my hands, chemicals from unwashed fabrics, marks from quilting lines, etc. And lastly, the wash will also expose (hopefully) any areas desperately needing attention...like a pulled seam, loose quilting, or bleeding fabrics....then I can fix before gifting.
This, too. I have seen people visibly relax when I tell them that not only is the quilt machine-washable & dryable, it's ALREADY been through a wash and dry. If I'm giving a baby quilt, I wash on HOT and tell them I did so so they'll know it's safe to do the same if the baby has an accident on it. (Normally I wash on warm.) I want people to view my quilts as something that's designed to be USED daily. I also tell people it comes with a lifetime warranty (my lifetime) for any rips or holes or failed seams. I haven't been quilting very long yet but I HOPE some day I'll get back some tattered quilts that need new binding and backing and some patching done. I HOPE they get loved and used that much!
#27
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
I NEVER let a quilt go without washing it first, gift, sale, donation it does not matter. For me the final step to every quilt is laundering after the binding is finished. I've never had a new, laundered quilt look ( used) either. Laundering removes any soils/oils/chemicals and marks. Allows me to be sure every seam, stitch is secure and no colors are ( troublesome) . every quilt, every time... No matter what!
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
The other side of this is I gifted a pretty baby quilt to a young mom without washing it first, who called me a few days later in tears, because she had washed the quilt and it was now "ruined" because it was now " all wrinkly". I assured her that that is supposed to happen, and that 'wrinkly' is cuddly. I now wash them all.
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MaryAnnMc
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10-28-2011 07:12 PM