MASSIVE shrinkage - beware
02-08-2013, 02:05 AM
#72
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: California
Posts: 14,723
It is a legitimate question. I have never heard of any kind of can of worms about this; i just did not know that people washed quilts in hot water. Most people I know advise washing them in warm or cool and on a gentle cycle if they have that option. But many people asked this beside me and I wonder why I am being a bit singled out here.
I have heard that if you buy your fabric at Joanne's that it is made with a lower thread count than other lines. I do not know this for a fact, but have been told this by several people. This could mean a weaker fabric in general.
I have heard that if you buy your fabric at Joanne's that it is made with a lower thread count than other lines. I do not know this for a fact, but have been told this by several people. This could mean a weaker fabric in general.
02-08-2013, 05:22 AM
#74
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: near Niagara Falls, NY
Posts: 3,075
Alison - LOVE your sense of humor and the quirky & fun way you put your thoughts into words!
This was an interesting and helpful post. I too am in the prewash and abuse the fabric beforehand sisterhood (ala QuiltE
). I have always wondered how quilts with fabrics that were not prewashed fare in normal use. (which to me includes machine washing, at least with warm water)
I asked a friend who makes truly magnificent quilts (but never prewashes) this question. You know what she said? That if the quilt shrinks too much, she just makes another one. i about had a heart attack... and it convinced me that I never want to take that risk. It takes me forever to make a quilt...let alone considering the expense of the fabrics, which has become plain ridiculous.
This was an interesting and helpful post. I too am in the prewash and abuse the fabric beforehand sisterhood (ala QuiltE
). I have always wondered how quilts with fabrics that were not prewashed fare in normal use. (which to me includes machine washing, at least with warm water) I asked a friend who makes truly magnificent quilts (but never prewashes) this question. You know what she said? That if the quilt shrinks too much, she just makes another one. i about had a heart attack... and it convinced me that I never want to take that risk. It takes me forever to make a quilt...let alone considering the expense of the fabrics, which has become plain ridiculous.
Last edited by BuzzinBumble; 02-08-2013 at 05:30 AM.
02-08-2013, 06:05 AM
#75
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Monroe, IN
Posts: 2,283
I use a hot water wash and dry on hot for lots of things....whites that I want to stay white, towels and sheets that have a tendency to stink and anything else that needs the heat to eliminate any chance of bacteria......with all the bacterias/virus going around, as well as dealing with DH ostomy leaks, I wash lots of things in hot water.
02-08-2013, 06:44 AM
#76
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: North Florida
Posts: 2
Thank you for this information. I have on occasion simply wet my fabric and dried in a towel, hanging to complete the dry, feeling that this would take care of shrinkage and color bleed...boy this note has changed my mind. I will from now on wash and dry my fabric on hot heat! So many good reasons to do so, health concerns being #1 (allergy to dies and bed bugs) and endurance of quilts #2.
This is amusing as I have been looking for a lettuce spinner at thrift stores. The latest tip I was excited about dealt with fat quarters... wet in kitchen sink and put through the salad spinner to take out most of the water... then dry naturally from there... Will quilt looking as I consider this a more viable issue.
Thanks again.
This is amusing as I have been looking for a lettuce spinner at thrift stores. The latest tip I was excited about dealt with fat quarters... wet in kitchen sink and put through the salad spinner to take out most of the water... then dry naturally from there... Will quilt looking as I consider this a more viable issue.
Thanks again.
02-08-2013, 08:03 AM
#77
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Winston-Salem NC
Posts: 659
The fabric I bought to make up the extra fabric needed due to the shrinkage of the Henry Glass back is an Anthology Batik wide back. I bought 2 yards of backing listed as being 108" wide. I measured the 2 yard length before washing, and it was 2yds plus an inch or so. I didn't measure the width.
I have now washed and dried it: length 2yards, width 110". Now that's better!!
Alison
I have now washed and dried it: length 2yards, width 110". Now that's better!!
Alison
02-08-2013, 08:48 AM
#78
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Central NY
Posts: 226
I see on fabric.com they recommend this fabric be washed in COLD water. Now I don't know about anyone else but my quilts get washed just like the rest of my laundry. I don't think I would use a fabric that could only be washed in cold in any of my quilts. That is just a ridiculous idea for a fabric manufacturer of QUILTING fabric to make fabrics that could only be washed in cold water. Sounds like they already know there is an issue with shrinkage. Sorry this happened to you
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