Originally Posted by
Digitizingqueen
I always wash after quilt is finished to wash out marks chemicals and other stuff I rarely prewash unless I am doing large applique rule is if you prewash wash all if you dont dont wash any!
Wait - check this out! I recently learned this is how Sharon Schamber (Master Quilter and winner of numerous awards) does her applique. She washes ONLY the applique fabric. She does NOT prewash her background fabric. She appliques her pieces using a very tiny straight stitch at the edge of the fabric. When the applique is done, she washes the top. The background will then shrink, which pulls the edges of the applique in and under the shape, thus hiding the stitching from view. I have yet to try this (I keep forgetting to not prewash my background fabric) but it definitely sounds intriguing!