Originally Posted by
QuiltE
Both washing and drying can cause shrinkage.
My rule of thumb, and many others ... Abuse it to the utmost ... and know the worse case scenarios before you start sewing.
Yes, you may never intend to wash it in hot water ever again and will give it LOTS of TLC! ........ but there's always that one time that the red quilt, jumps in with your white lingerie .... and if you've done the job, you don't have to panic!!!
RE bleeders ... one hot water wash, does NOT guarantee that the bleed is over with!!
And too, I've discovered many times fabrics that bleed, that I would never have thought as potential candidates.
Similarly, there's been surprises of those that did not.
Well - I try to keep the agitation of fabrics to a minimum - because that's what I think makes them look 'used before their time'
I do the hot water soak (like colors together!!!!!!) - watch the water to see if it is clear or colored - if colored, look for the contributor and give that one additional soaks and rinses.
If a fabric ends up coloring the water after several rinses - I put it aside - WITH A LABEL - telling me that it has bad manners.
then I usually wash in tepid water, and dry until 'done' - my dryer has a 'how dry do you want it' setting
I have a cotton ironing board cover (it was cut skimpy from the manufacturer
) that I put back on the ironing board when it's quite damp.
I have a couple of cushion covers (cotton fabric) that I have to put back on the cushions when they are still damp - or I would never get them back on.
After all this rambling - some cottons shrink when dried.
I am not able to tell 'by looking' how a fabric will perform.