Originally Posted by
Gramie bj
I'm one that prewashes everything, yes even fat quarters, charms,and jelly rolls,recieved as gifts, (use sweater bags for small pieces and jelly rolls,) I always wash and dry new fabric the same way I will the finished quilt and I always use color catchers. All it takes is one runing color or one fabric that shrinks a lot more than the rest and all your hard work is ruined. I have noticed a lot less shrinkage and running colors in the last few years, maybe the fabric makers are improving there products. Do what you feel best in any given case.
Me too. In my experience all quilting cotton, even from high end manufacturers, shrinks WOF (selvedge to selvedge) but rarely along the length. Different batches from the same manufacturer can even shrink differently. Needed 2 charm packs of the same line and had to order from 2 different mail order companies. Washed both batches at the same time (salad spinner method) one distorted A LOT the other stayed pretty straight. Both shrunk a bit. Batiks don't shrink, but they can bleed like crazy, even colors that you wouldn't think would, like yellow.