Originally Posted by
crafty pat
Just remember old fabric's shrink a lot more than newer ones do.
That is just what i was going to say. I received some hand embroidered blocks that my grandma had done many years ago. I zig-zaged the edges and hand washed them. They did shrink and I was glad they did before I went to the work of making the quilt and then washing it and getting a surprise. They were much fresher to work with. They came out nice and white. Sometimes old embroidery floss will color run and I wanted to stop that , too. I prewash everything so I don't have any surprises. Also, if the blocks don't survive the washing, then you will not have already made them into a quilt.