I feel the same way. Also, my hands are extremely dry during the winter. The chemicals in the fabric adds to that malady, to the point of skin splitting. I use an unscented laundry product for washing the fabrics before working with them. Another reason to prewash is that I do not like the wrinkled looks of a vintage quilt. I know that cotton thread shrinks a bit creating the finished quilt a little bit of a crinkly look, but not as much as if none of the materials were pre washed. I love the look of a nice, smooth freshly made quilt.
Originally Posted by
tessagin
I'm not about to pass on to anyone a quilt that may cause an allergic reaction. Especially to babies much less with so many dirty hands having touched the fabric. I get other tasks accomplished while the laundering of the fabric is going on. I would rather wash before hand the yardage before cutting versus a large piece that may bleed or shrink. Everyone has their preference. Was told yesterday, I was a bit of a germaphobe. Oh well. Still going to prewash.