Does quilting really stabilize fabrics that shrink?
Has anyone ever done a test? Or measured their items before and after washing them?
I have considered doing a test with fabrics that I know shrink - with warm and natural batting -
but - so far - I have not done so.
The fabrics I was considering were Michael Miller's black - and the Legacy muslin from Jo-Ann fabrics -
and using 20 inch squares.
Then - cutting and washing one square of each as a test to see if they are still shrinking and which way the shrinkage is more - assemble the other sandwiches with unwashed fabrics and batting.
Then tie one units each "type" in the center, one with just an x from corner to corner, one with quilting spaced 5 inches apart, and one with quilting spaced 2 inches apart.
Wash gently in hot water - and dry gently - then measure the results.
Until I see the results of a test something like this - I will remain skeptical.
20 inch squares would be large enough to "see" if there is any change - and also an easy number to work with if there is any change.