Thanks everyone for both the welcome and the washing tips. I really prefer working with fabric straight from the shop even though I should pre-wash them. I've made two quilts for my soon to be expected grandson and since they are soooo important to me I would hate to see them run for any reason. So are the color catchers/dye magnets better than 'setting' the color first and then using them? The lap quilts I've made in the past haven't been this important so I simply washed in cold water with no issues.

What a beautiful quilt.

Welcome from Ireland

So many people from all sorts of places on this board. How exciting! And Ireland. I'd love to visit Ireland. Some of my ancestors are from there. :-)

Hello, welcome from Nevada!

Welcome from MI

I'm from Missouri. So nice to meet everyone. I've sewed for years and made lap blankets, etc. but I've not done a lot of quilting. Do you all do your own quilting or have it done for you? I am sorry to say so far I only make the tops and have the item quilted for me but I would love to learn to do more of the entire process myself. My mother in law made literally hundreds of quilts in her lifetime and quilted them all by hand bless her heart. Now that takes time and talent.

Color catchers are the way to go....I made a red and yellow quilt and didnt wash the fabric...everytime i was the quilt i use a color catcher and the red never bleeds to the yellow. I am a total believer in not washing fabric and using the color catchers!!

Yea they are wonderful. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Thanks cowgirl and skothing. That makes me feel a lot more confident about using that product and it not bleeding. I have a second quilt to wash as well (this one is in shades of blue) and I'm going to wash that one myself this week and see how it all goes.