annthreecats

I pre-wash. I spent a glorious half-hour before leaving for work this morning, starching and ironing the fabrics for the quilt I will be making for me. I've had this fabric for six months waiting for a chance to start this and I can't wait.

homebody323

I always prewash. I don't want any surprises when I'm finished with a quilt. Had one fade when I wasn't prewashing - I learn quickly.

jaciqltznok

that sentence should always end with "so far"!

jaciqltznok

I know many who say, always prewash, myself included! With Kaffe fabric, you are asking for trouble if you don't!
In your heart you knew the answer before you asked the question!

Shoofly1

If you prewash the fabric, do you then need to prewash the batting? I have always been afraid to use prewashed fabrics and have the batting shrink.

Marysewfun

I do, too - I wash all of it to avoid surprises - sometimes the ones I wouldn't expect to shrink - did!! And in ironing them, it gives me a chance to discover any flaws (pulled threads, spots) that weren't noticeable when I bought it.

Mary

IdahoSandy

Use fabric color catcher sheets in the washer and dryer.

catsnchina

I don't prewash and do use a lot of Kaffe fabric. AFter finishing a quilted project with Kaffe fabric in it, I use Shout color catchers to wash the quilt and was as many times as needed until the color catchers come out clear.

I just made a quilt that had a lot of Kaffe fabric with black background and intense colors including bright reds. Didn't prewash but washed 3 times with color catchers and final wash without color catcher after quilt was finished. No bleeding but the first 3 color catcher washes did capture colors from the quilt fabrics including black and red.

Katmom

Some expensive fabrics still can run! I can tell by the color of the water when I have pre-soaked a piece in a pan of warm water. My Thursday group quilt instructor always pre-washes her fabric and on a piece she had done a few yrs ago that was a UFO she accidentally spritzed part of it with water. In this piece she had made glasses out of red fabric. One side of the glasses bled (giving her face a look like "pink eye" and the other side did not! Now she has to find some fabric paint to fix the glasses as all they remedies she tried to remove the bleeding failed!
If you cut a small piece and pace it in a measuring cup with hot water and it bleeds, then I would soak the fabric in retayne and wash with synthrapol.
Have had red, black, brown, purple, blue and green run on my pre- tests.
If for a quilt to be used and washed then at least test to see if any of it runs. If for a wall hanging you could skip this step
just my experiences with fabric!

Robinlee

I'm with this crew, PRE-WASH..........I have a degree in Clothing and Textiles, and even before I finished Jr. high I knew to prewash fabric (sewing since I was seven years and in 4-H), lesson's learn paid off, but one time I made a special Wedding quilt for DD and DSIL, all the fabrics were pre-washed (Before Color Catchers), and the darker colors were done 2's and with vinagar(I wasn't taking chances). My mom long armed quilted it, then because of the marking tools for the special quilting, she decided it needed washing before the "Big Day". Well, let's put it this way............she was just beside herself to find out that the Blue bled into the yellow and white. We were calling all over for advice, She hand washed, scrubed till her hands were red. The blue was washed 2'x, and set with vingar, and of course the main border. I know it could of been worse if it wasn't for the pre-washing before hand.

Yes, it is an extra step to take and of course the ironing is a pain, but truly, why take the chances of not, and having to work hard to remove (if at all possible) and the money/time you put in to making this item.