Best way to wash FQ

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04-07-2010, 02:56 PM

#41

fladack

Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Rochester, NY

Posts: 69

I put my fabric in a lingerie bag (the size of the bag varies with the amount of fabric) and put it in the washing machine. When you put it in the dryer pull it out after 10 minutes and press it right away. This is the best method I have found, fraying doesn't get caught in other clothes and wrinkles don't set in.

04-07-2010, 03:58 PM

#42

dljennings

Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: North Oxford MA

Posts: 943

i wash absolutely everything in hot water with like colors, towels & sheets usually, then dry on cotton...so any running or shrinking is done before i cut it.

i had a fabric in a finished quilt ( all purchased at the lgs) that ran and shrank crookedly (like it wasn't printed straight) in the quilt...

i never cry, but i sat next to the washer & cried that day....that'll never happen again!

04-07-2010, 03:59 PM

#43

SewExtremeSeams

Super Member

Join Date: May 2009

Posts: 7,741

I wash my FQ in my washing machine with small amount of my Arm & Hammers no scent detergent and throw in hot dryer after detangling (if necessary) and always giving it a good snap before putting it in a dryer. I keep a small pair of scissors near the washer for snipping threads.

I had not known that if you snip ever 4-6" along the cut edges that it will keep it from fraying. But, I will certainly be trying that next time. AND, yes, I do reds and very dark fabric separately. I also find that high quality QS fabric frays--just like Joann's fabric. I have tried to figure out the rhyme and reason of what causes fraying but so far no reason. One of those things we just have to deal with, I guess. Happy Quilting!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpfrog

okay...my 2¢ worth...
If a few small pieces like FQ, I wash my new fabrics with my regular clothes, soap and water, etc. and will use a lingerie bag sometimes. If I have any red FQ, then I wash with other reds or the like (DUH!) If it's a larger piece of fabric (yard or more), I snip the raw edges, a mere 1/8 to 1/4 inch, every 4-8 inches, so that if it was cut unevenly, it wont unravel all over my machine and tie the material into knots. Any excess threads get caught in the dryer filter. I've had the knots happen even with good quilt shop fabric, so it's not just with "cheap material". When ironing I do NOT use starch but use a Fabric Finish so it becomes "firm" again. Have not had any problems or surprises in all my years of quilting, so I guess I'm doing something right.

If you're getting a hole in the fabric, you might have a problem with your washing machine like something under the agitator is catching it??? or it's just cheap fabric (most of Joann's is from China now!!!!). It is 100% cotton, right? I've had holes develop in rayon and rayon-blends.

Good luck.

:roll:

04-07-2010, 05:01 PM

#44

hazeljane

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Tulsa, OK

Posts: 799

What is this "pre-washing" you all speak of? I have almost never had a problem and I rarely pre-wash, and then only vintage fabric that has been stored uncertainly for a long time.

04-07-2010, 05:34 PM

#45

craftybear

Google Goddess

Join Date: May 2009

Location: Central Indiana (USA)

Posts: 30,181

I was at a quilting education day last month and one of the owners of a LQS said to snip all 4 corners of fabrics before washing to prevent them from raveling.

04-07-2010, 05:39 PM

#46

mvjess

Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Posts: 48

I pre-wash all my fabrics in the washer machine before they get put away to use in a project. I use warm water and a color catcher so any that bleed do not ruin the rest. Then the heat from the iron or dryer finishes the pre-shrinking job. If you cut the selvedge corners before you wash, you will have less fraying and tangling of the frayed threads.
Cathy vj in MA

04-07-2010, 09:50 PM

#47

BrendaB

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Muscatine, Iowa by way of West Virginia, Washington State, and Montana

Posts: 1,130

Quote:

Originally Posted by I come to the sea to breathe

Glad to see these posts. I had put mine in the washer and dryer and they were so limp and not real pretty even after I ironed them. Now I will just rinse them and hang up tp dry and press. I feel better now...HA HA, sometimes it takes me a little bit longer to get things thru my head....

Hey, you aren't alone. I only tried a FQ once and it was such a mess after I washed it, I couldn't use it. I had sworn off FQ's, but now I think I will give them another try.

04-07-2010, 10:06 PM

#48

zz-pd

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Forest Grove,OR

Posts: 6,400

I washed a piece of red fabric that was given to me, it was so nice and bright, but when I pulled it out of the dryer it was dull, and this was a good quality fabric, why would that happen? and I will quilt with what ever I have. and that is what some wonderful generous ladies have sent, so I guess I will never be a snob when the generosity of some is why I am able to quilt. Penny

04-07-2010, 10:47 PM

#49

GladGrams

Super Member

Join Date: May 2009

Location: Norway

Posts: 1,509

:oops: I don't usually wash my fabrics - for wall hangings - and rarely for other projects unless it is specified.

Have to stop being so lazy...

04-07-2010, 11:49 PM

#50

Deecee

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: Victoria, Australia

Posts: 3,724

I usually only purchase FQs and prefer to work with the sizing still in them EXCEPT for swaps on the Board that require pre-washing and then I wash the FQs by hand - hot water with soap, rinse, hang to drip almost dry and press. Have not had any problems with freying, shrinking or colour runs.