thepolyparrot

I tumble the batt in the dryer with a damp towel for a few minutes to relax the creases, but I haven't ever pre-washed the batt.

I like my quilts to look crinkly after they're made, so I wash them after they're finished to shrink up the batt and wrinkle the fabric. :)

jljack

Never have. I love the "used" look that cotton batting gives when it shrinks a little with the first washing of the finished quilt.

dyer804

Thanks so much for your opinions! It is good to listen to the voice of experience.

SaraSewing

Never. I choose to make my life simpler and ignore lots of things, like the possibility of batting shrinking. There are too many things that I choose to do that make a difference. And if it should shrink (I've never had that happen), it will just add charm to my quilt.

Borntohandquilt

It's very interesting to read your postings...most of you do not prewash battings as I do, I want to have that typical "antique" look especially cotton battings have after washing the complete quilt.
In my handquilting workshops many of my students ask how to preshrink and prewash, most of them want to do it. They don't like to have that used look. That makes me a little sad...

damaquilts

I haven't used the cotton batting much But do like the 80/20. I spray it with a water bottle and put it in the dryer for a very short period of time. But I do it to get the wrinkles out. I don't have room for one to lay out over night. Besides too impatient. I guess it shrinks it a little.

calicocat

Never. I only imagine the pain of having all that batting stinking wet in my tub and then having to wait for hours for it to dry. UGH

quilt3311

I never have, but may try a small piece to see what happens.

Hosta

seems like a lot of extra work which myself being a lazy quilter do not want

dls

I have not shrunk W&N because it only shrinks 3% and gives the quilt a little puffy look when washed. I did wash the Hobbs Heirloom Premium though because it said it would shrink about 5% and I thought that was too much for the projects I wanted to use it for. I wet it in the washer and dried it in the drier and it turned out just fine.