Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
Do you  prewash and why? >

Do you prewash and why?

Do you prewash and why?

Old 10-22-2010, 12:23 PM
  #21  
Super Member
 
quiltluvr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lost in a quilt shop :-)
Posts: 1,342
Default

Don't know if you tried this, but with charms, just soak them in the sink, if you must prewash. You can put a color catcher in, with hot water, a squirt of detergent, swish and let soak. Rinse and lay flat on a towel to air dry. Then you won't have all that mess to deal with from the agitation of the washer or the tumbling in the dryer.

Just a thought.
quiltluvr is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 12:31 PM
  #22  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: rural SE Georgia
Posts: 1,003
Default

This is an area that even the 'pros' have different opinions!!!
I do not prewash unless it is a dark fabric and I always air dry outside. I bought an expensive red and it bled and bled. Bought a red at Wally World for $4.99 a yard and it did not bleed at all. I tested DMC red embroidery thread for redwork and I was amazed at how much it bled.
laceybritt is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 05:25 PM
  #23  
Junior Member
 
everybody's mother's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Staples, Mn
Posts: 177
Default

Originally Posted by Candace
Sorry, I don't understand this posting and what it's supposed to mean! If you'd rather go through all that vinegar washing, zig zag sewing etc. rather than just throwing it in the washer and dryer....I don't get it.
Hey, that was a little snippy. She was just answering the question. That is just the way she does it. Let's play nice

:cry:
everybody's mother is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 05:30 PM
  #24  
Super Member
 
mmonohon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,840
Default

I pre-wash all my fabric. But I do not prewash my flannels (I like it when they shrink after washing-personal preference.)
mmonohon is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 05:34 PM
  #25  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Outer Space
Posts: 9,319
Default

Originally Posted by everybody's mother
Originally Posted by Candace
Sorry, I don't understand this posting and what it's supposed to mean! If you'd rather go through all that vinegar washing, zig zag sewing etc. rather than just throwing it in the washer and dryer....I don't get it.
Hey, that was a little snippy. She was just answering the question. That is just the way she does it. Let's play nice

:cry:
Not snippy at all. She started the topic and wasn't answering any questions. I still don't get the topic! Don't feel like you have to be my mommy and scold me(everybodys mother indeed).

:hunf:
Candace is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 07:57 PM
  #26  
np3
Power Poster
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 13,214
Default

I don't prewash. I use Color Catcher after I am done.
np3 is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 08:35 PM
  #27  
Super Member
 
karenm36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Enchanted Oaks, Tx
Posts: 1,750
Default

Originally Posted by oatw13
I always prewash. I like to see how a fabric will look when it is washed and how it holds up in the wash. I have had a few surprises along the way!

Fabrics are also treated with many chemicals, not just dyes. Those chemicals are terrible for you to breathe in and work with. Recently, I have had some "good" fabric that I washed that had the most awful smell AFTER I washed it. After about 10 washings, the chemicals and smell still wouldn't come out. If I had not washed it first, I never would have known.
This is the same reason I wash the fabric beforehand as well...the chemicals!! They are readily absorbed into one's body through the skin...and quilts are made to be snuggled into. Can't imagine giving a quilt for a baby without it being prewashed...and more than once!! I wash the fabric several times and then dry on low heat...this usually takes care of any bleeding issues of the colors and then preshrinks it before I iron and cut it for the piecing. Then when I'm working with the fabric I know I'm not getting ill effects from the chemicals either. I get terrible headaches from fabrics if they haven't been washed. Same with newly purchased clothing from stores...prewash a lot to get rid of all the chemicals.
karenm36 is offline  
Old 10-22-2010, 10:42 PM
  #28  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
Default

I can go either way, but it is all or nothing for the entire quilt. If I have an incling of doubt, I wash and of course all Swap blocks have to be prewashed. Now, I tend to toss the yardage in the washer with like colors and dry it to just dry. That way it is easy to smooth out.
MadQuilter is offline  
Old 10-23-2010, 12:26 AM
  #29  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Sparta, TN
Posts: 1,211
Default

Originally Posted by knlsmith
sometimes i do, most times I don't. I wash the blues and reds and darks, etc. Shout color catchers are AWESOME!
I got a free sample of the Shout color catcher and it did not work. All the light colors were pink.
TN Donna is offline  
Old 10-23-2010, 02:48 AM
  #30  
Junior Member
 
everybody's mother's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Staples, Mn
Posts: 177
Default

Ok Candace, I'm afraid I offended you, sorry. I think she may have been venting and sometimes it is hard to understand the way people go about it,Can we be friends?
Originally Posted by Candace
Originally Posted by everybody's mother
Originally Posted by Candace
Sorry, I don't understand this posting and what it's supposed to mean! If you'd rather go through all that vinegar washing, zig zag sewing etc. rather than just throwing it in the washer and dryer....I don't get it.
Hey, that was a little snippy. She was just answering the question. That is just the way she does it. Let's play nice

:cry:
Not snippy at all. She started the topic and wasn't answering any questions. I still don't get the topic! Don't feel like you have to be my mommy and scold me(everybodys mother indeed).

:hunf:
:?:
everybody's mother is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
CharlottsQuilts
Main
35
12-02-2011 01:02 PM
deedum
Main
127
10-31-2011 06:06 PM
vicki75
Main
16
10-11-2011 08:24 PM
butterflywing
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
15
01-19-2011 12:13 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter