CarrieAnne

Thats why I always wash my fabrics, too, you just NEVER know~

WilliP

100% cotton will shrink. poly/cotton blends will pucker and melt if too hot an iron. Personally I prewash everything in a cool temp. cycle (65-75 degrees F. Tepid) wash and dry on medium in the dryer. Take out while still a bit damp and press. Make sure to try to use scant 1/4 inch seams --my blocks were shrinking at one point when my machine settings had been changed and I didn't realize it. LOL

Minda

I always prewash fabric in warm water, dry on medium, and iron with steam before I start cutting. All brands and lines of 100% cotton fabric can shrink (even the quilt shop quality).

If you are using pre-cut kits and the pieces of fabric are large enough to allow some shrinkage, but you don't want to risk washing them, press them with steam or spray sizing BEFORE you cut them to size.

leatheflea

Yep, it happened to me twice. Using some vintage fabric that my mom gave me. I ironed the first block and it went all out of shape. The fabric was vintage and had very little extra for errors. I turned the iron down and was very careful. I now iron before I piece.

nellebelles

I participated in a BOM from a LQS--they advised that we NOT use steam when pressing our blocks. Of course, the fabric wasn't washed before it was cut into the bits needed for our packs. This makes me wonder (and worry...) what will happen when the quilt gets washed. If it happens more with dark fabrics than with light ones, that really scares me. The quilt I'm referring to is made with a very dark brown background and lots of bright colors as accents. It's beautiful, but I guess I will just have to wait and see. I'm making it for one of my twin step-daughters. The other twin will receive a quilt made entirely by her father. The quilts are "twins" too, except the one DH made has a very light background with more muted colors for accents.

ckcowl

steam will certainly shrink your cottons if you do not pre-wash...anytime you want every thing to fit together and shrink together they should be pre-washed, toss in the dryer, then press...it has nothing to do with starch it has to do with the heat. some people never pre-wash and they like the 'shrunk' end product, but seldom will 2 different fabrics shrink uniformly...and i don't know about you but it is very normal for me to use 100 or more different fabrics in one queen size quilt...that could mean lots of different shrinking going on. i tend to get home from purchasing fabric, entering the house through the garage, the washer and dryer are first thing...and the fabric goes right into the washer before ever getting close to the sewing room. when i have alot to wash (like 25 fat quarters or something like that i set up the ironing board at a sitting height, put in a movie and sit and iron for an afternoon..it is as relaxing as hand sewing can be ;)

bearisgray

I found that when I pressed/ironed fabrics that were sopping wet from starch or sizing that they stretched.

I've since been told that one should starch, then let the fabric dry, and THEN steam press.

My personal belief is that fabrics should have good manners "on their own" - they should NOT need to be washed with synthropol or retayne or color catchers (after the quilt is made) nor should they need to be starched or sized to have decent body to work with.

I will concede using starch lightly to stabilize pieces cut on the bias.

To find out if fabric has good manners, I wash and dry it before doing anything else with it.

My opinion. And I feel strongly about it.

And there are others that say they have had no problems with using fabric "straight from the store"

I'm not going to change their minds. They are not going to change mine about this.

I have had some "bad experiences" - which is why I feel so strongly about it now.

cindyg

I always pre-wash and dry. That should shrink the fabrics all they're going to shrink so that once I put my time and effort into a quilt it won't shrink and the colors won't bleed. Fabrics, even in the same line, will shrink at different rates.