How bad is it to mix prewashed and not washed cotton fabric?

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11-02-2015, 11:21 AM

#11

Jan in VA

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Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mjpEncinitas

Thanks ladies, This was very helpful. I've decided I'm not going to worry about whether a fabric is prewashed or not.

Good for you! If there were rules about this many of us like me would be out of the quilting business! Sometimes you just don't 'sweat the small stuff'.

Jan in VA

11-02-2015, 11:39 AM

#12

Onebyone

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Location: Southern USA

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It's so bad that the quilt police will swarm your house and confiscate all your unwashed fabric until you promise never ever to do it again.

11-02-2015, 11:46 AM

#13

tessagin

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Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.

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Same here. And I just use lingerie bags to wash precuts. One thing I have started doing if I happen to buy a jelly roll pack at wAlmart or such. I do a running baste stitch along it to hold it together. It helps keep it from tangling with other strips. Knot both ends. After drying clip one end then pull out the other.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quilting cat

I DON'T! If project gets washed, the crosswise grain almost always shrinks a bit. (Newly arrived fabric visits the washer at my house before the sewing room.)

11-03-2015, 07:05 AM

#14

ManiacQuilter2

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Location: Southern California

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan in VA

Good for you! If there were rules about this many of us like me would be out of the quilting business! Sometimes you just don't 'sweat the small stuff'. Jan in VA

I totally agree with Jan. You just have to find out what works best for you. I never pre-wash anything except I will test wash some of my darks. If I give a quilt, I always throw in a box of color catchers.

11-03-2015, 07:05 AM

#15

canuckninepatch

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Join Date: Jun 2009

Location: Ontario, Canada; Florida in the winter

Posts: 721

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjpEncinitas

Thanks ladies, This was very helpful. I've decided I'm not going to worry about whether a fabric is prewashed or not.

Good for you! If you wash carefully (I always use cold water and gentler cycle with quilts), you should have no problem!

11-03-2015, 09:12 AM

#16

citruscountyquilter

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Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: Hernando FL

Posts: 1,662

I do it all the time and I wash the finished product and don't notice any difference.

11-03-2015, 11:30 AM

#17

DivaDee

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Join Date: Oct 2011

Posts: 216

OK, I have a question. Do you all wash quilts and wall hangings you are giving away or selling? I have always felt that people might think they are used.

11-03-2015, 11:32 AM

#18

Annaquilts

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Nah it will be fine as long as you press the new fabric with a hot iron and it is regular or good quality, not cheese cloth.

11-03-2015, 11:33 AM

#19

Tartan

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Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Ontario, Canada

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I am working on a scrap quilt right now and I have no idea if all my fabrics are pre washed or not. I will use some colour catchers when I wash the finished quilt.

11-03-2015, 11:35 AM

#20

sulyle

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Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Central Florida

Posts: 242

[QUOTE) so it is a big no no to mix prewashed and unwashed fabric in a quilt?[/QUOTE]

So bad that the quilt police may arrest you and confiscate your stash. Just kidding. I do it all the time and very rarely is there an issue. If you're not planning on washing the finished wall hangi, I can't see where there would be any problem.