Newbie Needs Help/washing question
#23
Originally Posted by Marilyn6
I am trying to finish a top that I made about 3 years ago. (Slow, I know.)
Used remnants to piece this top, so not sure content of fabrics.
I just added an additional 10 inches to each side in order to make it
larger.
Now I have purchased 100% cotton fabric (108" wide) to use for the
backing. My problem now is, should I wash the backing? If I do, then should I also wash the top? If I do, I cannot imagine having to iron the top with all those little seams & tangled threads, oh, my!
What is a newbie to do? Any help will be appreciated. Needing a little
confidence building. : )
Thanks in advance, Marilyn
Used remnants to piece this top, so not sure content of fabrics.
I just added an additional 10 inches to each side in order to make it
larger.
Now I have purchased 100% cotton fabric (108" wide) to use for the
backing. My problem now is, should I wash the backing? If I do, then should I also wash the top? If I do, I cannot imagine having to iron the top with all those little seams & tangled threads, oh, my!
What is a newbie to do? Any help will be appreciated. Needing a little
confidence building. : )
Thanks in advance, Marilyn
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: west allis, wisconsin
Posts: 407
i have never ever prewashed any fabrics i use in my quilting. i do prewash fabrics for clothing - always. remember to let your batting "breathe" out of the bag and opened up for 24 hours before sandwiching. if you don't want to wait, throw it in the dryer for about 30-40 minutes so it can relax.
#25
If you haven't washed the top yet, I would wait until you have finished the quilt. If there is a little shrinkage, at least it will all be at the same time and should be fairly even. I don't wash anything until I am finished and there is minimal difference in the two stages as to the presentation of the quilt.
#27
Originally Posted by penski
i always wash all my fabric before it goes into my sewing room it is a good habit to get in to it takes any doubt out about shrinkage and color bleeding
#29
Wash your backing and iron it before you quilt. When you wash your completed quilt, use a color catcher just in case some of the colors on your top bleed. Nothing like red, black or turquoise bleeding onto white or a light fabric to ruin your quilt. It is best to wash your quilt in the bathtub because agitating the quilt in a top loading washing machine can make your quilt a wonky shape. Gently squeeze the water out, don't wring it! It is best if you can sandwich the quilt flat between 2 sheets out on the lawn to dry as hanging will really stress the quilting and seams because a wet quilt is heavy!
I always wash and iron my fabrics before I cut anything to make a quilt. I want to get rid of the chemicals used on them to keep the bugs off in the warehouses. I have read in some quilting magazines that the fabric manufacturing companies are putting more chemicals in the fabrics now because the fabric is staying on the shelves longer.
I always wash and iron my fabrics before I cut anything to make a quilt. I want to get rid of the chemicals used on them to keep the bugs off in the warehouses. I have read in some quilting magazines that the fabric manufacturing companies are putting more chemicals in the fabrics now because the fabric is staying on the shelves longer.
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Snohomish WA
Posts: 884
Quoted below is my posting from May 07, 2010 re:108" wide cotton backing shrinkage: just a note of caution FYI.
I bought 108" wide fabric for king size quilt backing at JoAnn Fabrics. It's 100% cotton so preshrunk it in hot water wash & dryer. Well, its width went from 108" to 92" -- 16" shrinkage in width! Called the JoAnn store & clerk told me "It should've 'only' shrunk 8 inches"! If I'd been advised of that before I bought it, I'd have selected a poly/cotton blend instead. I'd bought an extra 3/4 yard, thank goodness, so ended up having to cut the excess length off & turn it crosswise grain and sew onto the sides to get enough width. Then I washed it again, in hot water, and dried it again to be sure it's done all the shrinking it's going to do, hopefully!
I bought 108" wide fabric for king size quilt backing at JoAnn Fabrics. It's 100% cotton so preshrunk it in hot water wash & dryer. Well, its width went from 108" to 92" -- 16" shrinkage in width! Called the JoAnn store & clerk told me "It should've 'only' shrunk 8 inches"! If I'd been advised of that before I bought it, I'd have selected a poly/cotton blend instead. I'd bought an extra 3/4 yard, thank goodness, so ended up having to cut the excess length off & turn it crosswise grain and sew onto the sides to get enough width. Then I washed it again, in hot water, and dried it again to be sure it's done all the shrinking it's going to do, hopefully!
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