kacklebird

I prewash too. I'd croak if the fabric bled or ended up shrinking after doing all of that work.

gailinva

I don't prewash. That way when I launder the completed quilt the first time, everything (top, back and batting) all shrink at the same time. I've been quilting for 20 years and stopped prewashing about 10 years ago. I've only had one OH NO!!! with a red that did bleed over to the background a little.

mpspeedy

Since these days most of what I make is for my chairity projects I prewash everything. My washing machine has a precycle that allows me to just run the fabric through water only . I then run it through the dryer. The only fabric I don't prewash is when I make a wallhanging.

MaureenL

Since you did have uneven shrinkage, why wouldn't you pre-wash the next time? (As a newbie) that would encourage me to prewash so that the uneven shrinkage doesn't mess up my quilt.

MaureenL

That's my question, too!

grandjan

Honestly, I almost never pre-wash. Haven't for years. As long as I'm buying good quality fabric, it isn't a problem. If the fabric is something I have any doubts about, I'll wash and iron it. If it bleeds at all, I just don't use it.