To Prewash or Not?

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09-11-2012, 08:43 PM

#21

misskira

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: Harrisburg, OR

Posts: 443

I don't. I like the crispness of unwashed.

09-12-2012, 02:10 AM

#22

Pat625

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: North Pole

Posts: 1,643

Right now I am in group 2...most likely will eventually end up in group 3...But that doesn't mean I will add the extra step of prewashing everything..but will test the darker fabrics

09-12-2012, 04:01 AM

#23

Pieces2

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: Missouri

Posts: 1,250

I prewash all fabrics as soon as I bring them into the house. Fabrics outgass formaldhyde and have excess dye, prewashing removes these dyes, and shrinks the fabric before using in a quilt. After washing/drying the fabric I press the fabric and then store for use.

09-12-2012, 04:06 AM

#24

azwendyg

Super Member

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Flagstaff, AZ

Posts: 2,078

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunster

I think there are 3 groups of quilters. Group 1 pre-washes and always has. Group 2 never pre-washes and hasn't had a problem. Group 3 didn't pre-wash, had a problem, and is crying about it, but may or may not start pre-washing. I'm in Group 1, but Group 2 is a large happy group, although they occasionally lose a member to Group 3.

Well said!

I'm also in Group1 because I never want to be in Group 3...

09-12-2012, 04:06 AM

#25

sikesjj

Senior Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Sep 2012

Location: Edmond, Oklahoma

Posts: 328

Quote:

Originally Posted by rush88888

i am on the fence about this, but i tend to NOT prewash. of course, i haven't had anything bad happen.

I went ahead and prewashed all my fabrics and it is a good thing because my blue floral bleed all over everything. It is soaking now to try to revive it and it of course was the most expensive quilting fabric I bought.

09-12-2012, 04:18 AM

#26

Jackie Spencer

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: Southern Indiana

Posts: 5,052

I don't pre wash anything either, not wovens, flannels or anything. Been quilting since 1975 and never had a problem.

09-12-2012, 04:20 AM

#27

PaperPrincess

Power Poster

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Michigan

Posts: 11,276

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gramie bj

I'm one that prewashes everything, yes even fat quarters, charms,and jelly rolls,recieved as gifts, (use sweater bags for small pieces and jelly rolls,) I always wash and dry new fabric the same way I will the finished quilt and I always use color catchers. All it takes is one runing color or one fabric that shrinks a lot more than the rest and all your hard work is ruined. I have noticed a lot less shrinkage and running colors in the last few years, maybe the fabric makers are improving there products. Do what you feel best in any given case.

Me too. In my experience all quilting cotton, even from high end manufacturers, shrinks WOF (selvedge to selvedge) but rarely along the length. Different batches from the same manufacturer can even shrink differently. Needed 2 charm packs of the same line and had to order from 2 different mail order companies. Washed both batches at the same time (salad spinner method) one distorted A LOT the other stayed pretty straight. Both shrunk a bit. Batiks don't shrink, but they can bleed like crazy, even colors that you wouldn't think would, like yellow.

09-12-2012, 04:20 AM

#28

teddysmom

Senior Member

Join Date: May 2010

Location: Stanley NC

Posts: 981

I don't wash kits because I'm not sure about shrinkage and not having enough fabric. I'm getting ready to put the backing on a quilt for my GD. It's a fairly dark red so I'll be sure to pre-wash.

09-12-2012, 04:28 AM

#29

gollytwo

Banned

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: Keene, New Hampshire

Posts: 4,211

I rarely pre-wash anything.
I find it easier to cut and machine piece unwashed fabric.
However, if there is a lot of white in my quilt, I will wash the colours I'm using.

09-12-2012, 11:54 AM

#30

Judi in Ohio

Senior Member

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: Ohio

Posts: 674

I understand why some people are allergic to smells, dyes, whatever and they pre wash. If I had to pre wash I would not quilt - simple as that. And I love to quilt and spend a lot of my time doing it, but......I am not going to give myself all that extra work. I make very, accentuate the very, scrappy quilts. I use all sorts of fabrics (except flannels). Darks, lights, batiks, whatever. They are all very good fabrics, I don't buy from Joann's or Hancock's or Walmart. Only LQS, a lot on line. When I wash I want the vintage crinkles, and I use 5 or 6 color catchers. They do the job. I like cutting and piecing non washed fabric with the body still in it. If I had a run I would use Oxy on it, but I haven't.