Has your specialist suggested a custom resp. mask for you? A co worker I use to work with had to wear one and it wasn't uncomfortable for her to wear when she needed it. I know there must be much nicer ones made now.

If it's just this batch of fabric that's making you react so strongly - just return it.

If it's batiks, it probably wouldn't shrink much, if at all.

I washed some 2.5 inch cut strips that were not batiks and now they are 2.25 - 2.357 inches wide. (I think it was one of the so-called "better" brands, at that)

I would contact the store, by phone and explain that they are causing you major medical problems...I think they will take it back...if not, a mask is a must.

I purchased a Moda jelly roll 3 weeks ago and I was so surprised by the large balls of lint. I didn't expect that. Those lint balls went everywhere. I was concerned about how much was getting inside my sewing machine. If I buy another jelly roll, I'm opening it outside and shaking it out real good before I do anything with it.

I would suggest hand washing the jelly roll or just soaking it in the sink. I would not put the strips through the washer even if you have a lingerie bag to put them in. I believe that is what will stretch and alter the shape of the strips. You'll still get a huge mess and that would be money wasted. If you put them in the dryer, they would be ok in a lingerie bag. The washer has an agitator, the dryer does not.

In the future when you wash & dry yardage, try washing and drying on delicate. You only want to wash out the sizing. Take the fabric out of the dryer while it is still a little damp. Then fold the fabric like it came off the bolt and iron it while it is damp. That will help to remove those terrible wrinkles due to washing.

I wish you luck with the fabric.

I would never prewash a jelly roll. If I had an allergic reaction to it, I'd return it.

i have had jelly rolls and charms packs that said "not" to wash it..it also says it in the patterns you see ...

Thanks for the replies and tips so far, everyone :) To answer some of the questions:

I don't have reactions to all fabric nor all stores. My Hobby Lobby seemed fine enough, as did Hancock's, but Joann makes me sick every time I walk in there. I'm thinking most of my problem is the airborne lint/dust. So far, no rashes or itchiness from touching fabrics. This weekend, I got really fuzzy-headed, dizzy, congested, and fatigued. This is normal for me allergy-wise. I am worried that cutting fabric is going to be a problem. If so, then I got a LOT of selling "quilting stuff" on ebay to do.

If I avoided everything that made me feel sick, I'd be the girl in the bubble. ;) I also have fibromyalgia so cutting strips is almost as heinous as the allergy thing. Hence the waffling on whether to wash or return...if I could cut strips without problems, then I wouldn't have thought twice about returning the jelly rolls. However, if they are going to be off-size when I'm done washing, there's no question on returning them, for sure.

The jelly rolls I got are Moda Hunky Dory, is that the brand that shrank on you, bearisgray?

Thanks all :)

Wow, lots of replies while I was writing, thanks all of you.

I thought I'd have hubby go outside and dunk the rolls in a bucket of water to eliminate the airborne stuff, then transfer inside to the sink. I do wear a mask for things,I was just surprised by the amount of dust/lint balls in there this time!

I've read that in the books too, that you shouldn't wash, but I have had to ignore that for so many things due to my allergies and most things come out fine, however, with most things I'm not worried about losing 1/4" from shrinkage so this is totally different! Thought I'd ask if anyone has any real experience. I'll send them back if there is a good chance of them shrinking.

Looks like that might be the safest thing to do.

If you have those kind of allergies, I bet you have a good vacuum with a good hepa filter?? I think the Jelly rolls are particularly linty because of the pinking dies that they cut them with (the zigzag edges) I would try to, while they are still in a roll, vacuum each side really well. I bring mine out on the front porch and bang them against the railing, which sounds weird, but it gets some of the fluff off.

hmmm, Walgreens has those white masks. perhaps you could wear one when quilting to filter out all the stuff that gets into the air. good luck.