I perused the posts with Connecting Threads in the title and didn't find an answer to my question.

I received my first order from them yesterday, the Betula Grove Queen Kit by Mari Martin. The fabrics are gorgeous and I ordered lots of thread, too.

I was leery of ordering until I read so many positive posts on this forum. I have never ordered from them before. I placed my order on the phone and she stayed on with me discussing many things regarding the fabrics and threads, the order shipped out promptly, and I am very pleased with the service. And, No, I don't work for them...:) this is a free plug.

Question: Did you (any of you or all of you) pre-wash before you cut their fabrics. Most of the time I do wash but sometimes I don't. I'd just like to know what you do.

No,I did not pre-wash the fabrics I purchased from them. I did not buy any batiks,however. I always pre-wash batiks.

I never prewash but when I am using batik I do check the reds - I put a small piece in water - if it bleeds I either try washing it or just don't use it. I have never had a problem. Fabric has changed over the years and I don't think it shrinks or bleeds like it used in the past.

I don't prewash (gasp-I know that's a mortal sin). I would not ever prewash ConnThreads fabrics because they ravel so much handling them. I love their fabrics and order them; they just ravel more than other fabrics.
I've never had a problem washing the quilts/runners I've made with their fabrics if I wash them after they're completed.

I don't pre wash them but I do heavy starch and hot press all my fabric before cutting regardless of what brand it is. I figure if the fabric will bleed or shrink it will do it wet with starch and a hot iron. If you are sensitive to fumes some fabric may have a sizing on them that could irritate. I always wash the quilt when it's finished. I have lots of CT fabrics and mix them with other brands in a quilt and never had a problem so far.

I do not prewash because I love the feel of the new fabric as I'm working with it. I will test any dark colors that look suspicious (reds & greens). I've never had a problem with the raveling, but I know some do. If I should prewash for any reason, I always clip a small snip from the raw edge corners, helps with any raveling during washing, plus if it gets put back in my stash, I will know that it has been washed already. Many of ladies in my quilting classes do this also...I'm sure it has been done for eons! ;-)

Thank You!! I want to get started quickly and did not want to wash. The fabric feels great and I do starch and press before cutting and sewing. These are not batiks and they feel heavenly. My daughter is so excited. This is to be her quilt and she has waited so long for her quilt. Other quilts have been pushed to the head of the line and hers is the one that has to wait. I just decided to buy a kit and go for it. When the new catalog came in the mail I knew that quilt on p. 3 was hers. Thanks so much. :))

I nver prewash But then I generally only make wall quilts and minis

No, I never pre wash my fabric, unless required for a swap.

The last fabric I received from CT ran. I'm a big prewasher, but this was a jelly roll, so I didn't wash and it ran into the quilt backing:<

I wash all my CT fabric, however, I will say I've never had anything run and the shrinkage was minimal if anything. I wanted to starch these and I dip starch after washing.

I do not need to prewash the Connecting Threads fabric, because they do not put a lot of stinky sizing on their fabric. I prewash everything I get from other sources. Just pressing fabric with sizing will make me ill.

I have never had Connecting Threads fabric bleed, shrink, or ravel more than other fabric and I have bought batiks from them. Probably half of my stash is Connecting Threads fabric. I love it.

I never prewash, except batiks. When I first started quilting, I prewashed charm squares. What a tangled mess!

I pre-wash only because I do alot of swaps and it is required; and because the quilts I make are for the NICU (preemie babies) and I am asked to do this. Otherwise, I do not pre-wash fabric for wall hangings or purses or table runners.

I pre-wash everything. I want to make sure if it shrinks it will do it before I put it in to a quilt.

Mary

I have been ordering fabric and thread from Connecting Threads
for the last 5 years. I am very happy with their fabrics. They are organic cotton grown in the US and dyed in American territories.

I always wash my fabric before quilting. The DK and Red colors
may bleed so I always play it safe with any fabric.
Lowell ;)

I don't usually prewash unless it's for a swap. That's just me though. Can honestly say that I've never had any issues with anything from CT

Never prewash unless I think it might bleed.

I've never prewashed my fabrics in the past but since joining this board and reviewing posts on the subject, did prewash the fabrics ordered from Connecting Threads. only the 1 red fabric bled and I used a couple of color catchers in the wash so the fabric is still red and white. don't know that I'll prewash again as the ironing of the fabric was a bit%@!

I haven't felt the need to wash their fabrics first. They feel so nice and soft. A lot of fabrics I get at local fabric stores feel full of sizing, so I do wash.

I have bought a lot of Connecting Threads batiks, and I LOVE how they feel. Soft and nice thickness.

There are a number of chemicals including formaldehyde that are commonly used as finishes on fabric. If you want to read more, just google fabric + formaldehyde. I always wash fabrics because it's just one more exposure that can be easily minimized.

me too..

You stated it is a kit, I'd be careful in washing first in case of shrinkage. You may not have enough of each piece when washed first. I would starch it make it and then wash with a color catcher or two, depending on the size of quilt. Shout makes one and can find it near the detergents in most stores. also there is a cloth called Dye Grabber and I have gotten those at Hancock Fabrics. Both do a good job.

Good Luck

Suzy

The only ones I prewash are reds, purples and a anything I think may have excess dye. Those I just put a small piece into hot water then on a white paper towel. That will show if the fabric will bleed.

I have made 2 quilts with fabric from Connecting Threads and have 3 more in progress! I have never prewashed the fabric. As a matter of fact I bought a flannel kit and emailed the company about prewashing it and the told me that it was not necessary. I have been very pleased with everything I have purchased from them and their customer service is wonderful!

I don't pre-wash any of my fabrics. Once a quilt and/or project is finished then I'll wash (want to see if it stays together! :oops: ) and press it. I haven't seen any more shrinkage in CT fabrics than LQS fabrics. Hope that helps!

I am going to make a country patriotic quilt that has a piece of red fabric from Connecting Threads. I am going to prewash it with retayne because I don't want any chances of it fading after the quilt is finished. It is a very complicated quilt, at least for me, and I don't want to spend all the time and money making it to have it ruined by fading fabric. I will serge the ends of the fabric first though.

Side note: I bought some of Connecting Threads thread and just love it. My sewing machine is a little picky about thread and this thread works great in my machine. Very little lint.

yes - i bought some dark purple fabric and made sure i prewashed it. Used 1 color catcher and it was dark purple when the wash was done so i washed it again with another.(catcher was much lighter the 2nd time) I have had bad luck with reds and purples when it comes to color bleed so i dont take chances anymore!

I love their thread too. I just purchased some more myself!

I never prewash but I always wash the quilt before I give it away. When I wash it I use a sheet of Shout Color Catcher in the machine and I've never had a problem yet. I like the look a quilt takes on after washing and if there is a "hole" in the quilt that I somehow missed it will show up after being washed. 98% of the time I use Warm and Natural batting so the shrinkage from the fabric top and bottom and the batting is about the same.

I always pre-wash, for many reasons. No matter where the fabric came from.

I always prewash and serge the two cut edges before washing to eliminate fraying

I don't usually pre-wash. If the fabric is a very deep color, I might test a sample to be sure it won't bleed or fade but I like the crispness of working with new fabric and I haven't had a problem with fabrics shrinking or distorting in 30 years. I've used Connecting Threads fabrics and never had a problem of any kind.

I prewash everything. :lol:

When I was a kid, 60 or 70 years ago, Mama prewashed everything because she sewed our dresses and my brother's shirts and she didn't want them to be too small after the first wash.

She stopped that along about 1960 because fabric manufacturers had got their act together and for the most part, shrinkage was minimal.

Deep colors running can still be a problem, but now that I know about color catchers, I just make my project and wash it in hot water with a color catcher and hope for the best. So far, so good.

So, you and I are both guilty of a mortal sin. Just to make matters worse, I don't iron pillow cases either and would rather make them out of blends because they are softer and don't wrinkle. Now that is a mortal sin!

I always pre-wash anything FQ size or larger. I just don't want to deal with all the chemicals they put on the fabrics in the warehouses, or bleeding/shrinking issues.

Me too!
Angela

Ditto

All my fabric-- whether connecting threads or elsewhere-- goes directly from the car (or mailman) into the wash.

I have not found any bleeding or much if any shrinkage in connecting thread fabric. Their fabric ravels about as much as any other fabric.

I usually prewash everything.