I just bought a bundle of vintage cottons from the thrift store, and I'd like to wash them, just in case there are any creepy crawlies in there. But, I typically do NOT wash my fabrics before piecing.

Will this cause problems for me later (having things shrink at different rates, washed vs. unwashed)? Or should I go ahead and wash whatever I use in that particular quilt?

I also buy yarn sometimes, and the typical treatment there is to freeze and thaw it (vs. wash), should I do that instead?

Thanks for sharing your wisdom. :)

...... another reason why all fabric goes straight to the washer when I bring it into my home!

You might want to use the gentle cycle for these. I wash my fabric this way for the 'just in case'.

if it came from a thrift store i would wash it- regardless...
since i pre-wash fabrics that may bleed, may shrink more than i want- or are recycled...and i use them with plenty of new fabrics that have not been pre-washed- i have never had an adverse effect from mixing washed-not washed- unless one of the not-washed did run.

put them in an old pillow case (or two) then wash on gentle cycle

Everything from a thrift store goes in the washer before it even gets in the house (the back door enters the laundry room.) I have been mixing washed and unwashed fabrics. Furniture gets left on the patio and scrubbed and sprayed. One of my dogs has an allergy to fleas. I don't to bring anything that would aggravate her skin. It's so good right now.

Oh I would definitely wash it. Since they are used shirts I am sure they have been washed multiple times. If you are concerned about mixing washed and unwashed fabrics you might want to prewash those fabrics too before addign them.

You have the right idea - wash them for sure and also pre wash everything that goes in to that quilt. That's a lot of work to mix washed with unwashed. Don't risk it.

Oh! They aren't shirts, just old quilting cottons. I don't think they were washed, or if they were, someone did a nice job ironing/refolding. Someone neater than me. ;)

I think I'll wash them and just take my chances with mixing them. It'd be fairly impossible to keep my washed stuff separate anyway since I always have tons of scraps.

Thanks for the advice, all!

That IS a good point. It is a lot of work. Sigh.