I wash 8 yds of a brand name white cotton and it was 12 inches shorter than when I started.

I prewash everything. If it is going to shrink or bleed, I want to know that before I put it in a quilt.

What do you do about Blocks of the months kits? They barely give you enough fabrics to start with!

amen and amen

All of you that wash in the hottest water you can- have you ever read the care instructions on the ends of the bolts? they say wash in cold water. maybe that is why you all get so much shrinkage. If you want the best results, follow the care instructions.

Found these instructions on fabrics:
http://www.denverfabrics.com/pages/s...are-quilts.htm

I am aware of those instructions.

HOWEVER - I make quilts that I know are going to be 'used hard' - and I am also reasonably sure that the new owner will probably be doing well to just get the things washed now and then - forget about any TLC! As long as they don't use bleach, the quilt should turn out fine.

rather ironic, don't you think? When so many people are using Retayne and/or Synthropol to treat their fabrics - and both of them need HOT water to work their magic

I am sorry so many of you have had such issues.

Maybe one of the reasons I DON'T have a lot of problems is I don't wash anything but greasy work clothes and my sons' running clothes in hot water. That is way too expensive.

I prewash batiks and flannels, both in cold water. I press everything else before I use it including my batting. All of this "preshrinks" most things. Works for me and that is what I am sticking with.

I have picked up jelly rolls that have shrunk on me, I too thought it was just stiff and needed a pre wash. So it can be any kind of fabric that can shrink on a person. If you don't like the fabric now, put it asided for something else and get a new fabric. I use items like that for stuffing toys when it becomes that bad from shrinkage.

I have that the no pre-wash advice often comes from designers and shop owners who have no intention to wash a quilt. They are making them for wall quilts or show quilts and not for using them. They say that you don't have to wash the fabrics but I always prewash. I want my quilts to be loved and used not hung on the wall or displayed only. Even the good batiks have some color loss when washed....not every one but it only takes one in a quilt to fade t ruin a quilt. Choose your threads wisely as well. I have a quilt that was quillting maybe ten years ago by a professional and the thread (multi-colored) used ran in areas. I have no idea what brand was used. I hope the thread are much improved now.