Batting-before and after
 

I'm starting to sew again after a few years hiatus and have been trying to learn about batting. There have been a lot of discussions about this and one issue is whether or not to pre-wash or not and does it shrink. I would love to see some pics of a finished quilt, large or small, with batting not pre-washed, before and after it was washed, so I can see examples of the puckering that happens when the batting shrinks a little. Anyone have any pics or links where I might see what a difference it makes? TIA!!

I have never pre-washed the batting I use, which is usually polyester if it is going overseas to the tropics ( where I lived and made most of my quilts there), but since being back in the US the past few years, I have used Warm and Natural. I have Hobbs 80/20 for my next one which plenty people recommend. Still, don't plan to wash it.

I have been struggling with this too. Check out the experiments on this site. Be sure to look at all three, and read her comments. I found it helpful. http://funthreads.blogspot.com/2012/...ts-3-of-3.html

Thank you for that website. Very interesting!!!!

Never heard of running a batting thru the dryer before laying out. She has proof though!

OH thank you so much for the link! Very interesting info.

Interesting - especially when she said that they all shrank 3/4 of an inch in both directions of a fat quarter -
on a 72 inch length - that is three inches of shrinkage -
on an 84 inch width - that is also three inches of shrinkage.

I didn't notice if the person had washed the fabrics before using them -

Thanks SO much for that link! How on earth did you find it? It's a bit reassuring for me about not pre-washing as the post-wash wrinkling doesn't look as severe as I'd thought it might be. The idea of shrinking 3" on a 72 or 84" long quilt seems like a lot tho. The biggest I'll be doing will prob not be longer than 60", e.g. lap and baby quilts. My brain being somewhat handicapped now.....as in not real clear (!), how would I figure shrinkage on e.g. 60", 48", and 36"? So at this point, the post-washing wrinkling doesn't seem so bad but the shrinkage is more worrisome.

I think the reason I'm feeling anxious is that I'm working on what is basically my first baby quilt and procrastinating seems safer but isn't getting it done!

i've made a few hundred quilts over the years- i have never (can not even imagine) pre-washed a batt. there are a vast variety of batts on the market- some shrink= some do not= some shrink alot- some very little- some are lofty- some are flat- some are best suited for machine quilting, some for tied quilts & some for hand quilting.
check with some of the companies & pick up swatches- which you can experiment with & try out to see what you like, don't like-
every time i show a picture of a quilt it's been washed if the binding is done- it has not been washed if it still needs binding.

I agree that I cannot imagine prewahing and drying a batting. I'd rather spend my time quilting.

Such a helpful site...thank you so much!! Answered some questions I've been having. :-)

I have never and will never prewash my batting. I learned from my mother - Warm and Natural - finish up the quilt, throw it in the washer, hang it out to dry - almost - then throw it in the dryer. Turns out perfect every time. No problem. I always wash my sashing, backing, border and binding, but never wash the pieces I use for making the blocks. I like the old fashioned look to it. HAve never had a problem. Actually, it is totally what the quilter wants to do - I guess it is "My Quilt - My Rules. I still have a lot to learn yet - more easier ways to put a quilt together for one - everything else for another.

Happy Quilting. Edie

I've been putting my batts in the dryer on low heat to fluff them up for at least the past 30 years. It does make a huge difference. This thread has got me to thinking about batt shrinkage. I wonder if I tossed in a damp towel with the batting if that would get it to shrink a bit? Anyone have any ideas on this?

What a great link, Luana!!! Thanks so much. I do "prewash" my cotton battings - but ONLY soak them for a while, spin out the water and toss in the dryer. I think I've read that you cannot do this with polys as they fall apart but I'm not positive.

If you do prewash PLEASE read the directions. I forgot and threw my batting in the washer like cloths. When I went back I had strings, so back to the Quilt Shop (it is only 5 blocks from me house}

Thanks for the thread to this site - very informative.

From what I can see in the site sample, there really isn't that much difference, UNLESS you are planning a show piece. If you are worried about your baby quilt, just DO IT!! I think you will be happily surprised.

Luana, thanks for the link. I had wondered about these same things. Glad to know someone else did the expirements and posted the results. It's very helpful to know these things.

I don't pre wash batting, never had a problem with it

I had tried to prewash batting and it ruined the batting. I spoke to the Hobbs people who sent me a new one and told me that their battings will not shrink, and they don't need to be prewashed. Even the cotton ones.

After Luana posted this link, I started googling it myself (why didn't I do this first? Because the QB has become my place to go for help and info!!) and here are 3 sites that have before and after pics too. There are probably more but these were good:

http://quiltfeather.blogspot.com/201...n-batting.html

http://theyarnarian.blogspot.com/201...-crinkled.html

http://piecedgoods.wordpress.com/201...uilting-nerds/

There sure seems to be a varied result after washing and it seems to depend a lot on the density of the quilting. When I get my baby quilt finished, will take pics before and after washing and see what happens! Thanks for all the input---you gals are priceless!!

I don't buy batting anymore.I buy those cheap blankets from Walmart that has the satin binding on one end, I take the binding off and send it to the longarmer and they work beautiful.I think I can get a king size for about $15.00 and its cheaper than batting it lasts and launder's so much better and living in the land or snow where we are cold 9 months out of the year it's so worth it for me.I have suggested this to other quilters and they do the same now and will not go back to batting-except for a wallhanging"s or placemats....,hope this helps

Nice website. I found a couple of cute patterns too. Thanks a bunch.

Thanks for the link. Very helpful information.