Can you mix prewashed and nonprewashed fabric in the same top?
 

This may sound like a silly question. I just started quilting and was planning on NOT prewashing. I have a bunch of fabric from various places (thanks!) and I am not sure if it has been washed or not. Can I just use it with my unwashed fabric, or should I really wash everything?

Thanks for any help!

Sue

If you can't, I would have to undo a whole bunch of quilts. Depends on how picky you are. If you are very worried about uneven shrinkage or color bleeding, it might not be a good idea. I have a long list of other things to worry about so I choose not to worry about any of that. Batiks, reds and blacks have a reputation as more likely to bleed and cheaper quality fabric tends to shrink more.

Not recommended for 2 reasons. There is some shrinkage with cottons, so the unwashed pieces will shrink and the prewashed won't. There's also the color bleeding issue. If you choose to not prewash, don't prewash anything and use a color catcher in the wash the first time. Just MHO.

You can mix them. However, it's a good idea to do a moderate amount of quilting so that the batting controls shrinkage. If you tie, for example, different fabrics have the opportunity to shrink or not shrink in different amounts.

I would test any suspicious fabrics for bleeding. Drop a small piece in a glass of water and see if any dye bleeds into the water. Rub the damp fabric against light fabrics that will be used in the quilt to see if any dye transfers. Most fabrics are colorfast these days, but it's possible to get just one bleeder that can ruin everything.

Thanks so much!

I would not mix. Too many variables in the fabric - some shrink and some dont; some fade and some dont. Better to be safe than sorry

I have mixed washed and unwashed in several quilts. They were sashed with unwashed black and I washed the finished quilts before I sent them to their new owners. No problems at all.

I think you'll be just fine.You might get a little more puckering but it makes it cozy.
I would iron on hot and strach before cutting and sewing.This should take care of the majority of shrinkage.
Also when you wash the quilt besure to use color catcher in the wash cycle.

I stopped prewashing ages ago and throw both types in together all the time without hesitation.

However, setting aside the issues of possible shrinkage or bleeding, I might prewash material if I didn't get know or had doubts about exactly where it was coming from (eBay, estate sale, older fabric) and would be more concerned about issues related to pets/smoking/bugs.

I have mixed washed and unwashed fabrics in a quilt and have not had a problem. Since I can only do stippling on the quilt when finished it seems to work great. You can't tell the difference.