No kidding, I guess I would rather find out in the pre washing than after the fact when I had it all together, how heart breaking would that be!? :cry:

Thanks for the information. I've always used muslin for backing...usually cheaper kind. My quilts aren't going in any quilt shows, just to family and friends. So far no one has complained.

Have you done the math on this?
16 x ________ purchased yards = _____.
divided by 36" = ____total yardage lost.
Purchase price = $__.__ per yard x total yardage lost.

OH NO! Shrinkage, quilt police and math in one thread!
I alway prewash everything. I have never had any fabric shrink that much. Thank goodness you prewashed.

I just bought backing for a friend and I forgot to remeasure it. Yiiikkkess I should have known better. I will measure it today. I have taken fabric back to Joann's. Some has shrunk as much as 4 inches on 42" wide fabric. They use cheap grey goods and it is expected. Hard to think $5.00 fabric is as good as good quilting fabric at $9-10/yd.

When I look at a bolt of fabric at JoAnn's and it is $9.99, I will spend that kind of money at the LQS NOT at JoAnn's.
I have had FQ's from JA that I could never get a staight edge on; hence I don't buy fabric there for my quilt tops or backing. I did buy there as a new quilter many years ago.

I'm new to quilting and when we've done fundraiser quilts, my mentor had suggested using the sheet trick, so that's what I've done, but I wait til bed bath and beyond clearances their 360 or 400 count flat sheets and use the coupon that comes in the mail for 20% or $5 off and it makes such a nice soft back, especially if it is going to be used and not just displayed.
It didn't know that would be "taboo" to do, it works so smooth.

The shrinkage is probably due to hot water and I'm not sure why you use hot water, but I always wash everything in cold water before and after it's made.

Holy Guacamole! That's a lot of shrinkage...Did it shrink the other way too?

Julie

LOL I was thinking the same thing about the backing myself.

What I usually use are sheets and never have an issue out of them and I only was after the quilt is finished because I like the vintage look it gives the quilt. But I do wash on hot and dry it on high because whoever is the recipient is will more than likely do the same thing.

But if I do not use a sheet for the backing I end up using the regular cotton quilting material if I want a pattern on the backing material.

Billy