I bought 108" wide fabric for king size quilt backing at JoAnn Fabrics. It's 100% cotton so preshrunk it in hot water wash & dryer. Well, its width went from 108" to 92" -- 16" shrinkage in width! Called the JoAnn store & clerk told me "It should've 'only' shrunk 8 inches"! If I'd been advised of that before I bought it, I'd have selected a poly/cotton blend instead. I'd bought an extra 3/4 yard, thank goodness, so ended up having to cut the excess length off & turn it crosswise grain and sew onto the sides to get enough width. Then I washed it again, in hot water, and dried it again to be sure it's done all the shrinking it's going to do, hopefully!
Do you think future washings in cold water should be safe??

That's a lot of shrinkage!!!

I would think even 8 inches of shrinking is too much :shock:

Yikes!!! I know it is taboo, but thinking a king sized flat sheet at about $12 is looking pretty good to me, no shrinkage, no shifting. I know I am about to get kicked off here, and I really like the board. Oh well, let's see what happens.

Yes,that was my first option but even after ironing out all the seams, the 200 thread count king size flat sheet wasn't quite big enough so, not wanting to have seams in the backing, I went for the 108" wide. Joke was on me cuz I still had to have a seam down each side!

I have never heard of any fabric shrinking yhat much. I would take it back.

Well, dog gone it.

That is a lot of shrinkage. Good thing you washed before using.

Good luck taking it back to Joanns!
The last time I bought some backing from Joanns I had a heck of a time getting it to square up on the quilting machine. I seemed like it kept stretching!!!! I called that my quilt from He$$. I prewashed my fabric and didn't notice that it shrank any....
I'd say that if it didn't shrink anymore when you pre-washed, it shouldn't after you're done.
good luck!

I use sheets as backing almost all the time. So far I've never had any problems doing this.

I would be so upset about all that shrinkage! That is horrible. Frankly, I really haven't been hearing good things lately about JoAnns fabrics..

Yikes. I'd be really upset. Good thing you bought extra!

I've bought the wide backing fabrics from JoAnn's and had shrinkage problems, but not that much, only about 4 ins. which is still too much for me! I don't buy the wide backing from them anymore!

You'd be lucky if Joann's would even take it back. Most places have a "No Return" policy on cut fabrics.

Do you remember what it said on the end of the bolt?

I purchased Roc-Lon tea-dyed muslin that said "pre-shrunk" on the end of the bolt.

Ha! That shrank a LOT wen I washed it. Sure glad I didn't believe the label.

I've never heard of fabric shrinking that much. Of course I don't wash in hot water either.

I'd take it back with your receipt showing the amount you bought and show the manager. If you don't get results, ask for the dist. mgr.'s address and write them.

Course if it wasn't washed according to label instructions that's another story. I've seen some quilting fabric that says wash in cold water right on the bolt end.

WOW...OMG....I agree that's a lot of shrinkage. Now we know not to get that 108" backing. They should put a disclaimer or something on there stating the shrinkage.

I've never used a sheet for a backing...at least not on a big quilt. What thread count do you use? Any special brand? Thanks for any help.

thanks very much for this alert. you stated the facts, let us know the results of your inquiry, and resisted the urge to rant and rave about it.

this is valuable information. it also reminds me that i should keep better track of the manufacturer, the name of the fabric, and where i bought it. that information isn't always printed on the selvages. if i wrote all that on my copy of the order form, i'd be better able to remember which bargains were bargains, and which were not.

i am starting a notebook today!

thanks again. :thumbup:

Wow, that is alot of shrinking! I am really glad you bought extra! I always buy extra of Joannes Stuff too, because you never know!

Was that the Warm and Natural all cotton? Just wondering I'm ready to purchase "something" for a top I just pieced. I would never have thought to wash the batting prior to quilting. Is that something that should be done on a regular basis?

OK, on re-reading your post you stated backing and not batting.
So sorry for confusion.

I regularly use flat sheets for the backing on kids quilts because they get so much hard use. I just buy a sheet that I like the color or pattern for the back of the quilt.

If you are with the quilt police, please do not write to me, I do not care if you do not like this. I make quality things with quality workmanship and am proud of what I do.

I have heard many say that it is difficult to hand quilt through sheets, but I FMS so it is not an issue for me.

I rarely go to Joann'a, but thanks for the heads up. What ever happened to the customer is alwys right?

No Quilt Police Allowed!!! I say sew with whatever makes you happy!!!

I am just so glad you pre-shrunk! You would have been jumping up and down if you had made the quilt and then washed the fabric the first time. Oooooohhhhhhh! I am sorry it shrunk but I am glad you knew before you sewed.

Joann's should take the fabric back. I once bought a pack of fat quarters. When I sprayed the fabric with water to iron it, you could see it shrinking on the ironing board...alot. I took them back and they gave me my money back no questions asked.

I bought a couple of sheets at Ikea yesterday. Twin size, 150 thread count for $4.50 each. I got white and red. I've never used a sheet for a backing before and I'm a quality snob. But, these sheets looked and felt just as nice as LQS solid fabric quality. Since I machine FMQ I don't think it will be an issue either. So if the quilt police come and get you, I guess I'm next on their list!!

In fairness to JoAnn's, the manager did agree that losing 16" in width was really excessive shrinkage, that I could bring it back and they'd write it off as damaged goods. But since I'll never wash it again in hot water, she said it should be safe now after the two hot-water washings and regular dryings in the clothes dryer.
What do you think? Just wash it in cold water [eventually]?
Will washing in cold water also prevent the Warm & Natural batting from shrinking? Dry on low heat to minimize wrinkling?
I love this board -- so much wisdom from so much experience.
Thanks, everyone!

I have had flannel shrink that much so I always pre-wash it.

Flannel excluded, I find just pressing the backing with a hot iron shrinks it enough for me to get it squared and loaded on the frame. I like the wrinkly look so my top isn't usually pre-washed either.

I have had some really thin & loosely woven fabrics shrivel up when I press them out so I know right away not to use them until they have been pre-washed. Muslin especially has very different thread counts. You can't always go be the "feel", either because sizing and starch makes the thin fabric feel thicker. Holding it up to the light is the only way I know to check it before getting in the cutting line.

Perhaps if my quilts were exquisitly beautiful and I had plans to enter them in shows, then I probably would not use sheets for backing. However, I make them to be used and make them because I enjoy doing so. Most of them time I use 200 thread count. I do have some that are higher and will try them in the future. I bought them at a great price on sale. I guess the quilt police will have to add me to their list as well. Bottom line, if you are making your own quilts, quilting them yourself and have no problems doing so, what difference does anyone else's opinion matter????

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