my sister (who got me addicted to quilting) told me about connectingthreads.com. they had charm packs very reasonably priced so i ordered some. now my question - a lot of them have reds in them. do i wash them first? would hand washing be ok to do since they are already cut?

I know, arnt they great! I spent $25, and got 11 charm packs and a spool of thread! I thought it was a great deal!

I don't pre-wash LQS fabric. When you wash the project for the first time, you can use color-catchers in the wash.

i know what you mean. the day i ordered them they were anywhere from 1.55 and up. good way to experiment with them without spending a whole lot of money!

i have this weekend off (woohoo!) and after i get back from a christmas craft show i will probably get started on making some table runners with them. i would like to get started tonight but gotta be at work in the am so it will have to wait i guess!

I think soaking them in warm water to see if they bleed would be good, otherwise I'd just use them. I am bad and don't prewash because I do my laundry by hand and hang it to dry..

I don't prewash these, but I do use a color catcher when I wash the quilt.

I haven't had any trouble with Connecting Threads fabric bleeding.

Even hand washing can distort them, I would just use color catchers in the washer. :D:D:D

No,I wouldn't wash the charms either. Usually the fabric from those shops don't bleed that badly. Use a color catcher when you first wash the quilt after it's done.

I made a strip quilt on white, and it did bleed through...from connecting threads! But I will get some of that Color catcher in the future!

They have such great stuff, cant wait til my order comes!

I don't wash very much of my new fabric. If it quality fabric it should be ok.....A lot of the wash or not comes from "olden" days when fabric shrank a lot more than today and colors often ran. We have made such progress with our fabrics......

I would check and see if they bleed. Wash them in warm soapy water them rinse them after they stop bleeding. If they continue add vinegar and a 1/2 cup of salt and let the water go cold. this way the dye is set unless you buy dye setter. I always wash mine fabrics now since I had problems with some fabric.

I too would soak them in warm water. Handle carefully and they shouldn't get wonky. Better to be safe than sorry. Really. You would beat yourself up if you had color run after you were all done after all that work and expense. Dani

PLEASE wash the reds from Connecting Threads!!!! I bought some SNOW FUN fabric last year and since I am not a pre-washer I went ahead and made the quilt for my hubby. It was a well-loved and often used quilt that soon needed washing. I washed it on cold and was horrified that the red dye ran. I washed four more times without it getting dried in between washing and the dye eventually came out.

PLEASE wash the reds!!

Here's the quilt btw: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-34785-1.htm

that's what I do too. And I LOVE connecting threads pre cuts . they are very generous in their cut. I ordered the delux batik sampler and I got a bunch of extra end cuts thrown in.

I've bought a lot from CT but I need to check out their pre-cuts, actually no I shouldn't lol :D
I love shopping there.

I received my order from Connecting Threads yesterday, everything was spectacular! I especially like the thimble rings from Fons & Porter. The fabric is outstanding, I do prewash the large pieces and hand wash the fat quarters. Everyone on the thread is talking about color catchers. Where can I pick up some? At my LQS in town? ( My last order contained alot of reds, and I'm afraid I'm going to need the color catchers.)

Stef, you can get them at the grocery store.
What are thimble rings??

I loove there thread packs and there patterns oh did I mention there fabric :D :D

I have bought a tremendous amount of fabric from Connecting Threads in the last 6 weeks.
I have been so happy with every piece!
It washes and dries beautifully. I took it out of the dryer, just smoothed it with my hands as I folded it. Needed no ironing at all.
I bought just about every batik they carry, but haven't washed them yet. They were only $5.96 per yd but I didn't think they were worth more than that.
They will be fine for the practice bargellows I want to make.
Happy quilting everyone.

I bought the samplers of batiks from Connecting Threads too.
The batiks are quite thin, I have found,and I will need to add something to them to use with other batiks. The colors are lovely but I will not order them in yardage. Didn't we have this discussion before? I thank anyone who can steer me back to it.

I have had reds bleed from connecting threads. I soak them in very hot water and rince them until the water is clear. I lay them out to dry after I wrap them in a bath towel and let them air dry around the house. They dry overnight.

Fabrics have a sizing on them, so I usually wash all fabrics before cutting and sewing. Except if using charms or jelly rolls. To test a fabric, take a piece of white cloth dampened and rub on the fabric. If the color comes off, it will probably run. Then I use the vinegar and salt method to set the color. What is "color catcher"? I've never heard of that and where does one find it?

Grocery stores sell Color Catchers usually where the soap, starch, and those kind of items are, also JoAnn's sells a different kind & it is really great too. It is a cloth & can be used over about 20 or so times, it will tell you on the box the exact time can be used. Since I don't live by a JoAnn's anymore I use the color catchers & I've never had any trouble of dye running.

I would wash them first, but that is a personal preference. Putting them in mesh laundry bags like you would use for delicate items would be a good idea.

I love fabric from connecting thread, I use them all the time. :thumbup: :thumbup: I can go crazy when I order from them, I get carried away.Order to much lol :evil:

I usually pre-wash. I guess it is a preference.

What a shame they dont ship to Australia :(

I totally agree with you!CT has me hooked!

Soak one in warm water. Lay it on a paper towel. If it bleeds, wash them with color catcher. If not, You are good to go.