dumb flannel-prewashing question
 

Hi you all...I haven't worked with baby flannel until now except a couple of raggy quilts. I'm getting ready to make a few of those adorable self-binding receiving blankets and have been reading up on pre-washing the flannel, but I have a very DUMB question: when folks say they prewash flannel three times, does that mean wash/dry, wash/dry, wash/dry, or just put through the wash cycle three times and dry once.

I know this may seem really dumb to some of you, but I'm very literal and don't know which to do. I'm currently in wash cycle one. Do I dry first or just wash again?

Thanks in advance:)

I think most people mean wash-dry, wash-dry, wash-dry.

The drying process (especially in a hot dryer) helps with the shrinking process.

I do know what you mean by being very literal - I am, too - and sometimes I ask what other people consider to be very "you have GOT to be kidding" types of questions.

My friend may receiving blankets and she only washed and dried once.

You are trying to stop it from shrinking, which often happens in the dryer. I wash until it stops shrinking. Measure both with width and length, wash, dry then re measure. If it's the same size as when you started, you are good to go. It usually takes 2 times, but sometimes 3

I've also read the posts that say to wash and dry 3 times, but I haven't done it. I wash once in hot water, and dry with heat and that can result in quite a bit of shrinkage. However for receiving blankets I can see that you might want to get rid of all the lint, which happens mostly in the dryer, so I can see the wisdom of washing and drying more than once. I guess it might also depend on the quality of the flannel. Maybe if you don't see any more lint with the second wash/dry, you could stop there?

I've been working with flannels for 50 years and have Never prewashed more than once. Every quilt has turned out just fine. Seems like washing over and over before even using it would weaken, wear out the flannel long before necessary and probably causes the " pilling" people complain about-- I've never had that problem either, but have seen it.

Do you have a favorite brand or place to purchase?

Not a dumb question at all. Ladies at my quilt group always have questions about flannel.

I have made those blankets, and I have sewn them before washing. Instead of 40" square and 30" square, I made them 43" square and 33" square. I washed them when they were done and they came out fine. You really can't made them any bigger than 43" and 33" so they will come out the same size as washing the fabric first. Maybe bigger.
One hint though -- I found that things sewed better if I kept the fabric oriented the same direction. Mud?? Sew the WOF(stretchy) of the inside square to the WOF(stretchy) of the outside square. And of course the LOF of the inside to the LOF of the outside. I also left the turning opening on the LOF side, so that they didn't get stretchy when trying to sew the opening closed. Everything seemed to go together easier when I made sure of this. Have fun! Ann

I love Benartex flannels most, but the " woolies" flannels are really nice too, I think they are mods - but guessing. Any nice, heavy double sided flannels. I purchase most of my flannels from the local quilt shop, some from fabric.com. I love to feel them -- but, have never been disappointed with the ones I've bought on line. I just avoid thin, loosely woven flannels.

Great advice!

There are tremendous differences in the quality of flannel-so beware. Good quality like Moda, Maywood and Benartex shrink only a small amount where as chain store flannel costs less and shrinks a lot. I always wash flannel once in hot water and dry in the dryer. Have had great success with doing it that way.

I wash and dry one time in hot water and hot dryer. Most people don't use hot water when washing blankets and I personally do not toss blankets in the hottest dryer setting, usually low heat.

thanks for the info. I only used flannel for one baby quilt and was so disappointed. Got fabric from a LQS and pre washed it and it got pills. Completed the quilt and was never happy with it. Maybe I'll have to try it again with Moda.

I recently ordered some flannel for baby receiving blankets & burp cloths from Thousands of Bolts. It was good quality, good price. All shrank some in pre washing and drying. If I was going to cut it into pieces to make blocks I would have shrunk it one more time just to be sure. I also made 1 blanket from a cute Joanns flannel that I couldn't resist. That flannel is much lighter weight, shrank lots more and I think will pill.