fat quarters
 

Hello to all, I just bought some fat quarters to start my first quilt. Do I need to wash them before using? Do I need to be concerned about shrinkage? They are 100% cotton. Thanks!

Well speaking for myself I have never washed the FQ I have used. But I know there are people who do but I think they either zig zag around the outside or use a serger to prevent to much unraveling (knots).

You will get many answers...some prewash, some don't. I am one of the ones that doesn't prewash. I haven't ever had any problems with bleeding, so would rather not have to go through all the washing, drying, ironing, resizing the fabrics if I don't have to.

I use the bathroom sink and soak them with a bit of detergent....just enough to get rid of sizing chemicals....you will know very quickly if one of them is a bleeder and likely to cause problems.....the problem children get tossed into a pan of very hot water with retayne for about 20 minutes.....then all go to the dryer

i'm with the better safe than sorry crowd and prewash all my fabrics. i never buy the precuts, though, so don't know about washing those.

Thanks for your help!

Really appreciate your input..thanks!

If you are able to wash anklets, thong underwear, a bikini swimsuit, and/or handkerchiefs, then it should be a fairly easy leap to washing something the size of a FQ!

I do overcast the raw edges before washing them, but they can be put in a lingerie bag before putting them in the washer - or just soaked in a sink.

I wash all my fabrics, including FQ's, in the washing machine, on a gentle cycle with woolwash as soon as I bring them home. I belong in the 'better safe than sorry' camp and would prefer not to have any nasty little surprises further down the track.

I have never pre-washed any quilting fabric. Never have had a problem.

By now you have figured out there are no rules for washing, not washing, cutting, rulers, etc. You will develop your own sense of what you like to do and how you want to handle things. Questions are always answered on this board which is such a help to all of us! Welcome to quilting, you are embarking on a lifelong hobby.

I have never felt the need to wash something that is not dirty yet. I wash the quilt after it is done, mainly to get of the cat hair. (no door on the sewing room).

I usually NEVER pre-wash; however, the only exception would be reds or deep purples, just to avoid a problem later on.

I have put them in a lingerie bag with not much problem for an outfit, for quilts I don't wash, too much work

Again...no set rules. I wash everything, starch, iron, and fold. Never had a ton of unraveling, but do use a lingerie bag for FQ's. I have had bleeders, usually when I least expect it...yellow, yes, purple/red/teal...no! The main reason I wash is to get rid of the "chemical smell" most fabrics seem to have!

I've never prewashed anything in 20 years of quilting...it's never been a problem one

I also have never prewashed and never had a problem.

I don't usually prewash either unless red or deep purples. I do use a lingerie bag for F4 & F8 if I do.