Firsts... an experiment of sorts
 

I'm starting a new quilt called Color Me Crayons and I've decided it will be a quilt of firsts for me.

It's the first time I've ever bought a pattern for a quilt. This one just struck me so strongly, I had to have it. Following directions is NOT my strong point though. Just figuring out the fabric requirements was a chore for me, although I'm sure they were very clearly written for the average person, so we'll see!

This will be the first time I DON'T pre-wash my fabric.

And, I bought a cotton quilting sateen for the background fabric, because I liked the sheen factor.

So, altogether, this could go well or could go....not so well.

I guess we'll see. :shock:

For those who don't wash beforehand, do you still starch?

Watson

My dear Watson (sorry, I couldn't resist.), I googled your quilting pattern, and it is very pretty. I saw a pattern with the suggested fabrics and it looks as though it is built around poka-dots, which I love. I hope you'll post a photo when you finish it.

Tartan...now you've got me worried.....maybe I will pre-wash. That would be terrible if I did the whole thing and it bled.
Hmmmm....

Watson

When I start a quilt I make a key, where I glue a little piece of each fabric I'm using, on paper, with the suggested fabric number or the order it's used, next to it. I hope that makes sense. It helps me stay on track, especially when there are many fabrics. Hth, Gina

P.s. I always prewash

A couple years ago I made quilt with 1930s fabrics, white background and bright blue sateen borders. I only pre washed the flannel I used for the back. No problems with colors bleeding. I hardly ever pre wash anything except flannel. I do starch my fabric before cutting, but I use Magic Sizing not starch.

Cari

I never pre-wash or starch. I gift the quilt not yet washed and instruct the recipient to wash in cold water. I hope all quilts are still nice. If they bleed then we can pretend that its all the blood, sweat and tears I put into making it. It will still keep people warm, whether it bleeds or not. No one has ever told me that their quilt has bled...I also let them know that it will wrinkle if put in the dryer, but I'm ok with wrinkles...on my quilts any ways!

If you don't want to wash and press all the fabric do a sample wash. Snip a small piece of each fabric and put each one in hot water for minute then place on white paper towel. If it will bleed you will see it.

Don't know if this is a trait of cotton sateen, but I recently used it for the first time in a quilt and found it to be really stretchy. Might be just the type I bought, but give yours a tug to see. It's not a show stopper, just something to be aware of. I starched it a bit more than I normally would and it was fine.

I do not prewash. I just use the fabric as it comes from the store. There's usually enough body from the sizing that I do not starch. I always wash completed quilts with one or more color catchers. I like the crinkly look.

I always do a colorfast test and find I rarely need to prewash--take a piece of white paper and rub any suspect fabrics very hard--if there's any color on the paper--wash, otherwise you're safe (although I use a color catcher anytime I wash a quilt no matter how often it's been washed). BTW--this color fast test was shared by a LQS owner. since I don't prewash, I save my starching for when I know I'm going to be cutting lots of bias edges. The sizing in the unwashed fabric gives it enough "stiffness".
I agree with PaperPrincess that cotton sateen seems to have more stretch in it--so if yours is that way, a wash and dry ahead of time may shrink it so it's not so stretchy--not a game changer,but do be aware. Can't wait to see!

I do not prewash except for flannel and don't use starch. So far so good. I don't have any allergies or sensitivities to dyes. I do wash all my quilts when they are finished. No special treatment.

Since I don't prewash, I find that lightly starching helps.

Pre-washed, starched and cut. So far, so good!

Watson

I don't wash my fabrics as I find out if the fabric is going to bleed when I put it in my tub of starch. Just had 2 batiks bleed like a stuck pig on me too. Tried the blue Dawn dish soap as someone mentioned for new fabric dyes this will stop the bleeding. It didn't so went to my Bubble Jet Rinse and that seemed to do the trick. Plus after I've pressed it I figure if its going to strink its probably already done it between the starching and pressing.

As to the sateen, yes, it does have a nice sheen to it as well as a nice feel to it. I tend to grab any sateen backing scraps from one of my local fabric stores. Use the scraps in my quilts and the larger pieces for my backing. Nice drape to it.

Ok....I have to chime in here. Made many crayon quilts and used bright colors, blacks and reds in all shades. All the blacks and reds were prewashed, the blacks up to five times before they did not bleed anymore. What a mess this would have been if not prewashing the fabrics. When I started my quilting life, I did not prewash any of my fabric. Two quilt disasters later, I prewash all of my fabric now. Just imagine that red or black bleeding all over the yellow and light blue crayons! Please wash that fabric! Hugs! Love crayon quilts!

No I don't starch normally, but sometimes I do. I don't wash fabric anymore but I test it to see how it bleeds.

I don't prewash anything except flannel. I did find a great recipe here on the board for washing quilts and it has definitely prevented any bleeding on mine. I generally wash my quilts before I give them away. The thread is "Recipe to Keep Colors from Running" from zozee. I took tessagin's suggestion about mixing it in a measuring cup and then adding it to the water (see 2nd page of posting).

I have a question about the cotton sateen. Has anyone experienced the sateen losing it's sheen once washed?

I use all kids of crazy colors together. Never prewash. White background with bright colors. Back and white. I haven't had any problems except a couple of weeks ago. I washed a red, white and blue wall hanging. I know I have washed it before without problems. For some reason one of the reds ran into one of the whites, there are 6 different whites. It came out when I washed it in OxyClean.I just throw in a couple of color catchers.

Color catchers are great. I always use them, even if I'm not concerned about the colors running. Just gives me some piece of mind.

Hope you will post pictures once your creation is completed!

I don't prewash my fabric either...and I normally don't starch, however, I just attended a lecture by Pam Buda called "Hints from Professional Quilters" and she explained why starching is helpful with piecing...so I am trying it for the first time on a Warm Wishes baby blanket. I will then wash the entire quilt before gifting it or include instructions for the new mother to wash it.