How do you suggest handling unwashed fabrics that you receive that are precut for a quilt block? I recently participated in a shop hop and I don't know whether to prewash the pieces or just use them as is.

Connie

Hi Connie, I've never tried washing precut block pieces. If they are already cut to the exact size you need for the block, washing may cause them to fray and have to be trimmed. I'm anxious to hear from other quilters on this subject.

Wow...I think I'd be too scared to wash them too, because of the possible shrinkage or fraying. I wonder if you could dampen the darker pieces to test for colorfastness. That might be a worry. Otherwise, go ahead and sew them up!

You need to know if you have been given pieces that you will be cutting or are already cut, I agree with the others if they are pre cut I would not try to wash them. If they are large enough for you to cut as directed you might try to hand wash very gently and of course air dry, but you may still have some fraying.

A agree that prewashing would be a disaster. Hopefully, after they are sewn together, they will shrink at the same rate. Otherwise, the work would be wasted. I wish there was a commandment to preshrink any fabric before cutting, including CLOTHES. That is another nightmare.

That would be a fun project--Anybody want to make suggestions for the Ten Commandments of Quilting? ...#1. Thou shalt preshrink thy fabrics.
Connie, you'll have to let us know how your project turns out. Who knows? After the quilting's done, the first washing and drying might give you that old-fashioned cuddly look.

Hi, I use one of the laundry bags that you would use for your bra's and wash the squares in that and dry them in the bag also. So far I have been pretty lucky and very little fray. But I use the gentle cycle on the machine. I do use the dryer as I want to be assured of the shrinkage. I have received squares that I did not know if were washed and have always used this method with pretty good luck. Hope this helps. :?

Thanks, DonnaRae. I'm definitely going to try that.

Hi - here's a little suggestion (tho... I'm no expert by any means) I read in one book that if quilted squares that are not prewashed .. your best bet is to iron them with lots o' steam. I've tried this out on fabrics I know will shrink (like flannels) and it really seems to work. If they are precut and made for a wall hanging it probably won't matter. But a hot iron with lots of steam usually will shrink them down to size. (That may not be what you want tho... cuz some fabrics may shrink more than others...) dunno just a suggestion.

I am currently in the block of the month class and the instructor has suggested that we use a product called retain. You spray it on the fabric and let it air dry. It workds great.

I too am not an expert here, but if your piece is pre cut to size you don't want to wash it. I have been reading up on this to wash or not to wash and have gotten different answers from diffrerent people. The rule of thumb seems to be if you start with washed fabrics stay with washed or visa versa. I would be afraid that washing would not only shrink it beyond the size needed, but I would also be afraid of distortion. No matter how careful we are in our washing and ironing, we end up with some distortion. So if it is cut to size I wouldn't risk it.

The census is equally divided about wash or not to wash and lots of ladies are going with the not. As long as you don't mix the two. Either not or wash, but never one of each. So there is my half cent, hope this helps.

Rita

Thats good advice. I have started not prewashing fabric, as it seems to be eaiser to work with, re: moving and stretching.

just an fyi: i did my ugrad at a textile school and learned that woven fabric tends to shrink more in length than width. i guess it's due to the fact that the length is under constant tension as the threads are passed through to create the fabric -- who knows. in any case, just thought i'd pass it on.

Great information on the length vs width shrinkage. A question: How do I tell the difference after it is cut? Is there a "feel" to it? I'm thinking that the fabric stretches width wise on the bolt a little more than lengthwise. Is this feasible? :?:

I am just reading this information now.........but I have just a couple of comments. When I started a quilting class, my teacher was very insistant on PREwashing your fabric.........b ut now I am in a "block-of-the-month" club, and the girls there feel the opposite. We are working with 5" squares, and I am in beliefe that if you were to try to wash these, it would be disaster. I heard from a lady in a quilt store a bit ago that you should use a steam iron, (as well).......I am thinking that using as iron after a block is sewn would be a good thing. :?: Any more ideas? I am doing the "blocks" w/o putting water to it........

Great question, but I wonder if all of us ladies will ever have an answer? :D Thanks for your ears! Nancy

Hi, Well I think the best answer is to make it a law to prewash always before cutting. That way if you are not the one that is going to be sewing the fabric and someone else is then there will be no question. Okay congress here we come. HEE HEE :twisted:

The law idea was someone else's on this post. I can not take the credit. :roll:

Hi, I was just at the Fons and Porter site reading Tips and saw this. Well it isn't 5 inch squares, but a good tip anyway I think. I will try it. Here it is.

Wash fat quarters and partially dry in the dryer. Place damp fat quarter on a flat surface such as a table or countertop and smooth fabric with your hands until flat. Add more fat quarters atop first one, smoothing each. Press immediately or take a break, leaving the damp fabrics in a stack. Pressing goes faster since each piece was previously “hand-pressed.”

Hi,

I have sprayed my fabric with Sizing and then ironed it dry. It takes care
of the shrinkage.

Also I have heard people say that they wash the quilt (just the top) before
putting it together. Also the bottom should be washed too.
I have never done this but it might be ok.

Jeanne

[b][i]I'm fairly new at quilting, but I help out at a quilting shop and they never wash their fabric, but do use a steam iron (a lot), she has me press (press not iron) my blocks after each step, so they are nice and flat, but then I haven't wash anything I've made yet.

To check a fabric to see if it is going to bleed I place a swatch in a microwavable dish. I cover the swatch with water and set the timer on high for one-two minutes. By using this method I found some fabrics that I planned to use did color the water so did not use them in my quilt. The fabric does not fray in the microwave but I don't know if it would determine shrinkage. Something I am going to check out.

Bottom line, never wash or steam press precut quilt kits. It is never a good idea to over handle those pieces, either. Those pieces are cut using some precise method and you do not want them to become out of shape prior to sewing together. Once your quilt top is made and quilted all the pieces will behave regarding shrinkage during washing. To prevent possiblity of any color bleeding, I highly recommend using a dye magnet sheet and never allow a wet or damp quilt to lay on itself. Wet or damp fabric will leach itself and that can be disasterous. Don't ask me how I know this. I may cry. :cry:

Charlie,

When fabric is woven or printed, it has 'sizing' on it to keep it moving along the loom and to keep it from getting caught in rollers - it is what makes new fabric have that stiff feel. Once you wash them, the detergent takes the sizing out and 'puffs' up the fibers - like you see with flannel.

I will get extra for fabrics I know will shrink - I've had cottons shrink as much as 4" a yard! So, now I always get an extra few inches per yard.

Regarding the pre-cut pieces, I would not wash them...I've had them work their way out of the laundry bag to vanish in that kingdom where the mates to the mismatched socks are.. . or to disintegrate into fuzz in the dryer.

I have sprayed finished squares with a light soap mixture and then rinsed, towel-dried, and then dried flat. This seems to work well.

Hope this helps. Lisa

I always prewash my fabric with a color catcher and a white piece of fabric to see if it bleeds on the white I am doing a blue and white quilt and a dark blue fabric ran and after 3 washings and actually changed to a grey color. I have been quilting 11 years and I prewsh all my fabric. I also would not participate in a block of the month if the fabric was not
washed.
Bob

Bob, welcome to the Quilting Board! You are our first male poster. :D Congrats on 11 years of quilting, you obviously have much to share. We have a chatroom accessible from the link at top of page, and have scheduled chats on Sunday from 3pm-5pm EST and Wednesday 2-4pm EST. Please share your experience with us and feel free to post a picture now and again. I am always looking for inspiration.

When I wash small pieces of fabric I always put them in mesh laundry bags to keep them together. I also use them for many other things great for stockings which I never put in a dryer and other item of small clothing . I have the bags in everal sizes.\Martha P

I also use sizing before cutting. I was shown in Beaumont at the Sew What Store how much nicer the blocks look when tey are well pressed and have a good bit of spray starch or sizing.
Martha P

For some reason I missed the info on the chat room. GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Martha P

Martha, the chat schedule has changed from my previous post. You can access the schedule on the Main page. Any changes will appear there. Hope to chat with you soon.

I have to confess I have NEVER washed any fabric before making a quilt. Half the pleasure to me is handling new fabric. So far, had no problems with this method.