help: stiff quilt
 

after winning a second place ribbon at the show, and $500 of custom quilting, my dh says the quilt is too rough. i know machine quiting can be that way, but what do i do? will washing it soften it up a bit? it's 60 degree 2" stars that were English Paper Pieced, queen sized. how do i get the stiffness out of it? what do you do? he says he can feel it thru the top sheet. thanks everyone.

Hi Lynnie I haven't a quilt that has been heavily quilted but all of my quilts become softer the more I wash them.

Congratulations on the prize! Keep that uppermost in your mind. And I agree with cannyquilter, your quilt will become softer after each wash.

Yes, washing and using a liquid fabric softener will soften the quilt. I do this to all of my quilts.

Use it as a decorative bed covering but fold it back at night and sleep under a blanket. It probably won't feel softer for a while.

Congrats on your award!
The batting, backing and thread can also contribute to stiffness in a quilt. It will soften with laundering and use, but it may take some time. I would take it to a laundromat and use a large capacity machine. Just one question: you did remove the papers, right? There are some EPP products that you leave in.

I don't have any suggestions for you....I just want to say CONGRATS on the ribbon! Hope you can post a photo of the quilt soon.

Lynnie, that's awesome! I'm so happy for you!
I also would think washing will eventually soften it. Darn!

it was EPP, but I took out all my papers.
I'll try the washing the thing a few times with a lot of Downey.
thank you everyone for your advice.
when it's heavily quilted, it seems to slide around.
I always hand quilt my quilts, and this one wasn't
I'm doing Storm at Sea now. I figure it will take me
about 3 yrs to do. It too, is English Paper Pieced. I'll
quilt it by hand

I would do this as well!!!