I FINALLY finished my MIL's Christmas gift quilt...with just two weeks to spare, because we're celebrating early. I finished hiding all of my loose threads last night and threw it in the wash...I took it out today and it's shrunk and distorted and puckered and I am so sad. I pre-washed all of my fabric (front and back)...I think the batting is what shrunk (it is a cotton/poly blend but I don't know the ratio because I bought it second hand without packaging or anything)...It looks awful. I feel awful. I can't give this as a gift to somebody...it's terrible! I'm so sad. It's shrunk AT LEAST four inches!!!

:cry:

Now what am I supposed to to about MIL's Christmas gift?!? AHHHHHH

She won't know that it shrank. Post a picture. I'll bet it's fine.

I am sure it can't be as bad as you think. Do you have a picture?

You could try re-washing it on a gentle cycle and then gently stretching it back out to shape and air dry it. This sometimes works with sweaters, it may work with your quilt.

I am curious to see what others say.

Did you put it in the dryer? I am not sure what to do but I am sure someone on here might be able to help you out.

Sorry this happened. I have heard others say it is a good idea to put the batting in the dryer to shrink before use.

I thought of this, too. See if this works!

If the batting is a poly cotton mix, it shouldn't have shrunk much at all. Wool batts shrink significantly-as much as your describing. Are you sure it's not wool?

take out the quilting and requilt it with new batting. It was the batting that got smaller.

oh, that is horrible!! I feel so bad for you!! what temp did you wash it at, and did you put it in the dryer? I would tend to think the dryer is what did it.
I hope your MIL is nice and will understand - maybe a "gift certificate" for another quilt??

I don't know that it is not wool...it seems too light to be wool, but I suppose it could be. I'm almost certain that it's got poly in it though...

Here are pics...Gah. It doesn't look NEARLY as bad in the pics as it does in person...

oh, so sorry. Hope some of the suggestions work.

Tell her what happened. I think I would pleased by your distress if I were her. That sounds awful but you know what I mean.

Try to salvage it. If that's too stressful for you now (completely understandable), make her a mug rug or a Christmas ornament. Something easy and sweet.

So sorry.

just saw the picture, that's not that bad, try ironing it.

Woah!! Right when I posted the pic came up. Honestly, I can see the difference, but it does not look that bad. She does not know what it looked like before it was washed.
I agree that it prob not as bad to others as you because you know what it looked like before.
It looks cosy and I love the fabrics you used.
IMO she will love it.

Just saw the pix. Best I can tell, it looks wrinkly. A lot of people like that look.

Is it worse than wrinkly (my eyes are bad) or awkward to fold or wrap around you? Weird chunkiness going on in areas?

I know how you feel, I had the same thing happen to a quilt I made for my daughter. It was black, white and red, more of a young persons color and design. I washed it before giving and it shrunk 5-6 inches. I was very upset, had to work really hard not to cry. The shrinkage ruined the young design, young people don't like the traditional quilt puckering. Well, I guess I should say my two daughters don't like the puckered traditional look. Personally, I like the puckered look. Is your concern that it puckered or that it shrunk too small for your MIL's bed?

Ummmm, it looks fine to me. A little pressing, maybe? My quilts all come out of the wash looking withered.

That would be my question too. I have never actually touched the wool batting so I wouldn't be able to tell.

When I make a quilt I actually love when it shrinks a bit and puckers up because that hides the imperfect quilting stitches.

I just realized that you posted pictures and honestly, I don't see a problem. The quilt looks exactly as I would expect after a wash. It is really pretty.

Next time, you may want to do a little more quilting and the pucker effect won't be as noticeable.

I agree. If the batting shrunk, stretch it. What size quilt is it?
Get the quilt wet and stretch it to air dry. I don't know how you will keep it square while it dries. Maybe put a box fan on it to dry it faster.
But, if stretching it works,,,,,,,,,,, seems like she will have to stretch and air dry each time she washes it. Is it for use or decoration? Lots to consider.
How is it quilted? I generally would rather make a new one than rip out a whole entire binding, sashing and quilt top/bottom. Lots to consider.
I am sorry this happened. I will check back to see how it turns out for you.
On Edit:
Mann, we are all on our keyboards at the same time. Look at the times of our post. Then the photos are loaded when our posts are in.
So now, with the photos. It is such an absolutely beautiful quilt. Do you have a work station you can imprison it on? get it wet, stretch it, keeping it square and pin it down to your work station until it air dries. I still fear she will have to do it the same way when she washes it. If it drew up on you it will draw up on her. But, stretching it wouldn't be a problem for me and it may not be a problem for her. She may never wash it, just have it for a look and don't touch. It really is a beautiful quilt.
Do you still have the bag the batting came in? A call to the manufacturer might not hurt. They may have some suggestions. I would want to know if it is going to keep shrinking each time it gets wet.
I am really sorry this happened.

I would try this option & steam the heck out of it & stretch as you go. It really doesn't look too bad.

You could take it to a dry cleaner and have them press it for you in a big press.

It's not too bad.. to me...but if ur not happy... I think I'd try the dampen the quilt and try stretching it a bit...if that still does not get the results u like, I'd make maybe a table topper/mug rugs,etc with a IOU for a new quilt and explain what happened.... I'm sure she will be empathic!....

I always wash a quilt before giving it to the recipient and they always come out wrinkled and a little smaller then than before washing. I iron them and stretch a little while ironing so that they're smooth when I give them.

I've also found with quilts I've kept that with use they relax and some of the wrinkles come out.

I like that puckery look. It makes it look old-fashioned. You can try washing it again, and then lay it out on the floor and stretch it into shape and let it dry with a fan blowing over it. (Similar to blocking a quilt.) But, really, I think it's absolutely lovely the way it is.

*sigh* I don't even think it looks that bad in the pictures...if it was someone else posting it, I'd tell them so too. The close up didn't even show the extent of the puckering and screwed-up-ness.

I'm going to try ironing it and stretching the heck out of it...But I don't want my mother in law to have to keep up such high maintenance every time she washes it! I'll see how it does to wash and hang to dry...if it is still all screwy, I'll have to think of something else for her...

Honestly, I think it looks fine and I love it. Antique quilts are not smooth and flat. You did a great job. If you are too disappointed with it, try a steam iron to flatten it out.

The fabric is just very puckered and some of the blocks/quilting appears distorted. The binding is all wavy, too. It really does not look as bad in the picture as it is...

It's not terribly awkward to fold or snuggle in, though...

The most important thing is that you are dissatisfied with it. It looks fine in the pix but I know that can be misleading.

Good luck. I hope you find a solution or alternative gift.

I agree with the ironing of it. I had one that puckered more than I liked, and ironing worked fine. I felt rather foolish ironing a quilt, but it did work.

I would iron it and give it to her. I would not mention your concerns about it. She will be delighted. I think this is a case of what we all do....see our mistakes when others who see our quilts won't.

Now that you have all this advice...I hope you can end up being happy with it. :)

Before I enter a quilt in a show, I press it well. I press the back first and then turn it over and press the front. Maybe if you try pressing it, it will help. I think it has that warm, cozy look when they are "scrunched" up after washing. Either way, its a beautiful quilt and I'm sure your MIL will love it.

We were posting at the same time again. Yeah, distortion and wavy isn't good. Go ahead and try stretching it but you might want to come up with an alternative while you're at it.

If she's not crafty, she might not know the difference. That's not always good enough for us though.

The washed quilt does not look that bad and I hope that ironing and stretching helps you feel better. I always wash my quilts because I love the puckered look. Would it help to square it off again and cut it a little smaller then rebind with new binding that has been washed. A sofa or lap quilt is always nice to have. If you think you will worry about it too much, the idea of the IOU was a nice thought or make another quilt that is a easy pattern to put together. Good Luck! :thumbup:

I agree. It sure looks ok in the pictures. Try pressing real good. I think it is beautiful.. Cheer up, it could be worse.

My MIL has been gone for many years now. I adored her and I think she loved me more than her own kids. If I had quilted then and made something for her, she would have treasured it. I don't know what your MIL is like, but if she were like mine it would have hurt her immensely to know that I felt something I made was not good enough. I have a queen size crocheted bedspread from her. It is very heavy and mostly WHITE so I don't use it very much, but it is so very important to me because she spent many hours rocking and crocheting it for me.

Just something to think about...

If you are unhappy, that's all that matters. It looks fine, and quilts are notoriously "puckery." They're actually prettier when they DO pucker. If you want her to use it and snuggle in it, I would definitely give it to her. Could you explain to her what happened and how you feel? She'd probably tell you what everyone else is saying ... its not that big of a deal.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

I don't think it's that bad either and I, too, would suggest ironing. Give it to her. It's a really pretty quilt and she'll love it.

The after looks fine; it has the old look which is what many seek after quilting their modern quilt. I would just iron it.

Wash it again and gently shape and hang it over a railing to dry. Maybe touch up with a not too hot iron. It looks lovely. Maybe it feels extra snugly since it is very fluffy? Hugs!

You know I don't know if I've ever seen a picture posted here of a finished quilt that has been washed before. Has anyone else?

As someone asked before, how is your mother in law going to use the quilt? Any way she uses it I'm sure she'll appreciate the fact that you took so much time and effort to make something *from your Heart*. Hopefully the MOM in her will come out when she opens the gift and she'll appreciate it like a mom appreciates anything a child gives her that's handmade. KWIM?

Lots of other Great Suggestions all worth trying to make you feel better in giving it.