Jelly rolls;combining washed/unwashed fabrics
 

Some advice needed, please! I've never used a jelly roll before but have been given two of them (they are both Moda ones). My problem is that I always wash and starch my fabrics before cutting them as I don't like the antique look when shrinkage occurs after washing the finished project (I pre-wash my battings, too). I want to use these jelly rolls as feature fabrics with an added neutral fabric for sashing between blocks. How do I get over the problem of combining washed fabric with unwashed?!

Enjoy making the quilt, then give it away if it really bothers you that much.

I was pondering the same question for different reasons. I am making a flannel rag quilt. flannel backing that I found in my stash is washed but the top is a precut layer cake, and obviously not washed. I guess we will just have to deal with the weired shrinking.

If you do wash your backing and batting first, I suspect you will not have a problem with the top made with precut strips. I only get the crinkly look with cotton batting, and if I want everything to stay fluffy and warm (but not heavy) I use thin polyester batt.

Put them in a mess bag and wash them.

Put them in a mesh bag and hand wash them. You can either air dry or use very low heat.

I prewash all material including jelly rolls. I have found that if I take 4-5 strips and tack them in a few places, on the each end and a couple in the middle then throw them into a lingerie bag or old pair of panty hose, they don't tangle and fray so much. Panty hose are great because you can tie them off. I've done this with scraps that may have a musty odor from sitting too long. if I get material from others I always prewash.

Shrinkage is usually due to the batting not the top, most quality fabrics don't shrink that much, I even washed flannel from connecting threads and it really didn't hardly shrink. If you don't like the crinkly look use a poly batting since they don't shrink. Cotton battings give the more crinkly look. Are you keeping the project for you or is it a gift, the person recieving may like the crinkly look.

I have an old stocking that I stick my jelly rolls in with a color catcher and wash. I lay them flat to dry, spray starch and press. I have never had a problem with them.