I am trying to finish a top that I made about 3 years ago. (Slow, I know.)
Used remnants to piece this top, so not sure content of fabrics.
I just added an additional 10 inches to each side in order to make it
larger.

Now I have purchased 100% cotton fabric (108" wide) to use for the
backing. My problem now is, should I wash the backing? If I do, then should I also wash the top? If I do, I cannot imagine having to iron the top with all those little seams & tangled threads, oh, my!

What is a newbie to do? Any help will be appreciated. Needing a little
confidence building. : )

Thanks in advance, Marilyn

I would probably go ahead and wash the back, but not the top. When you've got it quilted and wash it, it may have a little shrinkage, but that kindof gives it a vintage look. I always wash my fatbacks, but I don't usually prewash my fabrics, and have not had any problems (knock on wood!) so far. I'd be afraid the top would ravel too much and maybe even come unsewed. Good luck whatever you decide.

Marilyn,
That is a dilema. My first thought is that I think I would dampen the top and dry it. I also wouldn't want to put it in the washer and have a big mess. I know some put them them in lingere bags. I still think I would just dampen it to prevent too much shrinking later on. I think I would also wash the back. I only say this because with so many different fabrics I would be leary of not preshrinking it. I have never had to deal with this, but you may get a lot of opinions tomorrow that might help more than I can. Good Luck!

You've come to the right place for building your confidence. This place is great. Some people always wash (me), some people never wash, some people do a little of each. If you haven't yet washed the top and the bottom, I would go ahead as you are, and continue to put your quilt together. Others will have other helpful advice.

I wash all my fabric too.

Hi from Ohio. I wash all my fabrics in hot water.

I am a manic pre-washer...but that is of no use to you right now! I would wash the back as you know it's content and it may/may not shrink. If you have used remnants for the front, there is a good chance if they are not cotton, they won't shrink anyway...but if you washed...they would probably fray and become a tangled mess. So, be brave, leave the front as is, wash and press the back and then have fun quilting it. It will be a learning experience and I reckon it will turn out well in the end....and don't forget...WE LOVE PICS! Happy quilting.

If you haven't washed the top, I wouldn't wash the bottom. I'm a quilter who never pre-washes anything and I've never had any problems and I mix a lot of fabrics in my scrappy quilts. Both the top and bottom may shrink a little but they will be stitched together and can shrink together if they must. I don't see any value in just washing the bottom. You'll get lots of opinions on this one and I don't think that there is one correct answer.

If you didn't wash the top's fabric before you made the top, then I wouldn't worry about prewashing the backing fabric. They'll shrink together once the quilt is finished. I never prewash my fabrics unless it's either a really deep purple or a intense red, and so far...so good! Good Luck, and please posts pictures when completed. We love both inspiration and admiration for our endeavors.

Ditto

wash wash wash. Fab WILL shrink some but shrinks different
%s and directions.

I wouldn't wash it. Shrinkage is your friend!!! Shrinkage is not the enemy! When it's done and you toss it in the wash the slight shrinkage and puckering will hide a multitude of mistakes.

Ditto what Julie says. I prewash all of my fabric. First is to remove all the chemicals in the fabric, excess dye, formaldehyde, insecticide and the like. Second, fabrics do shrink at different rates some 1%, some 3% and some at much at 10%. Prewashing prevents the quilt from becoming warped as it is used.

Some do not prewash because the "crisp" fabric is easier to cut. I have found that if I starch and press the fabric before cutting it cuts much smoother than non washed. Also, it seems like my rotary blades last much longer this way.

If I am using a cotton batting or cotton blend batting, I mist the batting with water and throw it in the dryer with a wet towel. This removes all creases in the batt and preshrinks the batt as well.

ditto

I don't prewash at all. If you quilt adequately in relationship to the batting, the quilting actually helps the sandwich not distort. I don't mind a little shrinkage (whatever is normal in fabrics) because it just provides the soft, old-fashioned "crinkle" look I like.

In your situation, I might prewash the backing fabric, but this would depend on the fabric. Muslins and flannels can shrink a lot, so I would prewash. Most others are okay.

Washing the top is likely to make a mess. The only way I would ever wash a top is if I first basted it to a foundation fabric (to prevent fraying of all the seams), then hand washed and air-dried.

Whether pre-washing or not, it's a good idea to starch both the top and backing fabric before layering if you are planning to machine quilt. This helps prevents puckers. (Not necessary if you plan to tie the quilt or hand quilt.)

Sew glad you found us! Welcome from Colorado.

[quote=crashnquilt]Ditto what Julie says. I prewash all of my fabric. First is to remove all the chemicals in the fabric, excess dye, formaldehyde, insecticide and the like. Second, fabrics do shrink at different rates some 1%, some 3% and some at much at 10%. Prewashing prevents the quilt from becoming warped as it is used.

Some do not prewash because the "crisp" fabric is easier to cut. I have found that if I starch and press the fabric before cutting it cuts much smoother than non washed. Also, it seems like my rotary blades last much longer this way. (quote)

I am using wool/cotton blend and I do not wash it but I do wash and iron all the other fabrics. I do wash the backing fabric as every thing I have had so far bleeds badly.

I agree... your quilt is going to be beautiful, those crinkles just add an antique look to your quilt.

My rule of thumb is wash all or none. As some of the others have said the slight shrinkage makes a quilt look like an antique. If you haven't prewashed just be sure when you do wash you use the color catchers in case of fading.

I have been quilting since I was very young and never prewhashed my fabrics,have never been disappointed in my quilts when they were washed after many usings. It is your choice whether to prewash or not.

I hardly ever prewash. Got that from an instructor. The material is so much easier to use. Then it all shrinks a bit and it is soft and comfy!

As long as all your fabrics are 100% cotton, the shrinkage should be somewhat uniform. Poly-cotton blends do not shrink.

Please do not wash the top without it being quilted into a sandwich. A woman I worked with did this when she was a newbie 4 years ago and it fell apart in the wash!!!!! If the back is just one piece of fabric, I'd wash it.

i have never ever prewashed any fabrics i use in my quilting. i do prewash fabrics for clothing - always. remember to let your batting "breathe" out of the bag and opened up for 24 hours before sandwiching. if you don't want to wait, throw it in the dryer for about 30-40 minutes so it can relax.

If you haven't washed the top yet, I would wait until you have finished the quilt. If there is a little shrinkage, at least it will all be at the same time and should be fairly even. I don't wash anything until I am finished and there is minimal difference in the two stages as to the presentation of the quilt.

i always wash all my fabric before it goes into my sewing room it is a good habit to get in to it takes any doubt out about shrinkage and clor bleeding

I also do it like that except I have a plastic box in which I put all the unwashed fabric until I can get enough to wash it. I have only tank water so have to be careful with it.

I prefer to wash all my fabric. For you I would definately wash the back and hope for the best with the top. You could always spray bottle wet the top and let it dry to see what would happen.

Wash your backing and iron it before you quilt. When you wash your completed quilt, use a color catcher just in case some of the colors on your top bleed. Nothing like red, black or turquoise bleeding onto white or a light fabric to ruin your quilt. It is best to wash your quilt in the bathtub because agitating the quilt in a top loading washing machine can make your quilt a wonky shape. Gently squeeze the water out, don't wring it! It is best if you can sandwich the quilt flat between 2 sheets out on the lawn to dry as hanging will really stress the quilting and seams because a wet quilt is heavy!

I always wash and iron my fabrics before I cut anything to make a quilt. I want to get rid of the chemicals used on them to keep the bugs off in the warehouses. I have read in some quilting magazines that the fabric manufacturing companies are putting more chemicals in the fabrics now because the fabric is staying on the shelves longer.

Quoted below is my posting from May 07, 2010 re:108" wide cotton backing shrinkage: just a note of caution FYI.

I bought 108" wide fabric for king size quilt backing at JoAnn Fabrics. It's 100% cotton so preshrunk it in hot water wash & dryer. Well, its width went from 108" to 92" -- 16" shrinkage in width! Called the JoAnn store & clerk told me "It should've 'only' shrunk 8 inches"! If I'd been advised of that before I bought it, I'd have selected a poly/cotton blend instead. I'd bought an extra 3/4 yard, thank goodness, so ended up having to cut the excess length off & turn it crosswise grain and sew onto the sides to get enough width. Then I washed it again, in hot water, and dried it again to be sure it's done all the shrinking it's going to do, hopefully!

As you can see there are those that always pre-wash and those that never pre-wash. I'm a never, doesn't mean my way is best but I agree with those who have suggested that you don't wash the back since the front wasn't. Wait until it is quilted. As to why I don't pre-wash. For one, I want to cut and sew asap and second, you really can't successfully pre-wash small pieces such as precut charms, strips so why do some and not others. Just my opinion.:) All pre-washers, keep it up-I admire your patience and perseverance.

I always prewash all my fabrics. If you do this there is no need to wash the quilt top. After quilting everything together I do go back and wash the quilt. This way it has the vintage look when I give it away. I also give washing instructions to the receiver of the quilt.

I wouldn't prewash the top now, I would probably prewash the back .When the quilting is done wash it then but add Retayne, My quilts never run when I do this & I never prewash the fabric for my top as I like the crispness of the fabric the way it is. Sometimes I make an exception if I have a lot of black, dark purple, navy, or red in the top.

always wash before I start anything.