I usually sew the ends of yardage cuts of fabric together before washing to keep from having too many ravels, but what do you do with fat 1/4's and those jelly rolls?

put them in a mesh laundry bag to wash.

I don't prewash my fabrics.

I don't wash FQ's and Jelly rolls.

I don't have a problem washing fat qtrs and charm packs, just jelly roll's, so I avoid them.

You wash charm packs????

Don't wash any of my fabrics. Kinda think it stresses the fabric too much, but there is no scientific evidence of this! :-)

I quickly run the raw edges thru my serger. Works like a charm, no ravels at all. Then into the washer they go, with a color catcher.

I've heard if you snip the corners off of a fat quarter it won't ravel, but I've not tried it.

I do not wash my fabric before I sew it.

I snip the corner of FQs, then put into mesh bag..for fabrics more than a yard, I serge the ends.

I pink the edges. It is cheap, fast and works great. There is no warping from pulled threads, etc. I also throw the fat quarters and fat eighths into a mesh bag or pillowcase to wash.

I separate FQs and put 2 or 3 into mesh laundry bags. Luckily, my washer has a very gentle - hand wash - setting, so I use that. Snipping off a corner at the selvages helps some to avoid long ravels. I just soak charms, but don't buy jellyrolls (at least not fabric ones!!) I include color catchers when I wash colored fabrics.

I don't prewash anything. But for the IRR, I would put the piece in a bowl with hot water and a drop of dishwashing liquid, swish it for a couple minutes, then rinse in cold water, wring by hand and then iron dry. No raveling. Unless it was Moda fabric. That ravels like crazy.

I haven't tried this either. I never did anything to the cut edges until I read it here on the Board. I had some heavy woven fabric that needed something to keep it together so I machine basted along the cut edge. My fat quarters I threw into a small mesh bag - those came out good. Still haven't done anything with my cottons though. I have a front loading machine and I've noticed that I don't get much fraying. :thumbup:

I never prewash anything but stuff I get from thrift stores or garage sale. Any quality fabric from my LQS is not washed.

Those are the only fabrics I prewash too!!!!

mesh bag or an old pillow case

I'd just soak the strips in the sink. FQ's you could soak too but I wash with the rest of the stuff. Most times there's shrinkage and some wonkiness after too.

After switching from a top loading to a front loading machine I've noticed the same thing. I'm delighted!

Jan in VA

Same here.

I don't wash any of my fabric.

I never heard about snipping the corners. I will try that. I use the genlte cycle, somefray, some dont!

I am an old woman and don't have time to spare in washing and ironing fabric before I sew it.

With working full time and 2 children at home (a 77 yr old and a 16 yr old)I don't have enough time as it is to quilt like I want to.

delma

i used to prewash 30 yrs ago.then as I was buying more and more fabric and had a family at home it cut greatly into my sewing time.the qtys I buy in I would be washing and ironing for more than the rest of my life.I have cut a snippet here and there and soaked in water to watch for bleeding on batiks,so far none have been bleeders.

No washing here. Hate ravels.

I put mine in a pillowcase with a color catcher. Don't starch until ready to use. Starch attracts bugs. Also, the smallest cut I've used is a fat quarter. I've not yet used the smaller cuts. I tend to buy a LOT of fabric, a yard being the smallest cut. My daughter collects the fat quarters. She does Stampin'Up and uses fabric quite a bit. Sometimes I "borrow" from her.

What does IRR mean? Is there a glossory for the abbreviaitons everyone uses on this blog? I'm not new to computers, but sometimes the abbreviations stump me.

Someone said putting material in a pillowcast works well, but sure to close the open in with safety pins or something.

I don't was fat quarters either

I serge the FQ's together into one log row, then put them in the wash with a Color Catcher. Works great!

I wash FQs in mesh lingerie-laundering bags; and I just don't buy jelly rolls or charm packs!

I place these in a mess bag before washing. I also wash on the gentle cycle to cut down on the ravels.

I don't pre-wash.

i am shocked at how many people do not wash before they sew - don't you have problems with shrinkage and distortion? Think of the time I sould save if I could just jump right in ... but I think I am to retentive to do that.

I just purchased some beautiful blue batik. I asked at the lqs if I needed to prewash and was told no. I had been told to test the fabric by using a wet paper towel or white cloth and rub on fabric. If no color comes off it is ok. I did this with the blue fabric and some color came off so I decided to put it in the sink with some warm water. The color just ran out of it. It is still beautiful but not nearly the same shade as when I bot it. I can still use it but not for the quilt I bot it for. Thank goodness it was only going to be the binding. I then washed it in the machine with Retayne and it seems to be ok now.

I have heard this too, has anyone tried it?

Every quilt store I have shopped in has told me that you do not need to prewash fabrics that you buy at a Quilt Shop.

I've heard that too, but I haven't tried it. I was using a pinking blade but it sometimes works. Seems last batch I did before washing tangled bad. That part is just annoying.

Thank heavens you checked it--there was a lady on here that was having an awful time with a backing that ran after she had spent countless hours hand quilting it--that's when I decided that I'd better spend the time pre-washing