Now what do I do?
 

I lucked out at an estate sale and purchased a large amount of fabric - mainly to use as backing. Some pieces are 10 yards long...but...had a heavy cigarette odor. They are now washed and folded, but, I don't know my next step. I normally do not prewash my fabric and wonder if I will have to prewash it for the quilt tops. Even the teeny 2 inch squares I have already cut for scrappy quilts? Would it make a big difference if I did not prewash and just heavily starched the backing? Help!

I am confused? If you have already washed the fabric, like you said, that should be enough, don't you think? Are you thinking of washing it again?

I don't prewash, so you probably shouldn't pay any attention to me...though I would prewash if there was a heavy cigarette odor. :)

Dina

I don't think you should have too much problem using washed & prewashed in the same quilt. I always prewash fabric EXCEPT for jelly rolls etc. so in those quilts I've used a mix with no problems.

Get someone with a very sensitive nose to check out the fabrics you washed. You don't want to make a lovely quilt that the recipient won't use because of the odor! I'm like that myself. Also, I sure wouldn't wash those tiny pieces, they could be distorted badly when they are dried. I doubt they would cause much problem over the whole expanse of a quilt.

I think you can use the prewashed backing with the other fabrics you have and already cut. I would not try to wash any pieces you have cut for fear of fraying and shrinkage out of shape.

I agree with Margaret on getting others to check out your fabrics first. Given that it's for a quilt, I would guess that body heat underneath it would amplify any residual scent. If you can't entirely get it out, it still may work for another purpose.

Hugs,
Charlotte

I guess I don't understand what question is being asked. Are you asking about the odor or shrinkage? And how does the backing come into this? The simple act of starching and pressing fabric will shrink it, if that answers a question....

So you are asking if you can mix your new, unwashed fabric with the old, prewashed cigarette fabric?

You can mix unwashed and washed fabric. However if some of the unwashed fabric has a loose weave and shrinks a lot, there may be a bit of distortion in the finished product, depending on the size of the pieces and the density of the quilting. If the unwashed fabric behaves itself, then no problem.

I have mixed pre-washed and non washed fabric in a quilt with no problems. The quilting I think really helps stabilize things together.

I would air your fabrics outside even though you've washed them. There's nothing like fresh air to get out smells. I've had some really musty, smelly fabric that I've gotten from people and that's done the trick every time.