P0ly batting
 

Do I need to pre-wash my fabrics if I'm going to use Hobbs poly batting in my latest baby quilt?

I am a washer. I always prewash my fabrics no matter what batting I use. I think it is just personal preferance. You will not get the shrinkage with the poly that you would with cotton.

I'm afraid you will get answers from people who never wash, who always wash, who wouldn't use poly with a baby quilt, who only use poly on baby quilts...

My preference would be to wash the fabrics first, but I'm one who always washes.

I don't prewash no matter what batting I am using. I do, however, check any suspicious fabrics for colorfastness.

If you are planning to tie your quilt or quilt it with lines very far apart, then you may want to prewash fabrics for shrinkage. With normal quilting lines, prewashing to shrink fabrics is unnecessary. This is because after quilting it is the batting that controls shrinkage. A fabric will not be able to shrink more than the batting. (This does not hold true if quilting lines are, say 10" apart, because that is enough area for the fabric to shrink independently of the batting.)

Prewashing, for me anyway, is to eliminate shrinkage issues as well as get rid of the unnecessary chemicals (specially for baby quilts). I have more problems with bleeding in solid fabrics, but occasionally will have a bleeder in prints, primarily reds, so I treat with retayne in the wash. Then all my fabrics are ready to go to the cutting table. If the fabric is flimsy after washing, I press with a bit of starch. Making quilts with poly batting and prewashed fabrics will not shrink near as much as with a cotton batt, so not near as much "crinkling". I prefer that over worrying about seams pulling loose because of shrinking fabrics. But as the other posters have said, this is all a matter of opinion. I always wash a finished quilt as it gives me a chance to check for loose threads or seams that have come loose as well as getting rid of any dirt or oils from my hands during construction.

If there is no chance of the fabric colors running, I may not prewash, but I always wash the finished product.

If your making a baby quilt and its flannel be sure to prewash. I also stitch around the raw edges so it won't ravel when washed.

I am doing a quilt now thats a dark burgundy and I should of pre washed it cause its bleeding. All the other reds/burgundys never did this, so you never know.