How does everyone pre-shrink batting - Warm and Natural, or Quilter's Dream, for example? Do you just throw it in the machine? Gentle cycle? Cold water or warm? Thanks.

Any agitation with Quilter's Dream and you're going to have a giant cotton ball. Just fill the washer with hot water and shut it off. Let it soak for 10 minutes or so and then spin it.

preshrink????? oops.... I never preshrink mine..

It depends on what kind of finished look I want. If I want a real modern looking quilt I'll use Quilter's Dream poly. If I want a modern look but with more definition in the quilting I'll use Hobbs Heirloom and pre-shrink it. If I want more of an old fashioned look without the deeper definition I'll use Quilter's Dream Cotton request or select weight. If I want a crinkly look with good definition in the quilting I'll use Hobbs Heirloom but not shrink it.

The directions should be on the package!
However these days, I am finding the batting barely makes the size it says on the package..so I am only hanging them on the line so they "fall"..NO prewashing to shrink them...

Shrinking batting, what's that? Lol. I have heard that some people do but I never have.

What?! I never pre-shrink my batting, that's just silly talk. I think scissor queen has the right idea, just buy the batting for the look you want.

There are so many different kinds to give the looks desired, that I wouldn't take the chance of ending up with a big, wadded ball. I don't see the point.

Read the package directions.

made my first quilt in 1976---still have never had any reason to pre-shrink a batt-
there are many many to choose from on the market- if one had a shrinkage rate that was more than i thought i wanted- i would simply buy a different one.
most of them only shrink about 3% which is not very much-
seems like an aweful lot of work for no real reason.

I don't pre-shrink. If I remember correctly, both the Warm & Natural and Quilters Dream are only supposed to shrink 1-3% or so. I do spritz with water and throw in the dryer for a few minutes. That might shrink it a little before I use it anyway.

Did wash mine and learned the hard way. What a mess! Everything fell apart. Never do it again.

I pre shrink my batting, 80% cotton 20% poly, in the washer. I allow the washer to fill with cold water then push batting into the water and let it sit for 30-45 min, then spin. I put it into the dryer on air dry and fluff about half way through the cycle.
Hope this helps.
D

ditto

The warm and natural that I have (probably purchased 15 years ago) survives nicely when washed and dried on gentle.

The creamy colored stuff left the water very yellow.

3% shrinkage would shorten a twin size sheet (starting size 96 x 66 inches) - if only one way shrinkage - to about 93 inches.

I did put some other things in the water - and did end up with a mess!

So, if I don't want the crinkley look after I wash the finished quilt, then I should use...??

Quilter's Dream Poly. It's very nice and even and fabric sticks to it like it sticks to cotton.