JoAnn Fabric had flannel fabric on sale and I got... um... LOTS!
I want to make baby quilts... anyway, I never made them out of flannel before so here's my question... do I pre wash the fabric before I cut and sew, or after? Thanks much quilters.

yes, pre=wash the flannel. some people say to wash it twice, but i only wash it once, toss it in the dryer, and press it...flannels if thin may need a little starch to help keep them straight for cutting. i use lots of flannels living in Northern Michigan and have found some of joannes flannels seem thin before washing but are better after...they (fluff up..) but they also shrink alot so it's important to pre==wash. i always use cotton batting with flannel too, you get a nice fluffy soft quilt

Yes, I would prewash flannel for sure.

Absolutely. Flannel has a much higher shrink rate than regular cotton. The only time I do not prewash flannel is when I make Chenille.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes, definitely wash it !! Flannel needs to be pre-shrunk.

I normally don't pre-wash my fabrics, but I do with flannels, with the exception if I'm going to make a "rag" quilt, then don't pre-wash.

For flannel, before cutting, always. On hot, dry hot. Maybe even more than once.

I'm normally NOT a pre-washer, but flannel is a big shrinker.

Thank you all so much. I knew not to take it upon myself to decide... I would have cut it all up and off the the machine. I love being able to have quilters in the know to ask. This is a great place~!
Ckcowl I love your quilt~!

I agree with everyone! Flannels REALLY shrink. Wash and completely dry in a HOT dryer.

Flannel generally shrinks, and some can shrink a lot. I would prewash it for sure.

Be sure you zig-zag or overcast cut ends before washing! It will save a few inches of usable fabric from raveling!

Wash it! Flannel shrinks more than regular cotton does.

I prewash and I add full strength liquid starch in the fabric softner cup instead of fabric softner. Helps crisp it up a bit.

OK/// now I need to know one more thing... if I make a rag baby quilt out of some of this, and I dont wash it first...do I use a center of batting between the two layers like I did with my cotton rag quilt? Like I said, I never used flannel before for quilts so I am getting an education here and I do thank you all sooooo much. (i like the zig zag the edge thing... would never have thought of that. Also the starch thing... never in a million years would it have dawned on me to try that.

I've only made 3 flannel rag quilts and I did put batting in between, I guess it's all in how you want to do them, either way is fine.

Thanks Furza Flyin, I never even thought of putting the starch instead of the softener.

Always prewash flannel!!!

Perfect answer!

Definitely wash!

I always wash flannel. Hot water and hot dryer . I want that stuff to shrink as much as its going to before I put it in a quilt or really use it for anything. Washed some once normal temp and made jammie pants. Shrunk two inches. Learned my lesson.

I always pre-wash flannel as it does have a tendency to shrink quite a bit...as Damaquilts says hot water and high heat in the dryer.

Am not sure what you mean by the center of batting? If you mean should you use batting then yes I do even if only the thinner type so it isn't so warm. It's basically a personal preference as to how warm you want to make your quilt.

Always prewash all fabrics, especially flannel, it really shrinks.

I love flannel quilts. They are so warm. But I do prewash my flannels as they tend to shrink.

Yes to the pre-wash and definitely spray starch but I spray and iron from the backside. I like the nap fluffier when piecing.

Yes, pre-wash.

Just curious, where in northern Michigan do you live? I've lived on Mackinac Island for a year and in Cheboygan for the first year of my marriage.

I'd wash the flannel because of the shrinkage issue...it's going to shrink, but...

I'd definitely wash it because it'll be for a baby. Most of our fabrics are printed overseas, which means they've been shipped on big boats in crummy shipping containers. I can only imagine the stuff the bolts are sprayed with to try to keep them safe from bugs.

I'd wash it, because I'd wash it for my own kids.

I heard on one of the quilting shows, I think it might have been Fons and Porter, that if it is soft and flexible there is no need to pre-wash, but if it stiff and hard, you should pre-wash. If it is stiff, there is lots of dye and sizing, etc. and will shrink a lot. I've never used flannel except as a backing. I use it as backing on baby quilts. Never made a whole quilt out of it before.

Yes, prewash flannel in hot water & dry in the dryer before making a quilt out of it or it will shrink.

Yes, I prewash it. It tightens it up. Especially the thin stuff, making it easier to work with.

my number one rule is to always wash first !!

I always prewash and machine dry flannel, more than once.

oh, NOOOOOOO! I didn't pre-wash a flannel quillow I made for my grandson. And I bought the flannel at JoAnn's. Now I am going to worry about it. Sigh!!! :roll:

i do not pre wash cotton, and up to now i had not pre washed flannel either, but after reading this, i may start pre washing flannel....never had a problem, but there is always a first time.....gina

Flannel is hte only fabric left that i prewash anymore. it shrinks way t oo much these days. Even the better ones till shrink some.

Do you wash the flannel in hot water as well, as dry it in a hot dryer?

Yes, prewash flannel....it shrinks a lot.

Do you wash the flannel in hot water as well, as dry it in a hot dryer?

Hi,

Yes I generally use hot water. This is what I do. I start the washer with the hot water, add in a very small amount of detergent, mix that into the water with a paint stir stick. About half full I switch to warm water, then add the flannel fabric making sure that the fabric is pushed down into the tub. After making sure entire fabric is wet then switch back to hot water until at the fullest setting. Always be sure to have plenty of room for the fabric to move. Do not mix different colors just in case there is dye fading. I found this to be true for the darker solids.

Happy Quilting!

Pam M
Dayton, OH

I have made several rag quilts with flannel and I did prewash the flannel, instead of batting I used another layer of flannel. I cut out 3 different colors, layered then, sew an X through the middle of the square, then joined then together. I like working with flannel.