pre-washing batting
 

I bought a package of twin sized batting, 80% cotton-20% polyester. On the bag, it reads "may be pre-soaked if no shrinkage is desired". Never thought about it before. Should I or shouldn't I? I pre-washed the fabric for the quilt, I don't want it to be all weird after the first wash when it's all done? Thanks.

I don't think it will be weird at all, just have a more wrinkly texture which many people want. I would not dream of prewashing batting! If I worry about wanting a flat look I use a batting that has no shrinkage listed, maybe polyester.

I can't imagine prewashing batting - although I've read that some people do. I use 80/20 all the time now and it's always comes out fine. I usually prewash my fabrics, but also often have a mix of prewashed and unwashed precuts. It crinkles a little, but not as much as 100% cotton.

If you want a flatter look, soak it.

If you want an over all more puckered look, leave it unsoakd.

I prefer a flatter look, so I go with soaking, washing, or shrink resistant.

Ddpends on the look you prefer.

I always submerge Warm and Natural or Warm and White in hot water, being careful to wet it all thoroughly and soak just 3-5 minutes. Squeeze out most water gently, but do not twist. Then, use "Drain and Spin" cycle on washing machine....this will remove all excess water. Then I dry on warm. Never a problem.

I'm not expert on the subject, but I have soaked wool batting in hot water hoping to shrink it slightly. I soaked in hot water in bath tub, squeezed the water out well, let dry a little in large towels and dried in dryer. It was not a very large piece so it wasn't hard to do and I really liked the result.

I preWash cotton batting like LavenderBlue----soak it in a sink of hot water for about 15 minutes, then put it in a dry washing machine on the spin only cycle and lastly into the dryer. I prefer the less crinkly look, so I preWash everything!

I've always been afraid to spin my batting dry; the Warm and Natural label specifically says not to spin it. So I squeeze it in towels and put it in the dryer still pretty wet. But if you all are spinning yours with okay results, maybe I'll try it.

I NEVER have pre-washed my batting. I do occasionally lightly spritz it with water and put it in the dryer to remove any wrinkles. You will have a disastrous pile of goo if you use any agitation.

What about wool/poly batting?

If you go to the website for your brand of batting, they will probably have info on prewashing. The Warm and HObbs companies do, you will have to check for other brands. Depending on the project I sometimes preshrink cotton batts.

I recently washed my Warm and Natural batting, because I was curious as to the amount of shrinkage. The batting was 80x80" before the wash; it shrank less than 1/4" in each direction! That convinced me that pre-washing is not necessary (I do prewash all fabrics).

I do not prewash batting (or fabric). I don't see the need and it just delays the time before I can start quilting.

I do not normally prewash batting, but may in the future. My last bolt of W&N had amusty smell. I put cut pieces in dryer with a vinegar soaked small towel. Smell gone and wrinkles from roll gone.

I prewash my batting in warm water and stick it in the dryer. I use the 80/20 and throw in warm dryer. Have had no problems. I just can't tolerate the smell from being in the plastic wrap bag. I have thrown polyester in a low heat dryer and check after 10 minutes. No problems.

Read the instructions that come with the battingt!!!!!!!!!!

I have turned a couple of what I thought were washable battings into mush. ( there were no instructions - I just went ahead and washed)

I bought a Quilter's Dream batting - on the BACK of the label - in small print - it said "do not wash before quilting"

I inquired of both Quilter's Dream and Hobbs, and their reply was, we do not recommend pre-soaking the batting. But on the Hobbs package, they recommend experimenting to see what effect you prefer (pre-soaked or unsoaked). So I wonder if they just have the pat answer (do not pre-wash) because they think people will not take the care to do it properly.