Pre washing fabric for quilt
 

"Just sayin" seems the price of fabric we should be able to buy colorfast! Just got done pre washing and pre washing etc etc. Live out in country and didn't have retayne on hand (bad me) by the time I got done with one beauty of a green and it quit fading....you guessed, it is not the beauty I bought! Seems we are going backwards instead of forward anymore; use to be able by purchase many colorfast products.

There's always polyester (gag!).

I agree. But aren't you glad you prewashed!!!!

I always pre-wash - allergies and I don't want unwelcome little, many legged critters that like to suck human blood thinking our home is a good place to live.

some companies are much better at providing 'colorfast' fabrics- some still seem to use (lesser quality) materials *fibers & dyes*
so, testing is always a good idea, and paying attention to who manufactured the fabrics will help you choose fabrics that do not fade away to something much less than what you saw on the bolt. I know people have to watch their budgets, and look for bargains- but sometimes the cost in the long run winds up being much more.

I'm one of 'those' who doesn't prewash. Not yet anyways. Where did you purchase the fabric from? Was it a LQS or a chain?

My experience is that where you buy it and what name is on the selvage are no guarantees to colorfastness.

Being self taught, I did not pre-wash when I started quilting. Something inside me does not feel the need to wash something that is not yet dirty. I guess I have been lucky because I have not had a problem. I do occasionally wash finished quilts that I will be giving away, due to the chalk that I use for lines, and all the cat hair. (no door on the sewing room).

I agree with you Daylesewblessed! These were top brand fabrics but they were rich deep colors because that is what I needed; they all bled but one was real bad; I have ordered Retyane and will make sure to keep it on hand from now on! I shouldn't say "they all bled" as I also purchased a brightly colored print and it didn't bleed in the least.