Prepping fabric
 

How do you prep fabric for quilting? What temperatures do you use to wash fabrics? Do you use steam, starch, etc. when ironing out the wrinkles?

I don't pre-wash unless the fabric looks as though it will bleed. I use steam and lots of starch when I press the fabric before I cut it.

Here is what I did just today.

First test for color fast by dipping a corner of each questionable piece in very hot water and check for bleeding. If this occurs I wash them separately.
These are some 1/4 yds. that are going into my next project.
Washed in a pillow case to keep them from tangling. 4 Safety pins keep the case closed.
Hung wrong side out on the line.
Sprayed while on the line with my home made Niagara brand (medium stiffness) starch.
Leave in the breeze till almost dry.
Press with dry iron to remove wrinkles. If they get too dry I will either spritz with water or use steam.

I get a nice feel to the fabric this way, not overly limp or stiff.
Never have to worry about shrinking or bleeding.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]530059[/ATTACH]peace

I know I should test for bleeding, but I haven't gotten in that habit yet. I finish my fabric edges with a zig zag stitch, group by similar color, add a color catcher to the load, wash with a smidge of woolite on delicate (shorter cycle) warm, and dry about 15 min. I drape the fabric in various places around the house for awhile before folding, as it's hard to tell when warm if the fabric is still at all damp. I then hand press and fold. There seems no point in going to the trouble of pressing with the iron at this point, since I will have to press the fold creases out again when fabric is used.

I so agree with you. I should have mentioned in my other post that I to only do my prepping when I am ready to start the project, never for storing.

If I buy fabric for my stash it is washed, dried and hand pressed and folded to go onto the shelves. Then whatever I pick to use only needs, cutting off of yardage, starching and pressing.

Thanks for the reminder.
peace

I do something similar, but I got a new washer, a front loader and I don't get any strings raveling when I wash yardage, so I don't have to zigzag or anything to the edges. I also just fold & store, then when I'm ready to use it, I mist with water, then spray starch and iron.

I preWash most everything in warm to hot water, with a little if my regular detergent (Tide) but no fabric softeners. After drying in the dryer, I smooth out and fold and store. When ready to use, I spray starch and iron before cutting.

the brief version: overcast raw edges, soak, wash, dry, fold, put away, iron before cutting.

I unfold the fabric.- that crease does not need any more abrasion.

I serge or overcast the raw edges of most larger pieces.

I soak like colors in hot water - as hot as it comes from the tap - until the water cools down.

If the water says clear, then I wash the fabrics on a short, gentle cycle with a very small amount of mild detergent, preferably unscented.

Then I line dry or dry in the dryer without any dryer sheets.

I then fold the fabric and store it until ready to cut it.
E
Most good quality fabtics dry smoothly enough so just hand smoothing them is enough until ready to cut.

Iron/ press before cutting. if one is going to cut little pieces, or pieces with bias edges, starch/sizing might Be done about here. I am of the belief that fabric should have enough body after being washed to not need additional additives to be managrable. But to each his/ her own.

If the water is colored during the soaking process, I try to figure out which piece of fabric is colorng the water and then rinse that piece some more.

If I cannot get it to stop coloring the water, I dry it and discard it.

Some people would treat that piece with Retayne at that point.

I want to be able to toss all the colors I sm planning to use in the washer with all of them still the same color that I put in - without needing to worry about remembering to use color catchers or some additive such as Synthrapol.

I also assume my "clientele" will not have nough sense to baby the quilts.

I will give stern cautions about avoiding bleach!

A caveat: never let wet fabrics set in a basket for a long tome before drying them - this is another opportunity for dye transfer

The peocess really is not that labor intensive. I do my soaking of small pieces in kettles or bowls.
I can soak a really big piece in the kitchen sink.

I have had bleeds - that is why I go to such lengths to try to avoid them now.
I have also had some drastic shrnkage. I did not like that, either.

I don't pre-wash either. I usually oversize the components that make up the blocks so then I starch them, press then trim. It is just finding out what works best for you.

I wash all my fabric on a gentle cycle in warm water with no detergent, but with a color catcher. I then dry it in the dryer and when ironing, I use spray starch. Someone told me a long time ago not to use detergent but I can't remember why but I still use this method.

I don't pre-wash but do starch so if the fabric is a bleeder it should bleed in my starch bucket as I dip my fabrics and hang them to dry over the sink. It sure saves the stress later when you go to throw it into the wash only to find it bled all over your beautiful quilt. If I find a bleeder I take it to my bathroom sink on the same floor and run very hot water and Dawn dish soap, the blue original one. Let it set for awhile while I go to finish starching the rest of the fabrics. Come back, rinse a couple times to see if the dye has set yet, rinse it a couple more times till I'm confident its stopped bleeding then take it to my starch bucket and finish it up. I figure between the hot water, Dawn dish soap and hot iron, if its not set now it never will be. I still use a color catcher in the wash the 1st time I wash it just to be sure.

Throw it in the washing, throw it in the dryer. Just like what will happen when it is used. I do not make show quilts, (no show would accept me LOL) only ones I want used and loved. All have written directions to wash and dry. One thing I do, that others may not, after washing and drying, I hang my quilts over the banister/balcony for 24 hours just to make sure it is good and dry. LOL usually not a problem in AZ, just hang-overs from living in the the humidity of the South.

I do not prewash unless I don't trust the fabric. If my fabric is consistent quality, I don't worry. I must have a special fabric fairy hovering over me, because I have never had a fabric bleed issue. I like the cuddly look of my quilts after I've completed and then washed them.

I wash all fabric before using in warm or cold water, then I put it in the dryer for 10 minutes and iron it. Comes out well.

Depends on the quilt I'm going to make, and to an extent the fabric choices. I prewash if the fabrics are deeply saturated colors, batiks, hand dyes that might bleed - if the fabrics smell or feel funky- or, if they seem to have a kind of loose weave that needs to be tightened up/ might shrink a lot. I launder with a normal ccycle, regular detergent, warm water ; dry in a regular hot dryer, regular cycle. I remove the fabrics before they are completely dry and iron out the wrinkles, finish drying them. If I'm making a quilt for a child, baby, young people who may use and launder it fairly frequently I launder the finished quilt exactly how I think the new owner will. ( most often toss in washer, regular settings , wash, dry take out & use) I've found very few people will use/ enjoy a quilt if it has ( lots of hassle) care instructions included with it. If you want it to be used, loved make it to hold up. Every completed quilt I make is laundered when finished it is the final step after binding. It has not kept me from winning plenty of ribbons, awards in shows ( even 4 viewer choice/ best of show awards were laundered, washer/ dryer when finished- before entry)
The only ones I don't launder are framed wall hangings I don't expect to ever be laundered.

I have never felt the need to wash something that is not dirty. I know I will have to wash the finished quilts because the cats get on them. When pressing/ironing, I have a spray bottle with a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water. That takes out the most stubborn wrinkles.

This is a bit off topic but, ube quilting I am on the hunt for a clothes line for my small back yard in hopes of ridding some fabrics of the musty smell by hanging them outside for days. Your line looks perfect for what I'm searching for. Do you recall where or what the name of your line is? Thanks for any help you can give.
Jeri aka oldtisme