Preshrinking flannel?
 

Hi, Friends,

I just finished a quilt top for some friends who just had a baby. I did prewash my flannel, but recently I heard someone say that you should really prewash flannel THREE TIMES. Am I in trouble????

Thanks,
A

I think you should be fine. I had not heard this before, I guess it depends on the flannel. You did wash it so I am guessing it will be just fine.

You should be okay. I do wash flannel 3 times and dry in the highest heat of the dryer as I never know how it will be treated when it arrives at it's new home.

Hi, I usually wash flannel twice before using in a quilt, but that is just personal preference. I think you will be fine with one prewash and dry. :)

Thanks everyone. Sounds like I might be okay right now! Phew.

I always find this to be so funny....many people will insist you have to wash your flannel so many times its not even flannel any more. I've made so many quilts that I didn't pre-wash it at all= and years later they are still just as great as when they were new- if the flannel I buy is single sided, and a looser weave or thin I do *most of the time* pre-wash it===once. if I am using great, heavy, double sided flannel I generally do not pre-wash it unless it is a deeply saturated dyed flannel that might bleed. I do always launder my finished quilts- as soon as the binding is done last step to a completed quilt is laundering - I've never had any problems .... since shrinkage is dependent upon the whole quilt (top, batting, density of quilting along with backing) **sometimes people tend to over complicate things and create a lot more work for themselves then is ever necessary.

The multi-wash approach is to try to get all the shrinkage out of the way before using the fabric. Hot water wash and hot dryer.

You won't be "in trouble" ... your quilt just might get more of the crinkled old fashioned look when washed, than if the fabric had been washed more often before making your quilt. Too, keep in mind that most battings are going to shrink too, unless of course, you have pre-shrunk that.

It depends on the batting and the quilting. Once the three layers are quilted sufficiently, batting controls shrinkage. Years ago I took a class with Harriet Hargrave. She had made a quilt out of unwashed flannel to prove to us that fabric shrinkage is really not a concern when you are doing moderate machine quilting. She measured the quilt before and after washing, and it shrank only the usual amount of the batting (Hobbs 80/20).

Where you can run into problems is if the unwashed flannel quilt is tied. Also, if quilting lines are far apart, it's possible for the flannel between the quilting lines to shrink enough to distort the quilt. Even then, though, it's usually possible to re-wet the quilt and block it, then add additional quilting lines.

I wash flannel several times before using but for me, it's mostly because of the lint factor.

I bought some flannel and washed it in hot water and through in a hot dryer. I measured before and after.

I am using a flannel layer cake and will be adding flannel yardage for borders plus flannel yardage for the backing. I have not washed/dried anything yet. Should the first wash be when it's completely quilted and done or would you at least wash/dry the flannel backing before quilting?

I always wash flannel once, unless its for a raggy quilt, then I wait til after. Never had an issue except for some cheap stuff I bought at the chain store and wont do that again.

In your situation Sandy, I would wait to wash til the top is done, before you layer/quilt it. I would wash the backing as well before you layer/quilt it.

It is typically not a good idea to wash precuts of any kind because they can shrink and distort, making them difficult. Flannel shrinks and distorts even more than regular quilting cottons. You could prewash the flannel yardage but, since the precuts won't be washed, you don't really need to. See my previous post about how batting controls the amount that fabric can shrink once the layers are quilted; you simply need at least a moderate amount of quilting to keep the batting in control.

I would warn against washing the top before it is quilted. You can end up with a distorted mess from pieces of fabric shrinking at different rates and in different directions. Also, flannel ravels more than regular quilting cotton (which is why some quilters use 1/2" seams with flannel). You could end up with a *lot* of threads on the wrong side. If a top absolutely has to be washed before being quilted, the safest way to do it is to first closely baste the top to a piece of muslin or other fabric, then hand wash and lay flat to dry. I would not recommend even that for a flannel top because of flannel's horrendous tendency to shrink.

I have washed some flannels that did not shrink at all, and others that still shrank after their 3rd trip through the washer and dryer. There is no way to tell which kinds you will have in your quilt top. This is why it is much safer to quilt before washing so the batting will take over and shrink everything evenly. Fabric shrinks entirely differently when it is washed and dried on its own compared to when it is quilted to a batting and backing.

Also I am aware now that you should use 1/2" seam instead of 1/4 or the seam pulls apart.

I usually wash flannels a couple of times, but it's as much for lint control as the shrinkage. I am not a pre-washer under most circumstances. Flannel is an exception.

So far I only use the for rag quilts but do wash them once. If I had a quilt with other fabrics mixed in I'd probably do it more but with all flannels, and most coming from the same source I only wash once because I know they'll shrink. My rag quilts turn out great so its working so far. I'd definitely do it more if I was using it as backing for cotton, the cotton would get washed as well.

I bought flannel to make pj pants. I'll pre-wash it. Would I be ok to serge the seams or should I use a 1/2 inch seam as you would if piecing a quilt top?

I am so happy that I read your reply to asabrinao's question as I am just finishing up a quilt with a flannel back. I did not prewash any of the fabrics. This has been a real challenge as it is very heavy (Hobbs 80/20) and stiff. I plan to launder it when I am finished. I pray that it will look okay. Yolanda Wood River

Wonder who makes the best flannel??

Because flannel does shrink more than most other fabrics, I always buy extra in case it shrinks and I end up with not enough length.

I think one prewash would be enough, but if you are in doubt, as long as you haven't added the backing yet, I might wash it again in at least warm water. I haven't used flannel for a backing yet, although I was given a small bolt of pink flannel, so I hope to use it in some baby quilts before long, after catching up on other projects that need to be done by Christmas.

Depends on the flannel, as others have said. I prewash my flannel in hot (probably a no-no, but I do it anyway) and dry on the highest heat. So far no one has complained. Hope it turns out okay for you.

Sew totally agree!! With flannel and all fabrics! I've made more quilts than I can count, never pre-washed anything! I do wash when finished, no problems!

I washed 2 bolts of flannel recently before making pj bottoms for the grandchildren. I was amazed that
I got 2 balls of lint the size of a basketball. Incredible.
I always wash before using flannel as there can be as much as 7 % shrinkage. That's a lot.

I always prewash flannel in the hottest water I have and at the hottest dryer setting. I always use flannel on quilt backs. I never seem to have any problem.

I love to make my flannel quilts without washing, then when they are finished they shrink up and look as comfy as they are soft

I meant to also say I only wash it once.

sigh... I prewashed all the flannel for matt and tims quilts, but forgot with the new flannel for dustin's. (my memory is selective lately) am going to just go for it. some of the top is washed, some not, same for back, and sheet inside is. We will see...........................

If this is any consolation, I just finished a double/queen size quilt with batiks on top and LQS flannel on the back. I did not preshrink any of the fabric as the batik's were strips. I laundered the
quilt when I finished it and it came out beautifully. Believe me I was very apprehensive after reading all of the statements about the horrors of not preshrinking flannel. Hopefully, your results will be just fine. Good luck and Merry Christmas. Yolanda Wood River