Hey quilters,

I know you'll have all the right answers for me cause your all so smart. This has been such a great place for me to get involved and learn thanks alot everyone.

I have never prewashed my fabric. I just assumed this was for smells which I don't smoke or have pets. I also realize it's for shrinkage as well. However I see that on all the swaps and things it say to use prewashed fabric so I want to do it right.

Here's my question's and please add anything else that would be helpful. I want to make sure I do it right.

Is there any certain things to do..such as wash with my regular load or wash by itself?
Could I just soak it in a sink and then rinse it in the washer?
Do I put it in the dryer or let it air dry?
What type of cleaner do I put in with it or any at all?
I also noticed somewhere that someone put it in a bag (mesh I think) and then into the washing machine. What's the purpose of this.. to minimize the fraying?
If I'm appliquing and only will be using a small piece of a fabric do I need to wash that as well?
What about the colors bleeding and ruining all my fabric?

I'm new to all this so if you can clarify this and set me straight I would appreciate it!

Thanks

I'll tell you what I do, I'm sure you'll get other versions. If I believe the color will bleed, I wash it separately. Otherwise I wash like colors together with regular detergent, and usually on gentle just so cut edges don't fray too much. I never use fabric softener until my project is complete as sometimes this will not permit you do do certain things like some fusible applications won't stick well if you have used fabric softener.
When washing yardage, open your fabric up, don't throw it in your machine the way it came off the bolt as one time I got a color difference on the crease line, although I think it was the quality of this particular fabric.
A mesh bag is great when you are washing fat quarters, as when you are washing a number of them they tend to tangle together, and fray too much.
No reason you can't add other laundry to your load to make a full load, I've done that before! (Usually I'm just to axious to get it washed and start sewing!!)

I never wash fabric unless it will bleed and it will be in quilt with white or muslim fabric.
If it bleeds into a dark fabric quilt I don't care.

I never used to wash my fabrics (back in the 70's) because basically, I started with baby quilts and scrap quilts. After having a purple fabric bleed on a block I was making, I started washing everything as I bring it in the house. I wash it with a regular load, regular liquid soap, regular temps, etc. with the exception of small pieces, fat quarters, etc. which I put in a mesh bag. I've also discovered that if I wash fabric on my delicate cycle, it hardly frays at all. If I take it out of the dryer promptly and fold it right away, it usually doesn't require pressing. If it does, I press it before I cut. At one time, I pressed all my fabric as I washed it, but after buying a huge box of fabric, I realized I would be ironing for days so that's when I decided to iron before I cut a piece.

I prewash anything larger than a Jelly Roll.
I put darks with darks and lights with lights.
Reds are alone as are blacks.
I put in washer, permanent press, unscented ALL, cap or so of Clorox 2, and when done, place in dryer on low for about 20 minutes.
If I think the edges will unravel, I cut the corners on a diagonal.
No softener used until project done.
I have never had a bleed yet.

I wash it all with my regular laundry. If it looks like it may bleed, I wash it by itself or with like colors. I usually put small pieces in a mesh bag. I use the regular cycle, regular amount of laundry soap and I may or may not use some vinegar in the rinse cycle. As a general rule, I don't use fabric softener. I dry large pieces in the dryer with the regular laundry. Smaller pieces, I usually steam it with the iron. (It's already wet so I don't have to use water.)

Basically, I treat the fabric the way it will be treated after I have made it into something.

I prewash usually. But it's for shrinkage or because I buy a lot of fabric on estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, etc. and don't want to take any chances of animal dander, smoke, musty smells etc. Bleeding? I use a color catcher when I was them but if something bleeds on something else I use it anyway. With today's blenders and batiks and wild fabrics who will know if it didn't come that way. I don't make show quilts so if there's a little bleeding it won't effect the warmth of the quilt, I don't care. Maybe I should but I just don't. Once it's quilted, on a bed and someone is under it no one will notice anyway.

I never knew about the fabric softener thing! Learn something every day.

I use Color Catchers in my wash in case I do get bleeding. I use mostly batiks and the reds, navy and blacks if they are overdyed will bleed some. If the color catchers are really dark, I run it through another cycle.

Otherwise I wash it on delicate with laundry soap and dry on delicate or medium since cotton on my dryer is HOT!

Thank you all so much for the advice.

I realize there are always several ways to do things no matter what you are doing that's why I ask to see what works best for different people.

I appreciate you sharing your ways with me.

I learned when your new to doing something or are not sure what you are doing..just ask everybody was new once, you will usually get plenty of great advice to get you started.

This board is so blessed to have such nice and helpful quilters, I'm so glad I found you all (well actually someone here found me, out there struggling along..Thanks D. your the best.)

Another reason to wash fabric for swaps is that some people are highly allergic to the chemicals used in the manufacture and dying of the fabric. We want to be sure they can participate in swaps. I'm not so sure that breating in the fumes as we bend over our creations is good for us too.

Is there any certain things to do..such as wash with my regular load or wash by itself?
I separate my fabric as I do my clothes. If its a large piece in the wash it goes, if smaller than a yard I put in a laundry bag and wash in the washer (you can also do this with strips).

Could I just soak it in a sink and then rinse it in the washer?
Yes

Do I put it in the dryer or let it air dry?
I put everything in the dryer to shrink it.

What type of cleaner do I put in with it or any at all? Laundry detergent

I also noticed somewhere that someone put it in a bag (mesh I think) and then into the washing machine. What's the purpose of this.. to minimize the fraying?
Yes

If I'm appliquing and only will be using a small piece of a fabric do I need to wash that as well? I always wash all my fabrics. If its a small piece I would at the very least run it under water to see if it'll bleed.

What about the colors bleeding and ruining all my fabric?
You can purchase a product called Color Catcher to put in the machine with your fabric.

I had acquired this really cute skirt that had appliqued flowers on it and gave it to a friend.

It desperately needed to be washed. She washed it. The flowers shrank A LOT - and puckered.

I firmly believe EVERYTHING that may be washed in the future should be washed/shrunk/dried/pressed or ironed before it's cut.

It is more work. I understand wanting to cut into that nice, new fabric right away.

I think Not washing the fabrics before cutting them is right up there with having unprotected sex. Most of the time, there probably will not be a problem. But I think prevention is SO worth while -

And why/how do I know this? Red blotching on to white. Puckered appliques. Fabric that had excess dye (Michael Miller black, for one example) Fabric that would not stop coloring the water -

My belief is that if it doesn't have good manners at this stage of the game - I'm not going to use it and have it muck up the rest of the project.

There are others that go straight to the cutting board with their new goodies.

As you will notice, there are varying viewpoints on this subject.

I prewash my fabrics in the same manner that the finished quilt will be washed.
Usually warm water and detergent :D:D:D

I used to work at a Dry Cleaners and something I was taught was to add a cup of Vinegar to the wash water to "set" the dyes in cottons. As with all cottons reds with reds, blacks with blacks etc. Add the fabric, let it agitate for a few minutes and then let the fabric soak for about 20 minutes. Then run the cycle as usual. The vinegar helps the dyes to set or not migrate and hopefully will not bleed later on. Always if you are not sure about a fabrics dyes, wash it alone. You will save yourself from the heartache of seeing a wonderful fabric you love to be ruined and more often than not will be permanent. Also, check fabrics when you take them out of the washer. If you catch bleeds before they dry in the dryer the chances of reversing the damage is much better.
I hope this helps. :-D

I do not perwash my fabrics, as I want it to shrink AFTER I quilt the quilt, gives it nice aged look. and I only use synthrapol SP to wash quilts with. It is a textile detergent, I also use for my hand dyed favric.

I just throw it in with my regular wash load on hot. If it's a questionable color for bleeding, I'll put a color catcher or two in with it. I unfold it all before putting it in and sometimes I will put fat quarters in a mesh bag (that's if I can find my mesh bag). I don't use fabric softener in anything so that's never a concern anyway. I put it in the dryer along with the regular load.

I prewash for exchanges and round robins. For myself I like the puckered and aged look it gets when I wash it after finishing the quilt. Just the way I like it.

I recently cut 18" squares and then decided to wash them. The shrinkage varied from none to 1/2 "/ You are all smart. I will prewash from now on!

Color catchers are great but they do not stop heavily dyed fabrics from bleeding over and over again. I have always used vinegar to set the dyes but I do know there is a product on the market that does the same thing. I like the vinegar because then I know what is on my fabric. (allergies here) I do not know the chemicals that are in the other product. (sorry the name of it escapes me, but I believe someone here knows the name)
I hope this helps.

I usually don't prewash unless it is a bleeder type of fabric. I soak it in the sink and blot dry and hang it in the shower.

I believe the name of the product you mention is "Retayne". I think it is spelled that way. And there were some concerns at one time about the chemicals in it. There is also another product that is supposed to be safe, but I've forgotten the name of that one. Vinegar is sure cheaper and you KNOW it's safe!

Me too.

I like the look of antique quilts so I don't pre-wash any of my fabrics--if it looks like it might I add a color snatcher to the wash when I'm finished and that takes care of the bleeding. I haven't had any problems so far--of course there is always tomorrow!

When I walk in the house after fabric shopping, my first stop is the laundry room. I wash everything on warm with a color catcher and machine dry. Then I fold and put away. I iron with spray starch before I cut.

Since you don't know how someone else may launder a quilt, I figure that if I machine wash and dry before I sew, nothing too bad can happen.