question about preshrinking bat
 

I decided to preshrink an 80/20 bat as I am going to use it along with a Quilters Dream poly bat (double bat) and didn't want the cotton 80/20 bat to cause the whole quilt to shrink eventually. Anyway, I've never preshrunk a bat and followed the directions on the package. Gentle soak, spin only, and then air only in the dryer until just very damp and then draped over the long arm belly bar to finish drying. Anyway, my problem is that the 80/20 bat developed a hole in it, which won't be a problem since it's bigger and I won;t use that part, but what could I have done differently to prevent this?

The directions on Warm and Natural say not to spin, and I've followed that with other brands. The bat is so heavy when wet, it needs to be handled carefully so it won't rip or stretch. What I do is squeeze it out, and then squeeze between towels, then dry (I dry it with heat, since I'm trying to pre-shrink it). Both Quilter's Dream and Hobbs say pre-soaking is not recommended, and I suspect they say that because chances of damaging the batting are pretty high unless you're careful. Also, I would lay out the batting so it's all supported, as on a couch or bed, to finish drying, rather than hanging it.

I wouldn't even attempt it to begin with. It simply isn't necessary.

Well, this is a good topic for this morning. I just read Sue Garman's recommendations for washing batting. She always washes her batting. I bought Quilters Dream Request and want it washed. Her article says soak and spin only. I think I'm going to try it.

I have washed batting on the delicate cycle and air fluffed only for a few minutes then laid across my bed with the ceiling fan on. Dried in no time and no holes. I prefer to flat dry.

I take a bath towel and get it very wet. I open the batting up and throw it and the towel into the dryer and let it go for half an hour or so. I read about this method here on the board and it works well for me.

I pre-wash my batting. I use Warm and Natural or Warm and White. I put it in the washer with hot water but leave the lid open so the washer won't agitate. I let it soak for about a half hour. Then I switch the washer to spin and spin it out and put it in the dryer. I love to hand quilt and the batting is softer and easier to hand quilt. I also don't like the puckery look if I can avoid it and this helps.

I wanted to be sure I understood -- you put the wet towel in the dryer with the dry batting? Is the aim here to pre-shrink the batting?

Yes, that's what I do. The steam from the wet towel and dryer heat shrinks it enough for me. I take it out promptly and lay it on the bed when it's still warm to get it flat. I've never actually compared this method with the one where you get the whole batt wet, so this may not shrink it as much, but as I mentioned, I'm happy with it.

I hope you will let us know how this works out. Also, I'd be interested to know how you decided it should be prewashed. Quilters Dream is my favorite batting.

Okay, my two cents worth. I open the backing package, shake the batting out, and spritz the batting with water from a Washed Windex Bottle and then I take 5 washcloths soaked in water and throw every thing in the dryer on medium. I set my stove timer for 10 minutes and when the buzzer goes off. Go and take everything out, shake everything out and put it back in and set the timer again for 10 minutes. Go shake everything out and do the procedure one more time. Lay out the batting when it is finished after 30 minutes. It is fluffy and works great batting for the quilts.

Maybe I have just been lucky, but I always pre-wash all my Warm & Natural batting as I prefer the less-crinkly look. I unfold it, put in in the wash using hot water, gentle cycle, gentle spin. Then transfer it to the dryer on medium heat, delicate setting. Never had a problem. My washer is a front loader, not a top loader with the agitator, maybe that is not as stressful on the batting.

i never prewash my bats

thanks all--think my hole in this bat was an anomally. The bat was a Hobbs 80/20 and I did follow directions on the bag--not sure why I got the hole--it was like I pulled it apart in one area. I normally don't wash a bat as I don't care about the crinkly look--it's usually ok with me. But this is a quilt for competition and I plan so intense quilting and know the poly bat I'm doubling it with won't shrink--and all the fabric is preshrunk, so wanted it to stay relatively flat. And it said up to a 5%shrinkage--which is actually quit a bit!

I usually use 80/20 Heirloom in my own quilts and I preshrink all my batting. I fill my wash machine tub, push my batting down into the water, let it soak for a little while, then spin the water out. I never let it agitate. Then throw it into the dryer for about 20-30 minutes. Never had any problems with tearing or holes.

I, too, use the wet towel method. When I change out my clothes from winter to summer, I put a damp towel in the dryer to get rid of wrinkles. Works for me.

I use Hobbs 80/20 and when I need to preshrink I put it into my washer, hot water, rinse and spin but don't agitate, then toss into the dryer on high heat for about 20 minutes. I have never had a hole or dryer scorch. Has worked very well over the past 17 years.

I do similarly but just use a washcloth and wring it out pretty well first, then dry on warm.

I had Hobbs 80/20 batting ruined when I tried to prewash it. I contacted Hobbs and they sent me new batting to replace it. It shouldn't get ruined, and they were nice enough to make it good. A pleasure to deal with!

I pre wash everything except thread lol! That said, I take the batting out and put it in hot water in my top loader, some soap, let it soak overnight. Then I drain and let it spin out. After that I put it in the dryer on high heat. So far it has all turned out just fine. Some things are fine for the crinkly look, some I don't want that. I don't do a rinse cycle on it because after I finish with a project I wash them anyway.

Read what the manufacturer says on the packaging.

I have never washed my batting because when I am finished with the quilt, I have to wash it to remove the starch and Elmers school glue I used during construction. Bonus, I love the change in a quilt when it "blooms" from the washing and drying, but that just seems to be me...

Maybe treat it like I do my tweed/wool. I don't want to have to dry clean all of my garments but if they are shrunk before making they will later. I instead of steam press them and you can also have the dry cleaners do this. it has to be done with steam or it won't shrink.