I wash on the hottest temp and dry on the hottest temp so whomever receives the quilt can't wash or dry it any hotter than it has already been through. Works so far.
Small projects for bazaar where time is important part of cost involved I presoak. If it doesn't run I don't wash. Need to get some of that "stuff" at the store to catch the color. Must put it on shopping list.

i almost always wash as soon as it comes in the door. the next washer load that works (color's etcl), in it goes. One piee at a time and then I just do not thnk about it -- everything in my stash is washed.

The reason your grandmother didn't pre-wash might be because she wasn't using new fabric. I pre-wash everything (unless it's meant for a OBW).

I always prewash.

Talking about washing, how about a blue jean quilt, with flannel back, want the seams to RAG , so do you wash it a couple of time and dry it once? OR wash AND dry it a couple of times?

I only prewash REDS!

Wash individual fabrics before cutting. Flannel is notorious for bleeding and shrinking. If the blue jeans are used, they're probably not going to shrink or run. I have only needed to wash and dry the quilt once after snipping the seams. It rags plenty on the first try.

I always prewash. I'm thinking your grandma used old clothing so it would already be washed??

In 1976, I sewed a red white and blue baby quilt for my niece. I didn't prewash. Well, the quilt was red, pink,and blue after one washing. Not nearly as patriotic for the Bicentennial baby!


Ever since that time, I prewash.

I find that today I am sensitive to lots of the fabrics too. I can get itchy hands and welts from a day of fabric shopping. I don't know if it is the modern dyes, finishes, sizing, or what. But I am just better off prewashing.

If you have recently purchased the fabric, I have also noticed it just keeps raveling. I have Moda that I'm very disappointed in right now. It is also flawed in many places. At almost $10.00 a yard I expect better quality than what I have gotten the last 2 purchases. Mine is the Dragonflysummer line now. Going to contact them and see what they have to say. When buying yardage I don't expect the quilt store to have to look at 5 yards of fabric before cutting it.

Good Luck to you

Suzy

Shout's Color Catcher is usually found on the top shelf at the grocery store where washing items are located.It really gives you a clue if it catches color. I wash with a small bit of cheer for dark colors, delicate cycle, cool water. Just did the process on a red and was pleased to find the CC a tad pink and the material not much changed in feel. If there was a greater problem I would use white vinegar and salt in the water as it gets washed again.

Shout's Color Catcher is usually found on the top shelf at the grocery store where washing items are located.It really gives you a clue if it catches color. I wash with a small bit of cheer for dark colors, delicate cycle, cool water. Just did the process on a red and was pleased to find the CC a tad pink and the material not much changed in feel. If there was a greater problem I would use white vinegar and salt in the water as it gets washed again.

I prewash for quilts but if I have fabric that I purchased for a wall hanging I do not prewash.

I always do. My mother said she could never work in a fabric store because of all the fumes coming off the fabric from whatever they use in the printing process. I don't trust any manufacturer to have clean fabric. I wash whites and creams, too. You don't know where it has been or who has handled it. Besides, I don't like any surprises at the end. And I use color catchers in the wash of "raw" fabrics and Retayne. I always washed material for garment sewing, too. If you notice, some clothing says to wash before wearing.

I've never worked with batiks...mainly because I've never found any that I'm just so crazy about that I just have to have it ;). But from what I understand, the process of dying batiks is much different than dying regular cotton. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that might be a reason batiks are more susceptible to bleeding.

I don't prewash. Never have and don't think I ever will.

Ihave never washed my fabric. I really don't like the fabric once it is washed. It loses it's newness. Maybe it's just me but that is how I feel.

never bother too eager to get started...too lazy to iron also!

I always pre-wash first. I don't want any unexpected problems arise when I wash the quilt for the first time.

Every new project I question why I should prewash, but I always end up prewashing fabric. I just like the fact that I can be positive that the fabric will not shrink or the colors will not run. It really is a personal decision.

I always pre-wash; in fact, the moment I walk in the door upon returning from the store (or upon opening the box from the mailman) I put the fabric in the washer.

I prefer working with the softer fabric that washing brings. This is especially true for those fabrics like batiks that have a higher per inch thread count.

-jillaine

Always, always prewash. Don't want any surprises.

I usually do not wash but am debating about washing the quilt top I am currently working on as the white background fabric feel stiff and do not want to get as much wrinkle as I did on the my prevous quilt. The quilt I am currenlly working is the dresden fan and it is on white bg fabric with bright colors that I go from Clotide. Has anyone had any problem with color bleeding from this site.

I do not prewash, I am an old lady and don't have time for all that washing and ironing!

delma

i always wash on hot & dry on cotton... so it will never shrink anymore after that..

and, i work for a trucking company.. and i can tell you that the dirt & dust on a dock is NASTY! when most fabric ships, thru us anyway, it is on a skid w/some shrinkwrap (like saran wrap) around it... i know that dirt got in there, and we deliver to lqs often.. sometimes, the bolts are in a box, but how would you know when you buy it from the shp?

I prewash all the fabrics I use.