ok, do you wash or don't you wash your material before you quilt? I didn't prewash, I don't think my Grandmother ever did either...

I do not prewash.

I don't prewash either.

You will get many opinions on this. Some people don't prewash and others insist on it. You just have to do whatever seems right to you. If you don't prewsh, I'd advise using a Color Catcher the first time you wash just as an insurance policy.

I try to prewash the fabric as it gets the color set and does all the shrinking before I use it. I also purchase more than what the pattern calls for to allow for shrinkage.
When I wash I use vinegar and a color catcher.

What is a color catcher? I take it that I can get them at my LQS?

How much ? white?

I decide based on the feel and color saturation of the fabrics. If I am mixing very dark colors with lights I usually do, just to prevent the bleeding of colors. If I am using very good quality fabrics that are not really saturated with color I do not. I would rather not unless I feel it is too risky not to.

You can purchase them at the grocery store, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc...

It also depends on whether you want the "wrinkled" look or not.

I dont prewash and when I do wash ,I use cold water and gentle detergent.

I will pre-wash fabrics if they are bright bold reds, purples, royal blues, etc. I will wash they with Retayne to set the colors. The rest of the quilt fabrics I will wash separately and throw in a color catcher. If I don't have any bold fabrics to set the colors then I don't pre-wash. So....I will either wash all the fabrics of a quilt I am going to make to make sure of uniform shrinkage, or I won't wash any of the quilt's fabrics. It all depends on the fabrics being used in the quilt. Does that make sense? Clear as mud? I always wash in cold water and set dryer to normal heat. I have found Retayne at my LQS and the color catchers are sold at WalMarts, Targets, and most supermarkets in the laundry soap aisles.

someone posted on here about possible "rat contamination" on fabrics coming from other countries. Don't know if it is true but it grossed me out enough to pledge to prewash

I don't and have never had problems

Always batiks.

To wash...or not to wash...that is the question? I wash all fabric from an unknown source(yard sale, thrift shop etc.) I test fabrics from LQS if I suspect it might be a bleeder. Wet a square of the suspect fabric in the sink in hot water, scrunch it just a little and sit it on a white paper towel to dry. If any colour is on the paper towel, I wash the fabric in Retayne and then proceed to dry and iron it to use.
After a quilt is completed, the first time I wash it, I throw in a couple of Color Catcher sheets and have not had any problems. Color Catcher sheets are made by Shout and can be found in the laundry aisle at Target, Walmart etc. Some people like to also add Synthrapol that suspends any loose dye in the water (and not on the quilt) If you do encounter a problem, do not dry the quilt until problem is resolved. Retayne or Synthrapol are usually available at LQS?

I don't prewash. Never had any problems.

I don't pre-wash. I pay between $8-$10 a yard for fabric. With fabric of that quality, I shouldn't have to pre-wash, and I've never had problems, even with reds and purples.

Interesting timing. I don't prewash - ever. I've never had a problem. Tonight, I was getting ready for a class and it said you had to prewash and starch the fabric. I thought about skipping that, but didn't want a problem in the class so decided to wash. I found out one of the fabrics was a bleeder. I had to wash several times and then use vinegar to finally get the color set. Guess my guardian angel was looking over my shoulder.

I never pre-wash. :)

I never use to prewash. I suffered one quilt that shrank more than I calculated it would. But, got through it ok. Then, last year had some allergy testing done for problems that I had been having for years. Come to find out the only chemical that I am allergic to is the formaldehyde that is used on fabrics. Now I am a pre-washer. I actually wash all my fabric twice in hot water before it is allowed into my sewing room. I also buy fabric by the bolts a lot of times. Those bolts are not allowed into the sewing room until I cut off a piece, then wash it.
Since I have been doing this, I have a lot less problems, but not being around unwashed fabric has made my reactions worse now. When I go into any of my LQS, I usually last about 15 minutes before my throat goes scratchy, then I get hoarse and evetually lose my voice if I stick around too long!

I usually pre-wash all my fabrics but sometimes I have been known to be making a project and decide to use an unwashed fabric instead of one I had planned to use. In that case I usually give it a good steaming with the iron and pretend it is shrunk enough to go in with my pre-washed fabrics. It is a dark color going in with lighter ones then I might put it in the sink with some hot water to see if it is going to bleed first.

I don't prewash!

I prewash. Most of it comes from the thrift stores.

I pre-wash - no telling what chemicals will rub off on my skin when I work with the fabric

Oddly enough, all the Jinny Beyer fabric I have bought had a sheet of info saying to wash before using because of possible dye bleeding.

I am taking quilting lessons now. My fabric was raveling all over the place. I asked the teacher and she said it was because I didn't wash it first. She always washes first. I never heard anyone else on the board complain about this. The fabric was bought from the quilt shop where I'm taking lessons. Is that a logical reason? Thanks.

WASH! Made the mistake only once - and never again (and yes, I used a color catcher).

I prewash my fabric. :-)

I never pre wash. It started because I want to use my new fabric right now, I can't wait on the washing machine. I usually use a color catcher the first time I wash. They are available in the laundry detergent aisle in the grocery store. In my store they are made by Shout and are near the stain removers.

I thought that, too. BUT the last quilt I made had a bunch of red batik next to white blocks. I paid $11.99 for the red batik at a top notch LGS. The quilt was very time intense. So I said, "Self, better color check the red to make sure I don't end up with pink & red!!". Good thing, it turned the water bright red. I washed it 8 times B-4 it finally quit running. Then I used retayne. Then after the quilt was finished, I added a couple color catchers to wash.

I thought that, too. BUT the last quilt I made had a bunch of red batik next to white blocks. I paid $11.99 for the red batik at a top notch LGS. The quilt was very time intense. So I said, "Self, better color check the red to make sure I don't end up with pink & red!!". Good thing, it turned the water bright red. I washed it 8 times B-4 it finally quit running. Then I used retayne. Then after the quilt was finished, I added a couple color catchers to wash.

I never prewash but am wondering if I should prewash a piece that I am getting ready to cut for a quilt class. It is a black and white quilt. The one I am worring about is black on black.

I thought that, too. BUT the last quilt I made had a bunch of red batik next to white blocks. I paid $11.99 for the red batik at a top notch LGS. The quilt was very time intense. So I said, "Self, better color check the red to make sure I don't end up with pink & red!!". Good thing, it turned the water bright red. I washed it 8 times B-4 it finally quit running. Then I used retayne. Then after the quilt was finished, I added a couple color catchers to wash. This is just a heads up for some of the newbies. One NEVER knows if fabric will or won't bleed unless it is tested. IMHO

You can get them at Joanns (under a different name)but it is cheaper to get the ones at the grocery store. They are made by Shout

I don't prewash, I use to but found that it is not necessary and stopped.

I have to prewash due to allergies. The fabrics have all sorts of chemicals in them and smell of perfume.
Sharon W.

I know that I'm a pain. But this is a quote from Megan Dougherty from the magazine "Quilter's Home". "Washers want the sizing and other chemicals from the manufactoring process removed, as well as any excess dye and rodent feces". To go ahead onto the article. "You'll thank me when you don't get the plague". This woman states that she does alot of importing from overseas and often sees evidence of critters(rats). So for all those that like to rub fabric and touch to your hearts content. Think twice! I hope Megan Daugherty does not mind my using her words and I receive advice from her word.

Looks like you've already got some good advice but I'll throw in my two cents. Buy quality fabric. If your not sure of fading, etc., cut a small measured square and test wash in small amount of detergent and dry as you plan to do with the quilt; that should give you an idea of how the fabric is going to perform. Doing this in a small bowl or coffee cup is all you need.

Everyone has an opinion on this - kind of like a religion question. I think most people pick their wash or not wash based on their personal experience...or someone told them once they MUST do one or the other.

Personally, I ALWAYS wash. Maybe it is the hand dyer in me. It is also the problems that I have had (2 bad ones before I learned) of bleeding fabric (high quality $10.00 yard) on my needle turn applique. All that hard work wasted. I also had an issue in the past where I stitched and then washed. One fabric really shrank compared to the rest and wherever that fabric was in the quilt, there were small puckers as the seams of that fabric pulled against all the others.

Whatever you decide, I wouldn't wish my bleeding problem on anyone!