Actually, I have some fabrics from over ten years ago that are only 40-42 inches wide. (Robert Kaufman for one - I had "assumed" that the fabric was 45 inches wide - and then had to piece the backing to make it wide enough - )

It is a myth that "most" quilting/calico fabrics are/were 44-45 inches wide. Some are - many are not.

It may be that you are only noticing the narrower widths now -

In fact, some of the so-called "better" brands are usually narrower than the VIP fabrics were.

When buying fabric, it is a good thing to check the fabric width - a couple of inches can matter a lot.

Thanks for the photo. Amazing!

I don't prewash except for swaps and certain dark fabrics and I will continue to do so. My choice - I tell beginners to wash. :)

<how do you keep the fabric from fraying and tangling in the washer and, after washing>
Wash on delicate cycle. There is no need to go through an entire wash and beat up your fabric. A lot less strings. Also, Rubesgirl, I love the quilt in your avatar. Is that all it is? H's? What a happy quilt!

Thanks for the demo. I'm from Missouri and you showed me! lol

Thanks, IamCatGirl! They are all H's, my GS's name is Harrison & I made the quilt for him fir Christmas 2011. He makes me Happy! :-)

You know what this makes me think of? How many quilts have I given away without washing them? 30? Anyway, I never thought to ask any of the people if the fabric on the quilts bled. Now I'm worried that I gave people quilts that looked awful after they washed them. OMG!!! No one has said anything, but they probably wouldn't want to hurt my feelings. I never wash my fabric. I think I will wash the bold and dark fabrics for now on. Thanks for the picture. That said enough to me to want to start washing my dark fabrics.

haha
1 i thought it might be a snake. I too had to handwash (72) 21/2 inch wide batiks to make a kit I ordered from Keepsake quilting. This took forever but if I hadn't I don't know how many would have bled. I always, always, wash my fabric and if dark colors, hand wash them to see if they quit fading. Worth the time to me!

Do you think that the water could be the culprit in causing fabrics to bleed? I have had an occasional problem when I had well water or in Florida during a dry spell, but not continuously.

Yikes! I always try to prewash my fabrics before I use them but what do you do when using precuts? Just hope for the best?

Hey Jan, I thought it was a snake. Kitsy