Shrinkage
I measured hundreds of pieces of fabric before and after washing them - just to see what happens.
For all my quilting cottons - I now do the hot water soak for at least two hours - or until I remember to wash the fabrics - and then wash gently in cool to warm water and dry "until done" - I have a dryer setting that stops when "done". I do put like colors together - so in case one is a bleeder, it won't make too much of a difference - and I'm not chancing ruining other colors. From my experience - most of the fabrics shrank more in one direction than another. Very few of them had little or no shrinkage. I have had up to 2.5 inches of shrinkage on a 42 inch width of fabric (a Michael Miller black and some others) with no shrinkage on the length - I had over two inches shrinkage per yard in length on the Legacy muslin (which is a very nice muslin) from JoAnn's. From what I have heard, fabric will also shrink when steam pressed - and I am going to go downstairs and check that out right now. I have some "virgin" legacy muslin on hand that I was going to use for another experiment, but this one will be quick and easy to do. |
thanks for reinforcing one of the reasons i prewash everything
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Yup, I'm the same as QuiltnNan.
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I agree - I alway prewash and the few times I've tested, I've gotten about 1 inch per yard of shrinkage in length regardless of brand of cotton quilting fabric.
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I always prewash fabrics and don't buy kits. I never measure for any reason.
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I also always pre-wash. Some fabrics will surprise me with how much shrinkage!
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I don't prewash. I think it's a good idea but I have so much fabric and never know what I'm going to use so it would be a gigantic task to wash it all. How do you all mange to prewash everything?
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Originally Posted by Passthepasta
(Post 7948148)
I don't prewash. I think it's a good idea but I have so much fabric and never know what I'm going to use so it would be a gigantic task to wash it all. How do you all mange to prewash everything?
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Me, too. But the washed fabric is not pressed until I am ready to use it. That makes the job easier.
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Originally Posted by Passthepasta
(Post 7948148)
I don't prewash. I think it's a good idea but I have so much fabric and never know what I'm going to use so it would be a gigantic task to wash it all. How do you all mange to prewash everything?
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