I am going to try making a lap quilt, so I want to prewash the fabric so it shrinks before I use it. I plan to use hot water. Here are my questions
1. Do I use detergent?
2. I have half to full yards - many of them. Can I wash like colors together?
3. How will I know if they have bled out all they are going to? Do I have to keep checking the rinse water?
4. Do I put it on a full cycle or just rinse?

Thank you! Virg

When I prewash -- which is seldom -- I use detergent and run it just like laundry. I always put similar colors together just as if I were washing clothes.

The first time I wash a quilt, I always use a color catcher even if I've prewashed the fabric.

I'm sure you will get tons of different opinions on this subject. It seems to be one we just can't all agree on. Listen to the advice and do what seems right for you.

I just wash small amounts in the bathroom sink and use very little dish soap. Rinse well. Never a problem. Just hang to dry.

1. Do I use detergent?
I use detergent and have had no problems

2. I have half to full yards - many of them. Can I wash like colors together?
I wash like colors together

3. How will I know if they have bled out all they are going to? Do I have to keep checking the rinse water?
they have a product out called color catchers, that works very well

4. Do I put it on a full cycle or just rinse?
I use handwash or delicate cycle (cuts down on agitation)

Hope this helps

[quote=Lisa_wanna_b_quilter]When I prewash -- which is seldom -- I use detergent and run it just like laundry. I always put similar colors together just as if I were washing clothes.

The first time I wash a quilt, I always use a color catcher even if I've prewashed the fabric.


Agree with the above.

I put in a Color Catcher (made by Shout) when I pre-wash - lets me know if anything ran. Just as an experiment, if you have time, you could wash (of just rinse) a 2nd time with a fresh Color Catcher and see if more dye comes out.

One thing Lisa and I agree on is that you'll get as many opinions on pre-washing as you'll find people who read your post :)

Unlike Lisa, I'm a dedicated pre-washer. Fabric walks into my house and directly to the laundry room. There is not a single piece of fabric in my stash that has not seen the inside of a washing machine. But ... that's me and there are lots of varied opinions on the subject, all of them right!!

I always use detergent, but not the full amount. The reason I use detergent is to remove the chemicals that were used in the manufacture process.

I almost always use Hot water as well to promote the most bleed and the most shrinkage. The reason is that if it's going to bleed/shrink I'd rather have it all happen now than later. With a few exceptions, I'll wash like colors together.

When I wash in the machine I use a hand wash or gentle cycle as a high degree of agitation is not necessary (it's not soiled), and the less it agitates the less fray it will create.

I wash most of my batiks by hand in the kitchen sink, especially reds. Reason being is that batiks typically bleed more than printed cotton, and I can see the amount of bleed and know when I should continue to wash more and more. My reds are always washed twice, sometimes three times. Some purples as well.

I had been using the "Shout Dye Grabber" and I can say that I haven't had any problems with it. I am nearing the 30 use mark though, so I picked up some of the other brand (color catcher? can't remember and I'm not at home).

The only fabric I would NOT suggest washing are the velvets, laces and other fancy fabrics headed for a Crazy Quilt that should be professionally dry cleaned.

Otherwise, i'd suggest you prewash the way you think the quilt will be washed when it gets dirty, and if kids are involved, trust me, it WILL get dirty and need washing.

I also agree that the first time or two you do need Color Catchers.

When I prewash I was as I intend to wash the quilt once it is completed. I have a color catcher that I throw in with my fabric and generally wash like fabrics together.

I wash in warm or cold and dry on warm.

I find that I need to prewash as my hands sometimes react to something in the fabric. I then starch using Mary Ellen's best press or a very heavy starch.

Cheers, K

I would use a stain blocker if I were you. I always wash fabric and quilts on a gental cycle.

I was at a guild meeting last night where Nancy Odom was the guest speaker. She stated that she almost never pre washes her fabric. But, what she does do, is starch and steam iron before she cuts. She stated that the primary reason was to help the fabric keep it's shape. Once she started doing this she almost never had issues with pieces not matching. Kind of on subject!!

sounds like you've gotten a lot of good advice. The only thing I can add is: If you plan to do any easy appliqué (as in the heat n bond type) do not use any fabric softener. The softener does not play well with the heat n bond and will not adhere correctly. Found this out the hard way! hope it helps someone :)

Well, I'm gonna weigh in here, but with a somewhat different opinion.

Like most of the opinions you've already received, I ALWAYS pre-wash; the purpose (for me) is to 1) remove any excess dyes in the fabrics; 2) pre-shrink the materials to eliminate any excessive "puckering" once the quilt is put together; 3) soften the "hand" of the fabrics. I hate working with fabric that feels like paper (which is why I NEVER use spray starch).

However, I do not use detergent. Instead, I first trim the corners off the cut edges of the fabric to help alleviate fraying (although this doesn't always eliminate it). It also makes it very easy to spot a pre-washed fabric in my stash: if the corners are clipped off, it's been washed. I then put like-colored fabrics in the washer, adding in a fistful of kosher salt and about a cup or so of white vinegar. Use cold water. Once the washer is filled, allow it to agitate for a few minutes, then stop the washer to soak the material for as much as 20 minutes or so. Then drain the washer and allow the rinse cycle to work.

Remove and dry until just damp-dry, then press as soon as the fabric comes out of the dryer. This will help to complete the drying process, your fabric will be wrinkle-free, and you can fold it flat for storage much easier.

Why the vinegar and kosher salt? The salt is slightly abrasive, and between that and the vinegar, it helps to "set" the colors in your fabric. Vinegar also cuts through any grease or oil-based finish on your fabrics in the event there may be some residue left over from the processing plant that created your fabric.

I know it sounds a little "hinky" to you newer quilters, but I've been quilting for nearly 40 years and this is the way I've always done it. Naturally, this goes for 100% cottons (not velvets, satins, or laces that you may be putting into a Victorian crazy-style quilt, for obvious reasons).

Okay, everyone, now that I've advised you of what we did "back in the day", I'm climbing off my soapbox. History class is through. Who wants to chime in next?

Ding! Dong!

i'll bet using the vinegar and salt is a lot less expensive in the longrun, too.

this is an idea i'm going to have to try. :-)

1. Do I use detergent?
2. I have half to full yards - many of them. Can I wash like colors together?
3. How will I know if they have bled out all they are going to? Do I have to keep checking the rinse water?
4. Do I put it on a full cycle or just rinse?

I wash and dry mine as they will be handled when they are done. Then you know if there is a problem before you do all the work. I have never used color catchers, but they sound like a good idea.