With the prewashing and drying, it's unlikely either muslin will shrink a lot in the second washing. Some shrinkage in the fabric is okay anyway; it just adds to the crinkle quality of the quilt. Given the fact that you have prewashed and dried the fabric in the dryer (most of the shrinkage comes in the dryer, because of the heat), I think you will be fine.

Also, quilting itself controls shrinkage. If you want to be extra safe, just quilt more closely. I did a class with Harriet Hargrave once and she showed us a flannel quilt she made to prove to her students that prewashing isn't necessary, even with flannels that ordinarily shrink a lot. She used unwashed flannel, quilted fairly heavily, measured the quilt, washed and dried it, and measured it again. Those fabrics would have shrunk considerably if washed by themselves, but did not shrink at all in the finished quilt -- because the quilting stabilized them. Not sure I'd do that myself, but she did prove her point.....

I would probably go get the muslin thats all alike. Use the other you have for another quilt.
But I would probably use what I had and chock it up to a learning thing!!
Welcome to the board.

Keep it rockin,
simple quilter

As far as the shrinkage goes, if you take the time to add a little more hand quilting in the blocks, it should help eliminate some of the excessive shrikage in the looser woven muslin. You are doing just fine. You will some day look back on this and just realize as we all do that some things are meant to be lessons learned on the path.

Let us know when that baby is due. Do you know what you are having and is the quilt for the baby?

Hi from Southern California.

I agree with Butterflywing. I would wash the heavier muslin on a hot wash, I always wash my fabric anyway in case of shrinkage, but in this case it might also help lighten the shade. Goodluck with whatever you chooose to do.

I use muslin all the time..........I L-O-VVVV-E mulsin. I try to get as close as I can to the same weight, but I am more concerned about matching the color than the weight of the fabric. AC not REQUIRED in Colorado, nice to have some days though.....hope you have a brick house. :)

Honey, if this is your first quilt finish it with what you have, you will probaly be stationed some where alse, and need a warmer quilt. I'm sure this will not be the last quilt you will ever make, You have a baby on the way, have you thought of making a quilt for him or her? A good place to practice. This quilting just gets in the blood.
Good Luck
medots
:lol: [b]

mrswhite07, You will be just fine!:)Breathe, put your feet up and enjoy this special quilt and the process of waiting for something special!:) I love my quilts not to be 'perfect' in every sense. If you ask, I will say on purpose:)I like to use different backgrounds, etc. I have never been upset if I run out of a particular fabric and neither should you. We quilters have been savy for 100's of years! Long before there were judges or women needing good glasses to peek at your stitches:) Quilting is relaxing and you will so enjoy creating something to hug those that you love. I personally love muslin and the fun in creating a cozy look with them. So an understandable first pick:)We are here for you and ready to help w/any questions to help you make this a very special delivery in all ways!:)Congrats! Skeat...who hand and machine Pieces and quilts! Love all of it!

Hi and welcome!

If you DO decide to go back to the store and get a muslin that matches the blocks you've already made, don't think of it as 'wasting' money, think of the 'first' muslin as 'adding to your stash.'

If the different weights and colors REALLY bother you, now's the time to do something about it. However, no one else is likely to notice, and you MAY be obsessing a little too much! I agree with Suz - different colors of the neutrals as well as the 'real' colors add to the charm of a quilt.

Welcome to the board. I'm kinda thinking like Donna Mae.
When I first began reading about your dilemma, I thought that perhaps you should (if you could afford it) put the one you were unhappy with aside for another project and purchase something that would "match" your first muslin a litlle better. Then while reading through the thread, I began thinking that the use of what you already had on hand would give character to the piece. And that would give a story to your quilt. Isn't that what our fore-mothers did? They used what was on hand. So whatever you do will be right -- right for you. Good luck in finishing your project.

A-hem---here in the deep south, we only need covers for our beds if we turn the AC down low. :lol:

welcome from another Floridian. congratulations that your going to be a new mommy, and a quilter!
I didn't know there were places in U.S. that you could go all summer with no A/C, although we did it here in Fl for many years bc we couldn't afford it. Me and the kids used to put water in the kiddie pool and sit in lawn chairs with our feet in it, under big shade trees. Praises be we don't have to do that anymore.
lots and lots of good advice etc. here. Skeat can't remember everything you said, lol, but know I liked it.
Ahem, Gail, as another 'southerner' and fellow floridian, I thought your last sentence was both accurate and cute :wink: