To wash a finished quilt or not
 

Do most of you wash your completed quilt before using it or giving it as a gift, even if it doesn’t appear dirty? Thanks for any advice!

I do. I want to make sure all the chemicals are out of it and I like it to shrink up and get cozy. And since I know they will wash is, I want to know what it will look like. (it could fall apart or shrink crooked etc)

I also wash my finished quilts. I pre-wash my fabrics, but use starch and spray baste, and I want to make sure that is washed out. I've also handled the quilt extensively while making it. I have a smoke free, pet free home, but the quilt is still subjected to everything going on in my house. I don't have a dedicated sewing room. I use our dining room, which is right off the kitchen, and the three season porch. Plus, as Jane said, I know the recipient will wash it, and I want to make sure it washes up nicely.

I wash every one - well, so far the only one not washed is on my bed. I bought a new washer and dryer this spring, and looked for ones that would work well for washing large quilts. I washed a queen size yesterday, and have king to toss in this morning. I'm getting caught up on binding.

I have cats and that is the last step to remove as much cat hair/dander as possible. From that point they are kept in a closet until they find their new home.

It also gives me the opportunity to check for problems. So far I've had one that bled, even though I prewash all my fabric. I was able to clean it up and wash it again a few times. I tell the people who get them that they've already been washed, and that seems to relieve a lot of concern about how to care for them.

I wash them if I need to remove cat fur, glue or markers, but otherwise I don't.

I wash them for the reason stated above, and also because if there is a weak seam somewhere, the initial washing will "open" it and I will be able to correct it before shipping the quilt to a customer.

My quilts definitely need to get washed as I use spray starch, glue basting and washable markers. Wouldn't want to gift a stiff quilt with blue lines on it :p

i wash all my quilts when finished with them

I don't. All my quilts are donated to Crisis Pregnancy Centers for the babies and are washed before using for the babies by their mothers anyway.

I wash all my quilts to check for loose seams, to remove stray threads and remove dyes, and check for bleeding fabrics.
I have been donated lots of fabric so never know where it has been. No animals to worry about hair!

I like to simply because I have 3 cats and they shed everywhere.

Unless it's a wall hanging, I wash it. By the time it's finished it's been handled, possibly starched, and drug across the floor. I love how a freshly washed quilt looks and feels.

I always wash my quilts when finished, no matter whom will get them. Sometimes I use washable markers and I just want them clean.

I always prewash fabrics, I do not buy precuts.

I always wash my quilts before using them or before I give them away. I like to give the quilt to the person washed because a quilt looks so different after it is washed & I don't want them to think they did something wrong while washing it because it doesn't look the same...more crinkly looking after washed. Hope that makes sense. It's kind of like when I give away my fresh, farm raised chicken eggs. I always tell them that they the yolks are much thicker & darker yellow than store bought eggs & the whites are not all runny. That way they don't think something is wrong with them. :)

I always wash before gifting for all the reasons already stated but mostly to ensure the quilt is structurally sound. If a seam is going to pop, I want the quilt still in my possession so I can repair it. But just as important is the reason osewme stated. There have been stories here that quilters have shared that the giftee thought they had ruined the quilt on the first washing because it did come out looking so different. This is especially true of any batting that has a shrinkage of any amount. Even battings that have supposedly zero shrinkage (like polyester batting) can change the look of the quilt after the first washing. I like to be able to tell my giftees that the quilt can be safely machine washed and tumble dried because I have already ensured that it can be.

I never wash my finished quilts and most of them are for gifts. I don't like the crinkle look so just hope for the best when the recipient washes them and hope for no bleeding. Any advice on what batting to use for the quilt not to crinkle???? I always wash my fabric before starting a new quilt.

I spray my cotton and cotton blend batting with water and put in the dryer on high heat. It's not going to shrink in the quilt.

ALWAYS. I consider it the final step to completion. I would never let a quilt go out the door, gift, sale, donation, entry , without having laundered it first. Anything happens during that step I want to know- not an unsuspecting person who could be devistated by the outcome.

I always wash my quilts before gifting also. I use a Color Catcher also.

I also consider washing to be the last step in the whole process. I wash it in Arm & Hammer Free on cold gentle wash with multiple color catchers and dry it on low. No fabric softener, no bleach, no dryer sheets. I have three cats and two dogs, sew next to the kitchen, and in this warm weather I frequently have sweaty hands. I always inspect the quilt after it's dried; it it passes my picky QC (with lint roller in hand), it goes right into a scent free bag until it goes to it's forever home. With washing instructions....

I believe I washed the one I sent to my brother-in-law to make sure the chalk lines were gone. Most, though, I don't. I just never felt the need.

I wash everything, because of my two cats. They shed everywhere!

I never wash mine because I always think the receiver (or buyer) may think it has been used.
I could be wrong ....
I always tell them to wash it before they use it and it gives me the opportunity to insist it's meant to be washed and used until it falls apart and when it does, I'll make them a new one.

I don’t because I don’t like the wrinkly used look. I want it to go out the door looking crisp and new. There are also so many different soaps out there with so many different allergies that I’d prefer to let the recipient wash it with their preferred detergent. That being said I always give color catchers along with the quilt along with instructions and a guarantee that I’ll fix any problem that might occur. Haven’t had any problems yet.

I always wash upon completion, to get out glue, cat hair and to make sure nothing comes apart or needs attention before I gift.

Same as most above. I use glue basting and cotton batting and they get crinkly after washing. Imagine a new recipient thinking they did something wrong.

I always prewash my fabric. At the same time, while working with a quilt, it has been "handled" many, many times, and absorbs the oils from the skin, so I always wash my quilts before gifting. If I used spray starch, I would definitely want to wash before gifting -- it just makes good sense!

I never wash my quilts before I give them away, reason being, I did my first quilt and when I gave it as gift, she thanked me but later I heard she thought it was used before she got it because it was washed. so that did it for me
NO Washing !!!!!

Always, my quilts get manhandled a lot in every stage. They even see the "design" floor when it gets too big for my "design" wall. And, I have 3 dogs. So, yes, I always pre-wash before I send a quilty gift. (Most of the time, I don't pre-wash the fabric before I start piecing. As, I like to do it at the end. I do pre-wash if it looks like it may run. Do what makes you comfortable.

Thank you All for your advice! I do prewash my fabrics ahead of time, and I did have a feeling most of you washed your quilts afterwards, but I did see a fair number of you don’t. Thank you so much! This is a photo memory quilt (which I should have said from the start ), so IF I decide to wash it, it will be in the tub by hand and very gently ! Thanks again. I showed my husband how wonderful you are to help me! Good to know all of this!

I always wash the quilts that I quilt myself, because I use glue basting. Ones that I have had long-arm quilted, I did not wash. I do not like the crinkly look myself. In fact, I iron both front and back of my quilts after washing/drying and before gifting. That really helps get rid of the "used" look. Recipients are always pleased to know that they have been washed already, because it eases their minds about caring for the quilt. And I always prewash my fabrics.

poly bat doesn't shrink

I first try to get a photo outside immediately after finishing the quilt. I think the pattern and fabric show up better in pictures before the crinkled look. And of course, being outside, it will get something on it, no matter how careful I am.

Then I wash mine in either Dreft or Arm & Hammer Free. Dry without sheet. Then I check for flaws and snip loose threads. Next I iron it as flat as possible and gift wrap. Usually the party is 10 minutes after I finish wrapping it, LOL. I try to include a little note with the quilt saying it's been washed, the crinkled look is normal, and it's brand new, specially made for them.

I have labels with washing instructions. But I like the give a crisp quilt.

I do although I do like the look before washing! Especially for gifting. I also make a lot of rag quilts out of flannel and do wash them! A CO worker brings in her completed, washed, quilts to show before she sends off to recepient and they generally have dog hair on them. Makes me a little nauseous! So I don’t know what I would prefer as a receiver? Washed with dog hair? Or unwashed with dog hair? I think some of it comes from the washer anyway!!

Like many things in quilting, there is no right or wrong answer. I don’t use glue or heavy starch. I don’t have markings that need to be removed, so I seldom wash a finished quilt. If it looks like it needs washing, I wash it. Otherwise, I don’t. Personal preference.

I wash all of mine for all the reasons mentioned by others. The only exception might be a little wall hanging.

Except for small wall hangings, everything gets washed before being given away.
1. Since I don’t prewash fabrics, it removes the sizing
2. Since I do use BestPress, blue markers, Frixion pens, glue basting, etc., it will remove all those
3. I want to be sure the first washing won’t open a seam anywhere—and if it does, I can fix it before it leaves home.
4. Washing, giving “the crinkly look”, covers a multitude of Stitch in the Ditch or FMQ errors.
5. I can assure the recipient, “Yes, it’s washable! It’s actually been washed already for you!” I agree, this seems to set them at ease that they can actually use it.

I wash my finished quilts because of the handling factor as well as if any seams are going to come apart on me, at least I can fix them before it's gifted. Plus it makes it softer. :-)

I don't wash my quilts. I do give written instructions on washing and most are gifted. I have two for my beds and all the other are or will be gifted. Most are queen size and most of the grands already have theirs and am now making another one for my four children. Oh, of course, starting one for an expected 1st great grandchild this Christmas. I do wash the baby ones, young mothers are sometimes are afraid to wash handmade items.