Before storing your fabric do you wash and iron it first?

Wash yes, iron no. I don't iron it until I'm ready to use it.

Soon after it comes into the door, I wash and iron it.

I don't iron until I am ready to use it...that is NOT my favorite thing and I dislike having to do it twice LOL

I do neither, just pop straight into the cupboard. Quilt makers are divided on whether to wash or not. Here's an article for you http://www.stitchingcow.com/about/us...uilting-fabric
Hope it is useful.
Warmly Lenna

Nope

I wash and iron. Even though I may have to re iron out fold marks it has been my experience if I leave the ironing for very long the winkles are harder to get out.

Nope

nope don't do either.

I dont till I use it.

Me either!

No, only if I think I'm going to be using it soon.

No!

I don't wash or iron unless it's for a swap.

I try to wash it right away so I will have it ready when inspiration strikes. But I don't iron until I'm ready to use it.

I agree, even though I do have to iron again before I use it. I hate the wrinkles, and storing it after it is ironed saves space.

I don't wash it until the quilt is finished. I do iron my fabric before I cut it. I starch heavily if I'm going to cut triangles.

I never wash before storing or quilting.....but I always iron ans steam press before sewing/quilting..I find that the steam ironing may pay up a bit for the non-washing..especially since I use high heat and full steam.... LOL

I don't wash my fabric until I am ready to use it.

I wash all my fabric. I don't like the idea of handling fabric that has chemicals and dyes.

I iron before I start sewing but I rarely even wash....I guess it is mostly because I tend to lean more towards quilts that use jelly rolls and those would NOT wash well heh

Wash maybe, iron - heck no. I press as I get ready to use it.

I wash and iron only when I'm ready to use it.

I do so much applique so I do not wash and iron mine first. The only time I wash and iron my fabrics is if they are of a dark color that I think might run. Most of my quilts, both large and small, are for hanging on the wall and will more than likely never get washed anyway. I need the stiffness of the new fabric and I don't like to starch all over the fabric for hanging quilts, it attracts silverfish in our area and they like to munch.

No, I wash my quilt after I make it with a couple of color fast sheets, never had it fail me yet. And I do lots of red and white quilts.
Mae

I have always washed my fabrics that were whole not in strips. I try to press asap but sometimes I tend to wait until time to use. What ever you prefer is the right way for you. Everyone has there own way and no way is always right for the next person. Have fun quilting and finding great fabrics. Happy Quilting
Jean

I always wash before I put away, ironing comes when I'm ready to cut it.

I always wash my fabric first and iron it. I wash it because I don't want to store it with all the chemicals and sizing that are in it. Ever watch the gal cut your fabric straight, then you get it home and wash it and it comes out all crooked? The fabrics are stretched all to heck and back when made and washing it brings it back into its natural shape. Plus, there is nothing worse then using a fabric in a quilt, then washing it and watching the dye bleed into other fabrics or worse, change color completely.

Please be aware that any fabric that is imported into the US is fumigated and the boxes sprayed with insecticide. It is actually healthier to wash your fabrics rather then handle them with these and other chemicals still in them. Just something to think about.

Also, many people do not realize it but there is a special mold that grows on cotton fabrics and washing them when you bring them home will remove these spores. I'm highly allergic to mold and the doctor doesn't want me to handle the fabrics at the store, but I'm a quilter and fondling fabrics seems to be a symptom of being a quilter; so I just wash my hands a lot and make sure to wash my fabrics once I bring them home.

As soon as I get the fabric home I serge the raw edges, wash with a color catcher, dry it, iron it and store it. This routine has an added benefit as I get to pet and fondle my new fabric LOL!

That's a great site for new quilters. There is still no replacement for taking one first quilting class at either a school or quilting store.

No washing and ironing here, until I ma ready to use it.

As soon as I get home with my fabric from the store. You never know who handled the material and what germs can be on it from colds, etc. So, I wash, dry and fold the pieces to clean and pre-shrink it. When it is time to use the material, I will iron it if it is wrinkled. Other than that I iron as I am making the quilt.

Since the majority of fabric that comes into my house these days is for Linus quilts it usually goes straight into the washer. I don't iron it until I am ready to use it in a quilt. Another post talked about quilts shrinking after they are washed. I have never had that problem. Maybe the prewashing helps.

Same here.

The fabric I buy gets left in a bag until it's washed & ironed.
So when I'm ready for a project everything is ready to use.

I always wash new fabric, I iron when I am ready to use it. I'm not worried about germs or chemicals, just don't want to take time to wash it when I get ready to use it. This works for me !!!

Wash and iron? Depends on the fabric quality. Batiks I don't wash or iron. Lesss expensive fabrics I wash and iron. I have just learned to fold fabric using my 6" wide ruler. Over and over and over, snug and straight as possible. Then fold in thirds or halfs. The stash is looking a lot neater and I can find what I am looking for. I may never get the whole old stash folded this way but it's something to work on as used.

soannesew

Wash and iron? Depends on the fabric quality. Batiks I don't wash or iron. Lesss expensive fabrics I wash and iron. I have just learned to fold fabric using my 6" wide ruler. Over and over and over, snug and straight as possible. Then fold in thirds or halfs. The stash is looking a lot neater and I can find what I am looking for. I may never get the whole old stash folded this way but it's something to work on as used.

soannesew

I'm in the wash & iron when I get it brigade - but anything I don't want to wash e.g. for OBWs, is put in a separate "unwashed" area.

I wash when I get it home, but don't iron until I'm ready to use it.