Wash quilt before giving?
 

I am finishing up a quilt for an aunt who has lost her husband and mother within a few months. It's probably my best work to date, I'm really proud of it.

Question: should I wash it before sending it off to her?

I usually like to leave a new quilt unwashed for a little while -- you can see the quilting better, etc. -- but I love how soft and crinkly it gets after washing, and this one is all about emotional comfort.

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

I say yes, wash before giving. That way you know how it's going to look after a first wash....any color runs, shrinking, loose areas etc, etc. Always best to wash.

You will get comments both for and against washing before giving. I personally wash for 2 reasons: So I can see if any seams have come undone or split and also so the person getting the quilt knows that it is okay for it to be wrinkled. If it comes to them wrinkle free, they may feel like they did something wrong the first time they wash it and it comes out all crinkley.

Another advantage is that all hand oils will be removed and any animal hair and dust will be removed too. I have lots of furbabies and none of them lay on my fabric or projects but their hair is everywhere.

I always wash a quilt before gifting. However if you had recently prewashed the fabric, then don't feel like you have to. Just let them know that they shouldn't get concerned if it gets all crinkly after washing. If you didn't prewash the fabric, do so. It has pesticides in it.

Ditto. I'm sure it is your best work but why chance it to the powers that be. She's been thru enough you wouldn't want her to wash it and have a seam come undone oe bleed.

i never let a quilt out the door before it has been laundered---if anything unplanned is going to happen to it with that first wash i want to know it before giving it away----it is very traumatic for someone to receive a beautiful gift then have a fabric bleed- or a seam not be attached & a hole appear the first time they launder it= i try to save all recipients from such stressful situation= which are so easy to avoid- by my making sure everything is as it should be before gifting it.

Thank you all, this was very helpful.

For all the reasons above, and also to remove the starch I use while piecing, I always wash a new quilt as soon as the binding is on. But... many people don't, and that is their choice.

I wash, but it is a personal choice.

One more reason to wash: It subtly tells the recipient that this item is washable, to use it plentifully!

Jan in VA