I have never washed a large-sized quilt but need to wash one that will be a gift. How will it look after washing? Will it have a 'no longer new' look? I hope you understand what I mean.

Yup I hear you. I know what you mean and that is why I do not wash consignment quilts but I generally do wash quilts that I gift. After washing the quilt will have a slightly more puckered look especially if you use batting or fabric that shrinks. I also find that the dryer is what shrinks and puckers it more then washing only. If I wash a quilt made with prewashed high quality fabrics and batting that does not shrink much it will look less puckered then with inexpensive fabrics and batting that has a high percent shrinkage. Also washing on cold and drying with the back to the sun will give less puckering versus washing on hot and drying in the dryer. The good part is many people like the puckered look and feel as it makes the quilt softer and give this lovable quality to quilts that make people want to snuggle up into them.

Theres been some posts about this recently, whether people was or not, and it's a split. I always wash my quilts because I love the look of a quilt that has been washed! Hard to describe really! To me it loses the flatness, as the fabric gathers up with the stitches and the quilt is slightly puffier?

Does anyone have any closeup photos so I can see how it looks?

I'm with you, MzStitch . . .I find the look of washed quilts to look more "cared for" and aged :)

Check out this quilt

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-56290-1.htm

It was quilted then washed.

If you don't like the puckered look after washing you can iron the quilt to give it a more flat look. I often do that with quilts I'm gifting. I stretch the quilt slightly as I'm ironing to prevent wrinkles.

I personally would wash for a gift and not wash for sale. I think washing makes the quilt look more homey and comfy and less like a show piece. I want the people who I give it to to use and abuse my quilt, so I want it to look homey. If I was selling it, I want it to be more showy so people want to pay a lot for it and take it home. :) Hope that makes sense!

Rachel

I prefer to wash quilts that I make for gifts. It gives me a chance to 'block' the quilt, and I'm worried that non-quilters will freak when their 'flat' quilt becomes a wrinkled quilt after the first washing.

I always wash mine too.

I like the way my quilts look after washing and the way they smell. I use Tide with Febreeze.

I like the washed look.

Yep, that's the look. I love it! (in reply to the message with the quilt photo link attached)

Yes I wash as there are body oils, cat hair and probably dog hair clinging to it somewhere and people can be allergic to these hairs as well as being offensive to receive one with hairs on it.

Thank you everyone for the responses.

Sidmona, that's a beautiful quilt. Thanks for the photo.

You all have valid points. The reason that I want to wash this one is because the person I am giving it to is a bit particular. She likes things just so and I'm thinking like Shelley..she'll be disappointed when she washes it the first time. On the other hand, I don't want to see that disappointed look when she opens the gift and looks at a 'puckered' quilt. I guess I'm just insecure about giving this one.

Before I gift a quilt I always wash it. That makes sure that it's clean and that all the colors are set and will not bleed.
Just did a turning 20 flannel one with maroon flannel as the backing. Being flannel none of them were washed and none of them ran. Just lucky on this one.

i wash every quilt i make before it goes anywhere, that way i am assured there will be no unpleasant surprises for whom ever the quilt goes to, does not matter if it's a gift, a consignment or just one i sell. I want to know everything is fine first. if you leave it for the recipient to wash the first time and a color runs (heaven forbid!) or a seam come loose or it needs blocking i can fix what ever the issue is before the (non-quilter) sees it, that way they do not have to endure any un-do stress over it and i am confident that it is as perfect as can be. the only quilt i would not wash would be a wall hanging that will never be washed. if the quilt is ever going to need washing it gets the first one from me.

How the quilt will look after washing depends on a couple of factors:

1. Were the fabrics prewashed, before the quilt was constructed? If the answer is yes, the fabrics will not shrink with an additional washing and keep their current shape.

2. What type of batting was used? Cotton batting tends to give the crinkled look of antique quilts. Polyester batting tends to keep the as constructed look, but may look a bit more puffy after washing.

Ranger, if you give her the quilt 'puckered' she'll know that that's how it is supposed to look. There should be little change when she does happen to wash it. It's the change from a flat, crisp quilt to a crinkled quilt that I try to avoid, especially with non-quilters. She'll fall in love with the crinkled, soft, and cuddly quilt and will never know the flat original state, and quilts with non-poly batts are only flat until that first wash!!

Thank you to all who replied with your views and insights. I have decided that I will wash it. You are all the best!

I'm totally with you on this one! A washed quilt has so much more "personality"...