I have read several times this week how many wash a quilt before gifting it. I will admit I felt foolish the more I read as I have donated and gifted over 50 quilts in the past 6-7 years and never washed it first. In fact I used my own quite a while before I washed them. The main reason is once washed they no longer look new to me, they look used. However after the recent post I started thinking how bad I would feel if someone washed and something happened to it I could have prevented. Right now I am making 2 quilts for our ladies dessert. Our church has the dessert each year and you pay for your seat with a grocery gift card for the benevolence fund. I always donate 2 quilts to raffle off. Should I wash these first? Will they look used instead of new if I do?

Prewashing the fabrics and preshrinking your batting will help keep the quilts looking new, if the crinkle look is what you are trying to avoid :D:D:D

They look "used" or a little wrinkled because the batting usually shrinks a little in the first wash. I think it makes them look wonderful. Personally I think unwashed quilts tend to look stiff, but when slightly wrinkled from washing look soft and cuddly.

I always wash first. It gets more of the sizing out of the fabrics, and also removes and dust, lint, animal hairs, etc. accumulated during the making process. None of us has a perfectly clean house!! Certainly not me!! :-)

Most of the quilts I've made were for Quilts for Kids and they request washing before sending. From that I learned that seams do fray and bindings are not always as secure as one could wish. :P
I did make two as gifts last Christmas and I did not wash them. I gave both with washing instructions, Color Catchers, and the verbal that I would gladly repair any seams that came loose.

I agree that washing makes them look used but I think what you decide to do depends on the circumstances.

I love the look of the washed quilt. It does look cuddly and used... but it's softer without the sizing, mistakes can be found (of course I don't make any lmao) and they aren't as intimidating for the giftee. Unwashed they look like they should be displayed, not used.

I will say I had a crazy curves one I dreaded washing cause sewing all those curves was hard for me. I wanted it to look new as long as possible. The one day I forgot to put back in sewing room where cat is not allowed and she laid on it so I washed it. I really liked the look washed. However since then Itty Bitty has claimed it as her own. She's my 18 year old munchkin cat. She gets what she wants. As you csn see in picture #2 if you try and take her quilt she gets in your face all mad.

washing your quilt does not make it (used) it makes it finished.
i am so ... stern? about this mainly because of a situation that happened between 2 of my very good friends- a mother-in law- & daugter in law-

the mil gave said dil a beautiful quilt for christmas one year--
the dil loved it with all her heart and showed it off-boasted about it to everyone---then the day came it needed to be laundered- she even called mil to ask how to go about it- the reply was- i made it to be used- put it in the washer-cool water/detergent- toss it in the dryer- it will be fine-
dil did just that- even used a gentle cycle- mil did not stipulate.
when the quilt came out of the dryer a whole large section had come undone- it was unsightly-frayed- a mess...she called me just sobbing- i went over & looked at it- it looked as if during construction a whole seam was missed...i told her she needed to call mil & tell her what happened- it could be fixed-
OH NO--she was afraid mil would hate her for ruining the quilt---instead she chose to just hide it away-
after that for months-everytime mil visited she would leave---angry (thinking dil just gave it away or something) neither would speak to each other about it---it caused 2 whole years of strife between them---i finally could not take being in the middle any more---and told mil what happened-

she felt so bad for all the HORRIBLE things she had been thinking -and saying about dil for 2 years---
she went to her very (humbled) apologized- retrieved the
quilt- repaired it and it is now proudly used again---but 2 years of horrible hurt feelings for something that would have been avoided if she had just washed it first...
and where was son during all this? deployed...more stress- since mil was so...nasty toward dil when she was needed most. and what took me so long? i tried to be supportive to both without overstepping ... we all learned some lessons.
but now- unless it's a wall hanging not meant to ever be washed- it does not go anywhere until i've washed?dried it first!

Good point! One of the people who received the unwashed quilts promptly announced that she didn't need the color catchers. She would never wash it - in fact she was going to put it in her hope chest (she's 60 for crying out loud) - so all that work will be hidden away. Maybe if I'd washed it she would have thought she could use it.

Wow!

Needless to say I will be washing from now on. Do you think I should wash the raffle ones or leave them new looking? The ladies buying are church members so I could include name/telephone to repair any issue when washed or should I just wash then raffle?

it is your project- do what you want- if you don't want to wash it first maybe you could include a note saying- if it falls apart with laundering please call....
just an FYI---Most charitable foundations who accept quilts require they be washed before sending them in...they do not want any chemicals (like starch or sizing) oils from our hands-soil from our homes on the quilts- they expect them to be ready to give- and do not have the facility's to wash everyone themselves.

Thanks for opening my eyes to the other side of the coin. I do wash the fabrics and soak battings but rarely wash the finished quilt.
On another thought, I have made a quilt for our first grandchild and told my daughter that I haven't washed the quilt.
1)I am flying with it and only doing carry on so I want it flat not fluffy.
2) She can wash it in the deterget that she uses for the baby.
3) I will be there if there is any oopsies....hoping not. :wink:
piney

love that pic

Ya' know I never thought about washing before gifting. I always give the color catcher sheets with the quilts because I only ever thought that the colors may bleed and I would hate for it to ruin something.

I wash before gifting -they always need de-furred -plus snippets of thread etc.. But washing softens the quilt and they feel so much nicer once they are unwrapped. They are instantly snuggy

I always wash before giving. Too much fur and threads. I had one male friend who was gifting a baby quilt to his female pal tell me not to wash it. He was afraid of the laundry soap and rashes it might cause. I explained I would rather wash out all of the sizing and chemicals from the fabric and use a mild detergent instead. He thought about it for a few minutes, then decided to let me do it my way.

Looks conmfy.

loved the second picture...pets are so funny :roll:

I wash, and if I want to keep it looking "new" like for a raffle, I iron the quilt. That doesn't take out all the wrinkles, but help it to continue looking new. Plus, those who wan that wrinkled, soft look get a little of that too.

I try to wash mine altho I have hardly made enough to have given very many away. But with Toby, my kitty always there helping out, I want the cat hair off before I give away. I do love your kitty protecting her quilt. She is not evil- just wants her blankie!

ckcowl - interesting story, illustrates very well why quilts should be washed before gifting.

I wash my fabric when it comes in the house. No smoke or animal hairs get on the quilts. But I still wash the finished quilt, as soon as the binding is on. One reason - starch! I use it freely during piecing, and it needs to come out of the quilt. Also I don't want the recipient to feel bad if the quilt looks a bit different after the first wash. And in the (hopefully unlikely) event that I left a seam open somewhere, that gives me a chance to fix it.

Every quilt goes thru the washer and dryer before it goes out my door. The only things I don't wash first are wall hangings!

I agree they look used

Here's why I wash fab BEFORE sewing. Just another side of this coin. Please read the link on page two RE formeldihyde. Over 5000 views on this topic. Interesting, huh?

I always wash mine before gifting. My family has allergies to many products, so I wash the quilts first with the proper detergent (unscented & perfume free) and tell them the quilt is all ready to be loved, washing before use not necessary. I think this is especially important for baby quilts.

This is a very interesting thread and one I'll be thinking about. I've only given away raggy quilts and of course, they're washed when completed. The one traditional quilt I made was for my oldest DGS and I didn't wash. Guess I'll check with my DD and see what happened to it, lol.

I have found that if a gifted quilt has not been washed, many people will just store it in a closet so as not to spoil the new look. I make my quilts to be used! I wash before gifting so the quilt will already look a little used and a lot comfy. I also attach a note stating the quilt has been washed to remove any markings,etc.

I always wash quilts before gifting, except one. It was a memory quilt and I carefully avoided using starch during the making. If there was any special smell to the shirts I didn't want to wash it out. It may be weird, but that's what I did.

I wash baby quilts with Dreft.

In this case I would not wash them. I have quilts I have not washed and some other quilts I use unwashed fabric and then wash and dry on hot for the crinkled look.

I wash all the quilts I make for give away or missionary quilts and I wash all family quilts. If I don't want the old-timey look, I choose a different batting and always preshrink.

And I prewash fabrics because some run no matter what you soak them in first.

But, for custom quilts, I do not wash (I don't use starch in piecing). I do clean up though with a lint roller, etc. and I always give washing instructions. And, I always ask if they want me to wash it first. Most do not. They are paying for a new quilt and want it to look that way.

So...different strokes for different folks. Do what works best for you.

I love the soft cuddley feel and the smell of Downey after they are washed! I learned this from QFK!

Just yesterday I was wondering the same thing Vicky. Glad you posted this message.
My goodness you are a prolific quilt gifter and generous donater! I'm very impressed!
My current quilt is in the quilting stage and is a bit stiff from starch and spray adhesive. The new owner is planning to use it as a wall hanging. So isn't it better NOT wash it before giving, since all that stiffness will help it hang neatly?

Love that 2nd kitty picture!! You can just tell she's telling you off with her eyes! :-P

I always wash and put washing instructions on the lable.

I never thought about washing before gifting. I washed baby quilts to get out anything that may irritate baby skin. The last quilt I gifted went to SisIL. I washed it to get out the pencil markings. After drying I ironed it and it came out beautifully. I think I'll try this in the future.

I always wash before gifting. I don't want them to think that they have ruined their quilt by washing it since it does look different after washing. I love the washed look.

I don't prewash the quilts before giving them away, but I always prewash the fabric that go into the quilt. I feel it's better that way, but I guess it's personal preference.

I have washed quilts and I just block then to dry and they come out nice and flat. I wash gently (fill the machine with water and colour catchers) hand agitate (so I can keep an eye on everything) spin and remove. If everything looks good, I pop it in the dryer for a little while and take it out when still damp. I take it into the spare room and block it on the carpet nice and flat. I close the door and mention for no one to go in until the quilt is dry. (usually overnight)

Good story.