I Always wash and iron ALL fabric, no matter the color, it saved me a lot of work recently when the unstable dyes on a piece all but disappeared. Now at least I can use it with other fabrics which will make it look more appropriate than its original intended usel

I used to pre-wash.Then my fabric addiction grew immensely.I do not pre wash anything anymore.If I had to prewash it all -I would not have a life anymore.I have tested some dark colors and batiks in the sink in hot water-all has been fine.I have made and used many quilts-with grandkids,dogs ,etc-never ever had a problem yet.I just think I have to many quilts to make and less laundry is great.

Bleeding is not the only problem when washing cottons. They shrink at different amounts. Once I washed ALL the colors of the Kona cottons, measuring before and after ( worked for a quilt store and we were testing). They not only shrunk in length in different amounts, but I was stunned to discover they shrunk different amounts in the widths. You simply cannot predetermine how much shrink is in any fabric. If made into a quilt with fabric that is not washed, you can expect that the different patches will pull up different amounts. My question is: After putting so much work into a project, why would you risk that?
SandyQuilter

I always wash my fabric and always use a Color Catcher and after the quilt is done I wash it again

I always prewash not only for bleeding but shrinkage and chemicals with the chemicals being the big issue as there is a lot of formaldyde in the fabric along with lots of other stuff and I don't want to be breathing that or have it on my skin I have also found that unwashed fabric really dulls the sewing machine needles faster I got some fat quarters at my favorite quilt shop washed by hand and was amazed at the dirt in them so maybe just me but I am a pre washer

My finger tips actually get little bubbles on them if I am sewing with unwashed fabric. And, I am not a super sensitive person. So for me, it is worth the time and effort to prewash.

Washing Fabric
 

My first large quilt (a queen size) was satin stitch embroidery on a white whole cloth background. My borders, on the other hand, were a very bright red. My cousin who is a commercial quilter in Oklahoma had cautioned me to check the fabric before attaching it to the remainder of the top. So, I cut a small scrap from the extra, and put it into a glass of very hot water! Did anyone say bleed? Boy, howdy, did it ever. I tried every "home remedy" I had suggested to me, from epsom salts, to white vinegar, to hot water, and it was still bleeding. I began to do a little bit of research and discovered (in addition to color catchers) Rit Dye Company has a product (and I don't have any interest at all in Rit Dye) called a "Dye Fixative". Well, I went online and ordered (because it's not stocked in any store on my area--I looked). The shipping for the single bottle cost more than the product, but after getting the results, I didn't care! It stopped the dye bleeding immediately and I became a real believer in the product. With the other "remedies" I tried, I tested the fabric after every one of them. Taking a scrap of the fabric that had been through all of the tests, I would place it in a glass of very hot water -- a white undyed paper towel will pick up the color if there's any bleeding at all. It's very easy to tell. I don't have a great deal of knowledge about most things -- this is just what worked for me. I'm getting ready to start on another quilt that is going to have red and white blocks, and I'm going to do the same thing, probably on the stove top so, using the fixative in order of the color intensity in the fabric, so I can maximize the benefit of the fixative.

That being said, I am a rank amateur myself, but I assure you that if I made a quilt, failed ot prewash, or use a dye fixative, and the red bled over onto the white making it pink, I would never make another quilt. That's heartbreaking and far too expensive for my budget. I know it's a lot of extra work, but I think it's worth the precautions.

Jeanette Frantz

Hi everyone. I really got something started with my question, huh?! Thanks for all of the responses. FYI, I ran to the store and bought a box of Shout Color Catchers. I put my red and white quilt in the washing machine and added FIVE color catchers! Then I watched with baited breath as it washed. The water was somewhat pink and when it was finished and had 5 very pink color catchers and a beautiful quilt!! I washed it once more with two catchers just to be sure and they didn't have much on them at the end. WHEW!

I always wash all fabrics as they come in the door. Don't want any surprises, and the chemicals on the fabrics bother me.

I prewash everything except for precuts as soon as the fabric comes home. I do it to remove chemicals, to pre-shrink, and of course to try to stem bleeding. I wash in warm, dry on hot, then fold it right out of the dryer. I don't iron or starch until I'm getting ready to do cutting since there are folds to iron out no matter what. Sometimes I use Retayne if it's a fabric I think is going to bleed a lot.

All that work is a pain but I think I get better results that way. Plus the idea of having to wash and fold all the fabric in my cart as soon as I get home has helped me decide NOT to buy quite as much fabric sometimes and I count that as a good thing!

It's interesting though - it seems like some fabrics RECEIVE bleeds more than others. I've washed reds and whites together in the past and had no bleeding anywhere except ONE of the white fabrics came out pale pink. No blotches, no bleeds on any other fabric...just the one with a surprisingly uniform pale pink. Very strange! I know it wasn't pink going in there!!

Just like doing laundry, separate colors into dark, light and whites. I use cold water to wash, then dry on low to medium heat. I find using high heat seems to add extra wrinkles. I take the fabric out of the dryer when it's just barely dry to eliminate most of the "set-in" wrinkles. I use regular laundry detergent. When I wash bright colors like reds, I open the machine as it's washing and scoop us a bit of water in a clear glass to see if there is any color in it. If there is, I will usually run it through a second wash.

I ALWAYS pre-wash...no exceptions whatsoever! I don't see how you can get a straight grain otherwise. I've bought fabrics at the LAQ stores and STILL had them shrink, even though I was told otherwise by the owner upon purchase.

Just like doing laundry, separate colors into dark, light and whites. I use cold water to wash, then dry on low to medium heat. I find using high heat seems to add extra wrinkles. I take the fabric out of the dryer when it's just barely dry to eliminate most of the "set-in" wrinkles. I use regular laundry detergent. When I wash bright colors like reds, I open the machine as it's washing and scoop us a bit of water in a clear glass to see if there is any color in it. If there is, I will usually run it through a second wash.

I ALWAYS pre-wash...no exceptions whatsoever! I don't see how you can get a straight grain otherwise. I've bought fabrics at the LAQ stores and STILL had them shrink, even though I was told otherwise by the owner upon purchase. After all your work it's just not worth taking a chance!

I wash the fabric the way the finished quilt will be cleaned. If its a drag-around and in the machine a lot, I wash, hot water and into the dryer. If it will cared for very carefully, I will wash in cold and damp-dry in dryer. If its a wall hanging that may not see a machine, I don't wash it at all.

I always pre-wash. Too much money and too much time and effort to create a quilt to have either bleeding or shrinkage screw it up. Beside, I enjoy the whole process of quilt making. I'm not one who just wants to get it done.

observation: if washing shrinks, wouldn't ironing distort? would pressing be better?

Welcome from Northern California. There will always be people that swear that their way is the right way. I personally don't mind prewashing (hot wash , hot dryer) then ironing and putting on comic boards. I have had fabrics that came out of the washer fine but the selvage was another color. As been said I have had some running of all colors. I even wash precuts. I do this for all the reasons already mentioned. Some of the worst bleeding fabric came from a local quilt store, I paid more than I normally do for this fabric and didn't want to take any chances. All that said you just have to do what you feel is best for you.
There will always be certain questions that quilters will have different opinions on. (Wash or not, Tear or not). We all find what works for us and then go that route. Good luck in what you do and most of all have fun. BrendaK

I wash all my fabric, I just made hunter star quilt dark blue & white , and when I washed the dark blue a lot of
bleeding. But not all fabric bleeds so it up to ....:mad:

I wash my fabric on quick wash cycle cold water and dry it in the dryer. I also cut a small piece of fabric off the corner so I know it has been pre washed.
I just don't want to take the chance especially if it is a gift. Better safe than sorry.

What is the advantage of pre-washing other than dark fabrics that might bleed?

hot water .......... shrinkage!

Also, removal of the formaldehyde and other chemicals used in textile processing thus making your fabric 'user friendly' and realigning the threads so the fabric returns to straight of grain thus making your cuts more accurate.

Why do you SOAK in Retayne BEFORE you put in a hot wash? I thought the directions say to WASH the fabrics in a hot water load for 20 minutes. I've never used color catchers....only use RETAYNE in a hot water wash. Never had problems then and no puckering of fabrics in my quilts because all the fabric is back to its original shape (before stretched when processed and bolted).

Another reason is to let the fabric relax into its "natural state," in case it was stretched and wound onto the bolt, crooked.

You can't always wash, especially if you purchase fabric directly from a shop where you have a class. But I always try to wash but a must every time is a colour catcher even when it has been quilted. Some people have been known to make a quilt from the colour catchers .

I don't prewash anything. I've been sewing for years, and never had any issues. If I ever do have an issue, I might change my mind, but I have so much fabric...I'd have to wash, dry, and iron for a few years to get it all done. Lol....that's not happening!! :) I've even done bright batiks with white backgrounds...no issues.
If you are concerned, you can take a little piece of the fabric and put it in a bowl of water to see if the color comes out at all. You can use color catchers too when you wash it. I have them, used them a few times, but found that our clothes bleed more color than any of my quilts have.

I do no prewash my fabrics and they have done quite well in the wash.

All you have to do to test for bleeding is rub a one inch corner of the fabric with a wet cotton swab or paper towel. If the color transfers, deal with it in whatever way you choose. If not, you're all set. At least you'll know, one way or the other, for the price of a Q-tip and a few minutes time.