when you wash fabric before a project do you actually wash it with laundry soap? Or do you just get it wet and dry it with the dryer so it will shrink?
Do you all wash your fabrics when you get it home so its ready to use when you need it?
I have been dabbling with the quilting and am not washing my fabrics. but figured when I start a serious project Id better get the facts! thanks JoAnn
ps Im sure Im going to have ALOT of silly questions for you all as I dont have anyone else to ask.

Many wash their fabric as soon as they get home with laundry detergent, dry it , iron it and put it away. That way it is ready to use when you want it. Personally, I don't prewash because I'm too lazy and so far I have never had a problem with shrinkage or colours bleeding.

Hello
In class we were taught to always wash your fabric so I got in the habit of doing that. One thing she said was never to but the fabric sheets in the dryer with the fabric, so I don't. It is nice to have it ready for projects.

I only wash fabrics if I am in a swap that asks that the fabric be pre-washed. Otherwise, I just use it straight from the store. Haven't had an issue yet.

Although, I have washed some hand-dyed fabric to make sure the excess dye was washed out first.

The only fabric I wash is flannel because every piece shrinks at a different rate. I have never had a quilt run, even using red. I always use a color catcher just in case and that usually comes out clean. I also give washing instructions to the recipient along with 1 more color catcher. I have a hard time getting time to quilt as it is, if I had to wash and iron all my fabric all I would have would be lots of washed and ironed fabric and no quilts !!!

I wash all my fabric and dry in dryer when I bring it home. I don't iron or starch, just fold and put away. Just wash. Sometimes I may buy a bolt and later down the road just cut off what I need and iron and starch.

WOW the number of threads on this subject is amazing. You will find that there are as many people who don't wash and have absolutely no problems whatsoever (including dark colors and batiks) to those who wash, using various products to prevent bleeding and have horrible problems with various fabrics. Many people wash simply to remove all the stuff that is put into fabrics (can't think of the names) to make it crisper and easier to put on bolts before shipping to stores.

I don't wash my fabric, never have..never will...and have had no problems whatsoever....my life is full enough that if I had to wash it all it would take all the joy out of the process for me. I do iron before cutting.

Just type in washing fabrics in the search box and you will numerous threads and more information/opinions regarding this subject.

Welcome to the Board, and use the search feature...it is a fabulous tool for everyone and you will find valuable information about everything possible. There is NO right or wrong way....just the way that works best for you. :D

I always wash, and yep, I use detergent. I do not, however, use fabric softener as some iron on products don't adhere well to fabrics that have fabric softener on them.

Sometimes...?

I wash if it's a fabric likely to bleed or shrink. Flannel ALWAYS gets washed, sometimes more than once. If I intend to use a white/light fabric with darks, I'll wash it. If I wash one fabric, I wash all fabs for the same quilt. I'm leaning more towards washing than not, lately, but I used to not wash anything.

I will, because of my latest batting fiasco, be pre-shrinking my batting from now on.

I wash with detergent, but not fabric softener or dryer sheets.

The above is very true. The search feature has been incredibly valuable to me. I always search first and if I can't get an answer that way, I ask. I'd say that 9 times of 10, I get the answer (and so much more!) by searching. :)

Hello and welcome to the board! I do always wash my fabrics, the fact that I live in Argentina, you know, the handling on shipping until the fabrics reach my hands....I always wash.
There's no silly questions, I'm an absolute beginner too, and everybody has been there once.
Have fun, this board with its people is WONDERFUL :D

I always wash any fabric that will be washed in regular use such as a quilt. I'd rather not wash fabrics for wall hangings and maybe Christmas tree skirts. Most fabrics, especially cottons, shrink and not all shrink at the same rate. I'd rather be safe than sorry. I don't iron it before I put it away. Who knows how long it's going to be there and I don't want to iron it twice.

Fabric has sizing and it can slightly twisted when put on the bolt. Washing addresses both of these issues.

You will still have to end up deciding for yourself whether or not to prewash your fabrics before cutting.

You won't even get a "majority vote" on this one.

I think everything that is prewashable that goes into an item should be washed before it is cut. (I've measured "before and after" - and I think it's worth the effort.)

There are others that say they see absolutely no reason to bother.

(Of course, there are also people that saw no reason to use a seat belt or use birth control -MOST of the time they were fine - -- )

I only wash flannels and fabric I buy at yard sales and thrift shops. You never know what is in someones home.

I just got into the habit of washing my fabric. I kind of feel like it is "dirty" or soemthing if I don't prewash it. Kind of like new clothes, I would never ever wear anything that wasn't prewashed.

When I get home with new fabric, it gives me a reason to wash clothes because I got something I like to wash, fold and put away! LOL

I have been washing new cotton fabric, but I am starting a new quilt and think I will not wash the fabric for the top. Considering this.

I used to NOT WASH my fabrics but when I saw the thread on this forum for the poor lady that made the beautiful quilt for her Mom and she washed it and the backing fabric bled all over the quilt and she had washed the fabric prior. I am washing all mine and taking care that it will not bleed. I just washed some black fabric I am going to use in a border of my horse quilt. I used color catchers and they were very gray dark looking so I washed the fabric again and got 3 more very gray looking color catchers. So I washed again and 2 more color catchers and put two or three scraps of the white fabric I used in the quilt. All came out well.....no bleeding on the white fabric. So at least I feel like I know what is going to happen when I do wash my quilt. NOTHING, at least no bleeding...lol.

I always preshrink my fabric and set the dye ,use to work for So Fro Fabrics and was told cotton will shrink 1 inch per yard and I think the cotton fabric 20 years ago was probably average grade cotton flannels may shrink a little more not sure .Hope this helps.

I used to always wash when I got it home but now I only was what I buy used. My stack is mixed and soemtimes I use it mixed other times I was it all before I sew it together. Lately I have been going for that crinkled look and feel so not as much washing. I wash more because I am concerned about unwashed fabric bothering my skin since I am very sensative to things.

I wash everything I am going to use in a Linus quilt. When it comes to my personal use it depends on the color and how the quilt will be used. If it is for a wallhanging I don't usually bother. It is a good idea to wash flannel it does usually shrink.

I don't usually wash it first. If I do I use a bit of detergent and wash and dry the way I would the finished quilt. I don't use fabric softener on fabric before I use it. Go ahead and ask any questions you want! That's what we're here for :)

I never wash my fabrics but if I have a very dark one that I suspect might bleed, I will take a corner of that fabric and stick it in a bowl of very hot tap water and so far, even with very dark blues they are all fine.

You say this so well. I agree with you. I use detergent, no fabric softener (in washer or dryer sheets) and iron when I'm ready to use it. Just for the record, it is not only reds and blues that will bleed. I've had yellows, greens, orange, black... You get the picture. Any dye is suspect. Color catchers are not a quilting God and fix every problem. They also aren't reusable.

I pink the edges before washing (I'm pretty sure Bearisgray serges hers) to control fraying. Clipping the corners just doesn't work for me.

If I am going to prewash, I wash the fabric just like I would after it is in the quilt. Soap, warm water and into the dryer it goes.

I do not like to use fabric softener, I do a lot of fusible applique, and sometimes the fusible doesn't stick as well to the fabric. I also like the fabric more stiff, as it cuts better for me :D:D:D

I wash with hot water, a bit of detergent, a color catcher on a light cycle. I'll pop it in the dryer if it's real damp. Otherwise, it dries as I iron it, fold it then store with the rest of the stash.

Anything smaller than a FQ (some shops I get scraps from) I soak in a tub with a bit of soap, rinse and lay on a towel before ironing. Other times, I just sort and throw the scraps in with the rest. Just depends on time and if I'm doing other fabrics then too.

I wash most fabrics, but only use a bit of soap. Its the dryer that does the shrinking.
Batiks have a whole diffenent process before I will cut them.

When I do wash, I wash just like I do any other laundry. Usually I put it in with a load of towels. I dry it just like any other laundry too. Hot wash, hot dry.

Wash & dry it the minute I walk in the door with new fabric.
I use soap and wash & dry it just like you would wash a quilt that gets daily use.

Then I never have to worry about how the recipient might launder it. Also I do many QFK so they have to be washed before they can be distributed. And QFK get heavy laundering in hospital laundry

I use to not wash but recently became a convert, don't know why. I think I like working with washed fabric better. I iron when I'm ready to sew since I use starch and don't want to invite bugs. Since I only recently started washing, I have a huge stash of unwashed, it's really getting hard to keep the two separated. I would not want unwashed and washed in the same quilt. My sewing room looks like a bomb went off. Only fellow quilters would understand.

Me either.

I always pre-wash all my fabrics. Then iron them. Its so
nice having clean, fresh fabric to work with. Betty Lee

I always wash my fabric as soon as I get home from my LQS.
I sew up the ends of the fabric so it doesn't ravel. Wash the fabric through a wash cycle. (Separate colors from the white/light colors.) And use vinegar in the rinse water.
I want to remove any excess dye and chemicals from the fabric.
I dry the fabric in the dryer and iron the fabric before adding to
my stash. This way the fabric is ready for my next project.
By washing my fabric I don't have to worry about formaldhyde outgassing. I store my fabric in metal bins, in the closet of my sewing room, so the fabric can breath and is out of direct sunlight. Welcome to quilting!

I usually just throw it in my laundry basket and then wash it with my lights and/or darks. If it's a red or a blue I go to the sink and test a corner of it to see if it is a "runner".

I learned to always wash them. Although most don't bleed there are those that do, most don't shrink but there are those that do, and batting? Well it IS going to shrink! You can use a color catcher (which is a wise idea), always need a sharp needle and sharp rotary cutters, and don't forget 1/4" seams. Sometimes the shrinkage is in the seams and not in the fabric. Any fabrics bought at second hand shops or at garage sale wash, wash, wash. Hope this helps. Everyone here has great ideas.

I always wash my fabric with soap - need to make sure the chemicals are washed away, as I am allergic to some of them

I always wash my fabric before making a quilt, and I use detergent.

I do perwash...and I put all the fabric together that is going to be in the quilt...I use the color sheets and if it still bleeds......bleed now so it is equal on the fabric. Have not had any problem with this.

I'm getting ready to cut some batiks. I have prewashed all of them. What is the "different process" that you do with them?

I did a test when I first started quilting. Cut some fabric into two squares....same size. Washed and dried one. At the end they where the same size. This was modern fabric. If I am using some of my Mother's fabric from her stash I will wash it. Most of her stuff is vintage.

I have always washed the fabric, even if its for clothing sewing. And always press it so that it keeps the shape. That said my sisters, dont wash?
Who is right I guess we will never know....
but I know mine are washed and will look great when washed again...For Crhistams one year my sister made us all quilts for our beds. I love it and its still on the bed now, but its been washed 4 times now....She told me she doesnt like to see the wrinkles in it after washing? (told her to iron it then, to much work she said) Thats what makes it a quilt i told her......snuggly one to boot....