Washing Moda Fabric
 

I am getting ready to start a twin sized quilt using various patterns of the Northwoods Botanical Moda Fabric Line. Do I need to wash this fabric before starting. Some of the yardages are rather large and I am not sure how to wash a piece of fabric that is 8 yds long without it balling up in the washer and the dryer. I was thinking that since it is from the Moda fabric line perhaps there would be very little, if any, shrinkage and no bleeding. Am I correct on my thinking or should I just try to wash it anyway. As a general rule, I wash every piece of fabric that comes into my house before using.

I never prewash anything, so I wouldn't prewash this either. However, I like the crinkly shrunken look in my quilts, and use color catchers when I wash (in cold) the final quilt.

Moda shrinks just like any other cotton- it is not preshrunk.

When I was yardage for garment sewing, I serge the edges to prevent fraying, and use dryer balls to help prevent it from balling up, but it usually will twist quite a bit and need a good pressing.

I wash everything, including large yardage. Moda is usually very good fabric, but I have also found some that was very disappointing. (It was provided to me for a charity quilt; if I had found it in a store I would have bypassed it because it felt so flimsy.) I haven't really had a problem with the fabric bunching up in the washer or dryer. I press most pieces, but if it's a huge piece that will be a quilt back I don't press it. I learned a trick of loading the piece on the longarm. misting slightly with a spray bottle, and any wrinkles just vanish. (Don't I wish that work on my body? I'd be draped over that longarm in a minute.)

There is no guarantee that Moda or any other brand will not shrink or bleed. I would pre-wash, but you can always do a test on the fabric before starting the project, so that you know what will be to come.

Put me down for prewashing. Too much work goes into a quilt to have bleeding or shrinking problems. I'm definitely dusting off the serger and doing the edges before washing next time. As for having to re-press the fabric...I put a sheet down on the carpet (to keep starch off); turn on the tv to something fun and press away; always keeping an eye out to be sure our Havanese dog is sleeping in the recliner not on the fabric I just pressed. They don't shed so I don't have to worry about dog hair, just don't want to press a second time. Oh yes, I usually put the square ends os 2 ironing boards together for pressing yard goods. DH is working on an idea for a rectangular fold down ironing surface high enough and large enough for this purpose.

I am a devoted Moda user. I pre wash everything! I have had to wash several continous yards of fabric and I surge or zig zag the edges. I also wash the large yardage by itself so it doesn't get wrapped around other pieces of yardage in the washer. When I take it out of the washer, I untangle it and put it in the dryer. While it is in the dryer, I will stop the cycle a few times and make sure the fabric isn't twisted up. I will straighten it out if it is and continue to dry it. I remove it from the dryer before it is completely dry. It usually does require a good pressing but I kind of enjoy ironing yardage of fabric (strange, I know!) It seems like a lot of work but if you need to keep the fabric in the continous yardage, there isn't much choice unless you choose to not prewash.

I like to just soak it then spin it out and dry. It doesn't get as tangled.

I had a piece of a red Moda purchased from a LQS about two years ago - it turned the water red and the formerly white selvages of the piece pink.

It was a nice weight. I don't remember about the shrinkage - it probably shrank some.

I have had issues with Moda fabrics that have red or shades of red in it bleeding/running. So if it was me I would prewash, or at mimium test any suspect fabrics. I look at it as I invested a good amount of $$ for fabric ... why would I not take that final step to prevent a potential heartbreak?!

There is no brand of cotton fabric that carries a guarantee of no shrinkage/no bleeding. I have learned my lesson the hard way and prewash everything going into a quilted item that will be washed. I also wash afterwards to get rid of any dust, dirt, oils from my hands that it might have accumulated during construction. Using a cotton batting will still get you the crinkled finish that some desire.

How are you going to use those 8 yards? For backing? If so, you could cut that piece in
2 x 4 yds. Much easier to handle.

Now why didn't I think of that. Yes, it will be used for backing and since the length of the quilt will be about 90" cutting it in half would be better. Unfortuantely, I DH already got ahold of it and put it in the washer. I told him when he puts it in the dryer to let it tumble for about 5 minutes, then take it out and get all of the twists out and put it back in for about 5 minutes, etc until it is almost dry. Then I will press it.

If the piece was going to be used for backing - I would wait and measure the top before arbitrarily cutting the piece in half.

Then I would decide how - or if - to cut it.

It's a good idea to allow as much sloshing room as possible in the washer - and room for the fabric to tumble freely in the dryer.

Some fabrics will abrade (color will rub/wear off like on a hem or fold line) when crammed too tightly into either a washer or dryer.

I like to hang the material, especially long lengths, and spray them with starch while they are drying - makes for much easier ironing when they are dry. I always wash my quilt fabric since I don't like the chemicals they have been sprayed with in the warehouses.

you may want to at least do a color test if the fabrics are dark- to make sure you don't have a bleeder- if you do- pre-wash-
i'm one who normally washes all yardage that comes through the door- the washer/dryer is right near the door we come in- so yardage tends to stop right there- the only time i don't pre-wash is if its' pre-cuts-...but i still color test even those before using- if i have a bleeder i either wash/treat it or i replace it- but if you don't want to you should at least test it to avoid disappointment later.

I always prewash.

. Me, too!

Given that we all have different water minerals and acidity, and use different detergents there's no way to guarantee any manufacturer's fabric won't bleed. I prewash everything to remove formaldehyde, bug and mouse ick, etc. Warehouses have many "visitors" and there's no way to guarantee fabric is clean. For long pieces I go to the laundromat and use a front loading washer. No center agitator to wad up and abrade fabric.