washing out starch
 

I've completed a quilt top. I had starched the fabric heavily-do I wash it out it out now while it's just a pieced top, or after it is quilted and bound? Thank you!

Wash it after it's quilted and bound. Washing an unquilted top is not recommended.

I also starch as I piece - often heavily. I don't wash until the quilt is complete. You would get a lot of fraying if you just washed the top, in my opinion (although, more experienced quilters may have a better opinion about this).

ditto.............................

You want it heavily starched for machine FMQ. I don't know about hand quilting.

Never launder a pieced top before quilting and binding. The frayed seams, mess would be heart breaking.

I had to wash an unquilted top once because one of my cats anointed it.

Even with washing by hand - and drying the top on a a drying rack - there was a lot of fraying.
Repressing it was a challenge.

I would go to great lengths to avoid washing an unquilted top.

I would never wash a quilt top that wasn't quilted and bound. Wrinkles, raveling and not distorting would be the reasons. I use starch all the time and I always wash my quilts after they are complete to wash out glue, starch and any other soil that has accumulated during the process.