I just read all the logs on washing FQ before using them. I guess I better start washing fabric before cutting it. But do you wash the completed quilt once it is finished? How do you do that if you do? How do you dry the quilt if washed? I just finished 2 quilts. Thanks you your input.

When I wash quilts, the ones I use, I do it in the washing machine on gentle cycle. I then lay it on the back porch, over a king size sheet, and strech it out to square, cover with another sheet, put bricks on the edges of the sheet to secure it and let it dry flat. all of this is in the shade. Hope this helps, but then I am nuts, or so it seems....

My quilts are purely for cuddling under (no bed quilts yet), so I just wash and dry as I would my sheets, washer, then dryer. Works great for me! Oh and I rarely wash my fabric before cutting and I haven't had any problems yet, but pre-washing is a highly personal preference.

Rachel

I don't prewash fabric (except for flannel, which I prewash and dry twice before using). If I suspect a fabric might bleed, I test it with some water before using. In my experience, normal amounts of quilting stabilize fabrics enough so that they won't shrink disproportionately.

I always wash a quilt for the first time in Synthrapol. Synthrapol suspends any unset dye particles in the water so it is rinsed away instead of settling into other fabrics. My quilts are made to be used, so I machine wash and dry as I do other things.

Synthrapol is inexpensive and widely available in quilt shops or online. Amazon has it now.

I don't prewash my fabrics. I do wash all my quilts before they go out the door. I just throw them in my Front loader washer with just a little regular detergent and a Shout Color Catcher cloth or 3 and run on a "Casual" setting with a med spin speed then just throw in the dryer on the Casual setting with a warm, not hot temp

I never really wash my quilts.

I do put detergent in the washer, let it fill and then push the quilt down into the water and let it soak. If it won't stay under water I put a towel on top to keep all the quilt submerged.

I might walk by the washer once or twice and push it around a little to make sure it gets equal chance at the detergent and water.

Then I spin the water out and refill and push the fabric down in the water again.

Then I spin the water out and refill all over again (send rinse).

Then I put it in the dryer on low low heat for a few minutes - maybe 5 or 6 minutes.

Finally I spread it out on the cleanest and least used piece of rug in the house on top of a large white sheet.
It dries very quickly and doesn't do anything to the rug.

Several of my quilts are 20 plus years old and they look wonderful.

Jois

wow, love reading everyones comments, thanks

Ditto! Mine are for cuddling under too. I always on wash/dry the finished quilt, especially if I used washable glue when assembling the binding. But I prewash most of my fabric before I use it, unless it's a precut. I use a color catcher sheet on both the fabrics and finished quilt.

I do gentle wash cycle with synthropol for color fastness and then tumble dry for short time and lay flat

I figure my quilts are going to be machine washed and dried by whomever I give them to, so that is what I do. I want to do it first to make sure there are no problems...

Ditter