Washing a Quilt Sandwich before Quilting??
 

I basted a quilt sandwich last night, to dry over night. I have always had great results basting with washable glue with cotton batting. But since I am out of cotton, I pieced together some leftover polyester batting. I was pretty sure that glue basting would work equally well, but this morning I noticed that the glue just sank and dried hard into the polyester batting and didn't really adhere to the top or backing. I went a head and just pinned it. I'm wondering if I can wash it to get the glue out before quilting? I was thinking of using a gentle/hand wash cycle. I used Elmer's washable school glue.

I wouldn't wash the sandwich before quilting and binding, my opinion.

listen to us, don't do it.

Thanks! I won't wash it without quilting and binding it.

NZ, can you spot soak out the glue before quilting (I'm guessing you are worried that the needle will drag at the glue clumps?).

I would not do it. I once machine washed a finished hand me down quilt top. It was hours of work pressing just to block it all back to where it could be quilted. Not to mention the strings everywhere that had to be trimmed. Never again for me that is for sure.

I think you should have finished quilting and binding your quilt before putting it in the washer. This way it would all be stabilized and secure.

I prewash my fabrics before making the quilt top. I would not wash it again until after it is quilted and the binding on. I don't want seams to ravel or pull out. After it is quilted, those seams are secure.

another vote for not washing until bound