I have a quilt top done. did not prewash the 75 pre-cut strips. Is it okay to wash the quilt top (no batting or backing yet) before I sandwich and quilt it or will washing it alone distort it?

I don't prewash my fabrics either. I would not wash your top before quilting - you could have lots of problems with frayed edges. I always wait until it is quilted and bound then wash in cold on gentle cycle. Good luck with your quilt!

That's probably a good idea, to wait until it is quilted and bound. Then you can wash the backing at the same time.

I agree...wait 'til it's done...too much scope for disaster if you do it now.

I also agree!

finish the quilt totally and then wash ... everything will shrink together hopefully at the same percentage...

wait until it is quilted and bound then wash your finished quilt! if you do it as just a top everyone of those piecing seams you so painstakingly worked on are going to fray and be a horrible mess!

Definately wait until the top is completely finished. I learned the hard way :-(

It can be done. I had a completed top that a cat puked on before it was sandwiched and quilted. I went ahead and washed it at that stage and nothing bad happened. Unfortunately the puke stain did not come out :thumbdown:

I had no problems with it unravelling or anything. I tumble dried it until it was just slightly damp and then ironed it. Sat as a UFO for years. It is currently on my new longarm. First quilt on the longarm. Good candidate because at this stage of the game I don't care if I ruin it. Maybe once it is all quilted I will try and get that stain out again but if it doesn't come out it will be a good utility quilt. Stains don't keep it from being warm. ;-)

You got LUCKY!! I had a customer bring three tops that she pieced then washed. One wasn't too bad, but the others were a mess!! I spent a lot of time clipping threads just to get them to lay flat (and yes, she paid for that!).

Unless something really nasty happens (cat puke counts!), just quilt, then wash.