Washing yardage used as background with jelly roll
 

I found a great little quilt pattern using s jelly rolls and it called for yardage for the background. Since I'm not washing the jelly roll should I not wash the yardage either? I'm thinking once washed after quilted it would look different between the two. Any thoughts on this? Thanks

I don't see a big difference in using washed yardage with unwashed jelly rolls. The jelly roll fabric is so narrow, that the amount of shrinkage isn't great when you look at it as a percentage?

I don't ever wash anything but batiks, cheaper reds and blacks (which shouldn't go in a quilt anyway), and haven't for many years. Modern fabrics don't usually bleed like the old ones. And I never could see the sense in washing OUT the sizing, then having to STARCH it again. And I have been quilting since the early 70's.

If you have already washed the yardage I wouldn't worry about it. If you haven't, I would certainly not go to the trouble of washing it. I am another person who does not pre-wash fabrics except reds and flannels. I might get bit some day, but I am willing to take the risk. Since the precuts can't be washed before piecing, I don't worry about the yardage being pre-washed.

Pam

I wash my pre-cuts (either in a salad spinner or put them in a net laundry bag). But the other ladies don't, so you shouldn't have a problem. The reason I pre-wash is because of what the chemicals do to my fingers if I don't, not because of what the fabric will do.

I have made quilts with both washed an unwashed fabrics, including jelly rolls. I have not had a issue using both fabrics in any quilt.

The answer to this question is always what you think is best for you. As someone who was taught to always wash the fabric I do it because it is ingrained but also because I think about the day that I don't do it and my quilt is destroyed! That being said I never wash my precuts.

Don't bother pre washing. After it's been quilted and when it is washed, the quilting will control the shrinkage......btw-what percentage of shrinkage is there in cotton fabric?

A rep. from a fabric company recently spoke at our local guild meeting. He said that cotton fabric should always be prewashed because it all shrinks a little and each piece you use in a quilt can shrink a different percentage if you wash after putting it together. however, this has never been a problem for me. I do wash batiks, reds, and hot pinks with color catchers, just to make sure the color doesn't run.