I did the same to a top that rested in my MIL's cedar chest for a gazillion years. Let's just say that I would not have worked on it the way it was. I was super careful soaking it in the tub with oxyclean. I rinsed it carefully never agitating, and in the end, mine looks every bit as bad as yours. I don't even want to think about pressing all those seams. SIGH!

Yikes!!!! Never occurred to me to wash the top before quilting it! So glad you've shared your wisdom!

You can see I trimmed most of the strings off. I have now got it on the quilting frame and have started the quilting process. It isn't going to be a masterpiece as far as the quilting goes, but it will hold the layers together so someone will have an utility quilt for a while, and have something form Mom, grandmother, great-grandmother according who wins the quilt in the drawing I will have.

I have put a top in a pillow case before washing it and it seems to keep the fraying down.

When I buy over 1 yard of fabric, I wash it in the machine and depending on the season I either hang it outside or run it through the dryer. When it goes through the dryer there are some frays. I get out my handy dandy iron and scissors and I clip off the loose "hairs" when I am ironing, fold it such that loose ends are folded to be covered. When I am going to use the fabric, I iron the creases out again and away I go. Small pieces like fat quarters, no, I do not wash them. I have never had anything fray on me after it was sewed together. I have (excuse me and I am not sorry to say, never come across a smelly piece of fabric. Some were my mom's, some I bought by the bag at our local craft store and I don't know where they have been, but I cut and sew them anyhow and when it is done and ready I wash it. I use my color catcher and I use a Mrs. Meyer's Lavender fabric sheets (they are expensive so I only use them on new quilts) and I have never had a problem.
To Barb - I would never wash a quilt top if it wasn't complete with batting, backing, binding, tying down or machine quilted. That's why all the fraying on the top part of the quilt.

I guess it is a matter of how we are all taught, by classes, by grandmas, by mothers. It is an individual thing I guess. But I can surely see the fraying with 1/4" of hem. I wouldn't take a chance with that kind of a treasure. I'd rather do the whole thing and get it completed and then wash it. If it doesn't work out, it can be used for one thing or another.

But I am glad you kept it. A mother's work is priceless. Edie

Oh gosh! Thank you for sharing with us.

thanks for showing your experience

I tell my customers to let me quilt the quilt before they wash them. Some can smell a bit...but the fabric on really old quilts is very delicate.

Oh my, a good lesson not to wash a quilt to before quilting. What a lot of extra work for you. Some of those older fabrics really did tend to ravel a lot, as your picture shows.

I'm so glad that you posted a picture we can all learn from this I know I am the world worst about trying to figure out if I should wash or not wash the fabric and here is a perfect example.