Why wash finished quilt right away?
 

I have only been quilting for four years and have been reading about others washing finished quilts when completed. What is the benefit of this?

If you have used a glue stick or starch or spray adhesive that needs to be washed out.

And why pass a soiled (in some manner) gifted quilt? Also depending on the type starch you use (possibly home recipe) could attract some unwanted critters with hairy little legs!

Also if it is a donation quilt (esp kids) I like to wash away all the chemicals.

Another is to check for the bleeding fabrics. I had a black, white and red quilt (pre-washed fabric), then washed when completed. The red bled, washed and washed and thought I got it under control. Gave it to granddaughter ... that red bled AGAIN. grrrr

To get that crinkly look - and if gifting, to get that crinkly look now, rather than the first time the recipient washes it (and freaks out because they don't know that it's normal).

All the above and most of mine are donated. I have cats and so I want to make sure I get any allergins out of the quilt before gifting it to someone.

I want the gift to be fresh, clean, laundered if it is a bed or lap quilt. Wall hangings no. Have never gifted tablerunners or place-mats but same applies.
Plus all of the above posts!

i want to make sure that none of my seams come undone

I never did this because most of the quilts I made were for competition. I wanted that sharp fressly pressed look.

I even wash competition quilts. Mostly to block them so they hang nice and square but this can be accomplished by not washing and just saturating them with a spray bottle. I find it easier to just toss it in the washer on a gentle cycle. I have 4 cats and 2 big hairy dogs, none are allowed in either my sewing room or my longarm room but I hand sew my bindings and that is always done downstairs while watching TV with DH and all my critters are present. So I wash to remove all pet hair and any allergens. If I hand quilt the quilt, well that has been handled so much it needs a good washing by the time it is done. I wash for all the reasons cited above, to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises like a popped seam or a bleeder (even though I prewash my fabrics first as well), I wash to remove starch or glue if I used it and to remove any dirt that may have gotten on the quilt. Finally I wash to make sure none of my quilting has come out. Even though I make every effort to secure seams well.

To make sure everything is OK.... It is very stressful for a recipient to be the first one to wash their quilt and have something happen, a loose seam, are bleeding color, distortion, any number of things. I want to find and fix anything that may need it before letting a quilt out my door. I never want to cause someone that kind of distress

I wash to get any dirt etc. off the quilt. Also I have a cat. I wash all fabric before I start a quilt so no surprises with bleeding. If I enter in the fair I will not wash first. I gift most of my quilts and as said before want the crinkle to happen before the recipient gets it.

I wash mine to make sure my giftee does! You'd be surprised how many times giftees have told me they've never washed their quilts because they were afraid of ruining it. I had one friend who hadn't washed hers in almost 5 years! Now I wash them before I give them, and tell them "It's already been washed once. The more you wash it, the softer it will get" so they're not afraid to wash it. That, along with making sure my colors don't run, lol.

Same reasons everyone else has mentioned. Additionally, I am a hand quilter so usually mark my quilting lines in some fashion. I want to wash out the marking lines as well as all the dog hair; oils from my hands (although this time of year I don't think THAT seems to be an issue!) and just plain old dust from being worked on for the length of time it generally takes me to quilt.

I suppose if you are not planning to use or gift a quilt right after finishing it there is no real urgency to wash it. However I do use spray adhesive to sandwich and spray starch on the fabric, so I think the sooner you get those items off the quilt the less chance there would be for discoloration or staining from them. And all the previous reasons are good one too!

I wash mine as the batting is a natural one(on holiday and can't remember the make, but it suggests washing to remove any natural oils in the batting.

I wash to make certain, the quilt doesn't have problems. One time, I made one and it wrinkled bad. I have no idea if it was the thread, fabric or batting. Guess what, the recipient loved it. She got to choose one of my quilts and that's the one she liked the best. But I know if I had given that quilt to someone with a different eye, they would have thought that they ruined it.

I compiled all these reasons into one list for quick reference.

To remove:
glue stick
starch
spray adhesive
fabric sizing and chemicals
Pet hair/allergens
dirt from hands
dust from moving quilt around while quilting
marking lines

To check for:
bleeding fabrics
seams that may have come undone

And:
to get that crinkly look
to make sure my giftee knows it can be done!:)

Jan in VA

I can't wait to throw a quilt I just finished into the wash - comes out all soft and crinkly - then it's finished!

I also like to lay them flat to dry so that they can dry "blocked". It makes mine look better.

I use Elmers glue to baste and I want to be sure that all the glue is gone and also to check for any areas that need attention before I gift. Also I do a lot for project Linus so I wash to make sure no glue or chemicals before I donate.

All of the above and....have you ever used white gloves while quilting? They are filthy when you finish. I was shocked the first time I used them. Couldn't believe how dirty the fabric was. I have also used unwashed fabric to polish my machine table when the fabric is not sliding easily.

I think I also read here that bugs can be attracted to the starch you use when making the quilt: but mostly I wash it to make sure I fix anything that can go wrong (loose thread, torn seam, bleeding colors).

Everything Jan listed, PLUS something selfish - I really love snuggling up to a freshly laundered, warm quilt. After inspection I have to hug and cuddle each quilt as it comes out of the dryer before I fold it up and send it along its merry way, possibly to never see it again. After all, we'd spent so much quality time together, I can't miss saying a fond farewell! It's kind of a ritual, I think I'd feel cheated if I skipped that step.

I don't always bother to immediately wash a quilt I've made for myself, though. I have lots of furry pets that enjoy my quilts too - it'll get washed soon enough, LOL.

Newer quilters may not realize when most quilts were finished with hand quilting sometimes it too 2-3 years to finish them. I can't really see the point myself if you start and finish your quilt in a week :) Except when it is a gift, it is important to know it will survive washing.

I always joke the unwashed finished quilt probably has a gallon of spit on it from licking my fingers to match up pieces. Ewww. I can hardly wait to wash mine.

To get rid of chalk lines, and cat hair. lol

All the above--and the crinkly look helps hide the less than perfect (i.e., "creative") parts of my FMQ.

Hallie in NM

This is the main reason I also wash my quilts before gifting. Also, all the other reasons listed, but this one especially.

Im mission quilter. That is I only make a quilt when I'm on a mission. Lol. The last few were gifts completed only hours before gifting. So washing immediately after finishing was also just before gifting. Otherwise I'd wash anyway so it would be done and not hanging over my head. I'm a big gluer too.

I have washed a quilt and had a seam come apart on me (only a couple of times over the years, but it does happen). Would rather have it happen at my house, than someone elses. Also I have worked on some quilts for months (things like life come up, you just never know), they will pick up dust or someone came into my studio and touched my quilt. Then I will find some kind of print or mark that needs to be removed. I feel better knowing I am giving something that is clean (I even wash things I'm giving to GoodWill).

love it! I do the same thing!

YES! When I gift a quilt, I want it to be used! If I let them know it's already been washed, they are more likely to get it dirty.

I would just like to add that I also wash mine when finished because I want to know if I have done something wrong, such as I have found binding errors (binding did not catch all layers) that I had to redo, or seams that might not have been real secure. I want to find any problems first.

Never thought about that one but yep!!

If for no other reason, I don't consider a quilt finished until it is washed and dried. It will be ready to give away at any time. I won't have to scurry around to wash and dry when time to go. All my others are clean and I put them in no scent white trash bags.

Not only dirt from your hands but oils from your hands that will attract dirt. For me a quilt isn't finished until I wash it.

By the time I finished, my quilt has been dragged on the floor several times. Plus I like to take pictures of it the way it looks after it's washed.

I make a lot of charity quilts for a children's home. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. I wash the quilts them dry in the dryer and they go straight from the dryer into a plastic bag, Never to come out again in my home. Some child might be allergic to cats and or dogs.