Would you prewash 1/4 yard cuts?
 

I bought this Bear Paw quilt kit. http://www.craftsy.com/supplies/bear-paw-quilt-kit/4793

All the colors are in 1/4 yard cuts. I am afraid to start because with the white background and many bright colors I am afraid of bleeding even with color catchers, cold washes, etc.

What would you do?

I would not. since it is from a kit if you do get any shrinkage you may be short.

If I did,it would only be by hand, swishing around in a sink of hot water then gently hang to dry on a hangar. It is a small cut and if you have fraying or lots of shrinkage you run the risk of being short.

I would, by hand in the sink, spin in salad spinner & hang or lay flat to dry.

Yep. I wash everything but charms and jelly rolls.

nope, no way, no how, would I wash the kit until it was pieced and quilted. Then I would wash with synthrapol or color catchers.

Yes, I would. With minimal agitation.

I wash all of my fabric but with that small of a cut I would just wash it gently in a sink of warm soapy water and rinse good and hang to dry. good luck.

Yes, I would definitely wash it by hand.

I never pre-wash and I buy pre-cuts all the time (knock on wood) I have never had a problem yet - although I confess I've been nervous because I tend to use white as my background fabric - if you are nervous I would just put them in the sink and handwash them then let them dry - that way the shrinkage should be minimal.

I agree with Debra K.

Definitely not. What are you going to do if some of the fabrics shrink just enough that you can't get all the cuts you need out of them? Shrinkage is not an issue after the layers are quilted, especially if the quilting lines are not far apart, as the batting controls how much the fabrics can shrink.

If you are wondering about having a bleeder in the bunch, after cutting out your pieces place a scrap of each in a clear plastic tumbler of water and leave overnight. If it is a bleeder, you will see some dye leaking into the water. Take the damp fabric and rub it against any white or light fabric scraps in the kit to see if dye transfers that way. Chances are nothing will be a big problem and you can relax a little about dye bleeds.

If the tests show no problems, you are safe to do the first wash of the finished quilt in cold water with color catchers; just make sure you use a washing machine that uses *lots* of water so any small dye bleeds are sufficiently diluted. Also do not let the quilt sit damp after washing; transfer immediately to a dryer or lay out flat to dry.

If the tests show problems or if you have any lingering fear about bleeds, then use the same process as above for the first wash except use Synthrapol and hot water (Synthapol requires hot water to activate).

That's exactly what I do with FQ's and 1/4 yd cuts.

I agree with this. If you are worried you can wash with syntrapol at the end

Okay, I will weigh in on this one. I have several mesh underwear bags in several different sizes for the pre-cuts' washing. I wash all my fabrics before I use them in quilts. When I started, I washed in warm water and those little charms shrank 1/2 inch on one side but not the other so then I started washing in cold water. With the latest invention of good quality cold water detergent, I can now wash them and they shrink ever so slightly if at all. So they get put in the mesh bags to wash and I lay them out flat on the top of the washing machine when they come out of a 5 minute trip through the dryer. When dry, I iron and starch everything after it is washed so they are given hot heat after washing. So, when I give a quilt, I let them know that that the quilt should be washed in warm/cold water. If they need to wash the baby quilt in hot water, who cares, the baby doesn't mind if it shrinks a tad and after all, they drag them around and they get worn anyway. My two cents.

If they needed to be I would ( gently) if they felt funky, smelled funky or if they were ( bleeders) . check to see if the color bleeds, if so, prewash, if not I wouldn't worry about it.

the only fat quarters, or fabric I get from a kit that I prewash are the red ones, and I do those in a sink.

I don't mind washing full 1/4 or 1/2 yard cuts - it's the fat quarters and other precuts that I don't wash. I normally do wash all my fabrics. In fact am working with a bazillion 1/4 yard cuts of batiks now which were all washed. However, coming from a kit - I honestly don't know what I would do. There is such a risk of running out of fabrics. When washing the fabrics after getting them on grain they are frequently quite skewed and you lose quite a bit when straightening the edge. You could always just cut one layer and start your straight edge on the short end of the piece as an alternative.

I washed fat quarters of flannels after I sewed the raw edges together. Then you have to pick that out after it is dried. I wash all my flannels so I felt I had to wash these quarters, too. Not happy but I did it.

I don't wash mine, but I do spray starch and press before cutting. I feel like that shrinks It a little. I wash all my quilts with Color Catchers after they are quilted and binding sewn on. Haven't had one fade yet.

I wash everything except jelly rolls and charm packs, too. I have also bought several kits from Craftsy. Craftsy has exceptional customer service and, thus, is really good about replacing any cuts that are too short. I have washed every fabric that I have gotten in their kits and have never had to ask for a replacement. There won't be a lot of excess though, so plan your cuts. On the other hand, I know others that have received fabric that was cut too small. Those quilters have never had an issue with Craftsy sending out more fabric. Therefore, I would wash them in cold water and dry them on low. Then if there is an issue once you start cutting, contact Craftsy.

In a kit I don't pre wash however do wash fat quarters by soaking in a sink basin

This is what I do too. I do a lot of kits and never had a problem with colors running. If I have deep colors I will sometime use both Synthrapol and Color Catchers together.

[QUOTE=PaperPrincess;7069958]I would, by hand in the sink, spin in salad spinner & hang or lay flat to dry.[/QUOTE

Salad Spinner - well, I would have never thought of that but what a wonderful idea!!!

I would test them for colorfastness. I use a white muslin or wash cloth...dampen in warm water and rub across the fabric...if it's going to bleed...color will show on the white cloth.

Take the ones that bleed (I'm betting it won't be many) and soak those in warm water with dawn dish soap... then rinse using a color catcher in the water.

Yes. I use a mesh bag for my smaller cuts and wash on light. Never had a problem.

I wash all my fabric.

Hand wash in the sink with hot water! I've done that and had to rinse 19 times before the water ran clear! Better safe then sorry!!

I would....used to do it often with batiks that I knew would bleed. I did them in a bathroom basin and used Retayne to set the color. then I would rinse well, and either put in a salad spinner or gently squeeze and hang over my shower rod with a towel underneath.....I was usually saw evidence of the bleed in the first water. Especially anything with red or blue.

I would wash by hand, gently washing in the sink, then ironing dry; or put them in a pillowcase and wash in your washing machine. I like to prewash all my fabrics, however, I do not wash anything smaller than 1/4 yd. cuts.

Yes, I would wash by hand to check for any bleeders. Then would throw them in the dryer and spin to just damp dry, then iron with sizing.

I pre wash everything.

I'd swish them in sink of warm water to which I'd add a cup of vinegar, 1/4 cup salt and 1/4 laundry detergent. Supposedly it's the vinegar that stops the bleeding. I have found it 70% successful on all fabrics except really dark ones. Those need a few times through this sink solution. Hang dry lest you lose anything from raveling.

If you want to wash them to remove the chemicals and get out the excess dye then go ahead. If the fabrics shrink to the point there is not enough of a fabric then consider what that would have done after your quilt is made. I have to wash all my new fabrics and if I had one shrink to that extent I would rather know it before the quilt is sewn than after.

I buy 1/4 yard pieces from time to time and have no problems washing them. You can put them in a mesh bag or pillow case, I just throw them in the washer. I have put a jelly roll in the mesh bags because it makes it easier get them out without stretching. I do have a salad spinner for those charm packs. For drying the 1/4 pieces or larger go in the dryer, the smaller or thinner cuts I partially dry in a mesh bag and then line dry the rest of the way (or iron them dry if I want them sooner).

I zig zag or serge all of the raw edges, so that the fabric doesn't ravel and cause a mess in the washer. I would at least 3-4 Color Catchers.

I agree - i wash by hand in very hot water when i have doubts....then damp dry in the dryer and iron out the wrinkles.


Please thank your daughter for her service for me "FarmQuilter"

I am with the do not wash camp. I don't wash fabric in kits because it is usually really nice feeling, nice looking. I would just use color catchers when completed, as I usually do. I'm wondering what you plan to do with the quilt though. If you are keeping it, will you ever wash it in hot water in a washing machine? I know I wouldn't.

By the way, I meant to add that will be a beautiful quilt! Enjoy!

I would wash with a white piece of cotton, multiple times if the white cotton gets colored. As people have said, I would contact Craftsy if the shrinkage affects the amount of fabric available for the quilt. I've been there. It's heartbreaking when the quilt runs. You can get the stain out but it's hard. Better to not risk it. Washing it is reasonable.

I would, by hand in the sink, spin in salad spinner & hang or lay flat to dry. I would also prewash the white.