azdesertrat

I have a friend who has some blocks that were from her husbands great great grandmother,they have had them for a awhile.She wants to give them to me to make a quilt out of,she wanted to wash the blocks first,on a gentle cycle of course,
what do you all think Yes or no?
I suggested waiting till it was a quilt
your thoughts please

DawnMarie

If she wants to wash them, I would do it by hand and lay flat to dry. Too much agitation will fray the seam allowances. Otherwise, just wait until it's quilted.

CoventryUK

I don.t think I would risk washing them!

trif

Since the fabric has already been cut, I would suggest waiting to wash til top is complete and use a color catcher. Have fun making it.

Sadiemae

Personally, I would wait until the quilt is finished. If she wants to wash them though, I would put them in a lingerie bag to wash on gentle.

Ramona Byrd

You're making them for her or you? If you get to keep it, then gently swishing it through warm water and just a little Orvis, which is what I use a lot of, and then shake it and put it in warm clear water, then lay flat to dry. Starch and iron.

Sounds like some of the other quilts that have been discussed and shown here on this forum, you might want to look back at some of them. The old fabrics have a wide range of where they've been stored, from closets to attics to boxes in barns and garages to some in dog houses and under cars to catch oil drips. Some will last many years more, some will grow older fast. Some should have muslin backing on each block and some will be okay on their own.

If you can contact a museum that handles old quilts or clothing, that might be a good way to find out. Some of the Grands you mention puts that fabric into a real old age.

MadQuilter

Washing the blocks will cause trouble. It is so much easier to wash the quilt after it is finished and NOTHING can ravel, distort, or get otherwise messed up.

Debo

I wouldn't wash until after the quilt is finished.

gollytwo

Like you, I'm with waiting til the top is done

momymom

Wait till you have the quilt finished to wash it. Then wash it by hand in the bathtub. Do a search on this site for washing antique quilts to find out how. good luck.