That's not the size I made it!
06-23-2020, 06:50 AM
#1
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,151
That's not the size I made it!
I just measured my favorite couch quilt.
It is now approximately 61 x 80 inches.
I am fairly sure that my unquilted top was approximately 65 x 85 inches.
So- where did those other inches go?
Some of it was taken up in the quilting - and that was not very dense quilting - some of it is probably additional shrinkage over the years - even though I washed the batting and fabrics before assembling them.
So - if one is using unwashed fabrics, a batting that is expected to shrink (if not washed), and dense quilting - expect that the quilt top one made that is a certain size - will be smaller after it is quilted - and smaller yet after it has been washed.
A lot of times that may or may not matter. But if it does - take into consideration that "shrinkage" happens when the item is quilted - and even washed fabrics seem to shrink a bit more over time.
The blocks in this particular quilt were 10 x 10 when I made the top. They are only 9.5 x 9.5 now. This quilt is probably around 20 years old now, but I was very surprised when I measured the blocks. I even stretched them out!
It is now approximately 61 x 80 inches.
I am fairly sure that my unquilted top was approximately 65 x 85 inches.
So- where did those other inches go?
Some of it was taken up in the quilting - and that was not very dense quilting - some of it is probably additional shrinkage over the years - even though I washed the batting and fabrics before assembling them.
So - if one is using unwashed fabrics, a batting that is expected to shrink (if not washed), and dense quilting - expect that the quilt top one made that is a certain size - will be smaller after it is quilted - and smaller yet after it has been washed.
A lot of times that may or may not matter. But if it does - take into consideration that "shrinkage" happens when the item is quilted - and even washed fabrics seem to shrink a bit more over time.
The blocks in this particular quilt were 10 x 10 when I made the top. They are only 9.5 x 9.5 now. This quilt is probably around 20 years old now, but I was very surprised when I measured the blocks. I even stretched them out!
06-23-2020, 08:55 AM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SW Washington USA
Posts: 4,165
my shrinkage has come in the form of mattresses 
I made double quilts because we had a double mattress, I think we were about the last couple in the country to switch up to queen! So I ripped a sheet into 5 strips and sewed them on the bottom of the double quilts and started making queen sized ones. Enter new mattress this year. We had to sit the box springs on the floor in order to get into bed and the queen quilts are now too short. I've given up on the doubles and run them long ways across the bed and use as duvets.
The one I just finished is 108" long, I'll find out next weekend when I remake the bed if it will need an extender too!
I made double quilts because we had a double mattress, I think we were about the last couple in the country to switch up to queen! So I ripped a sheet into 5 strips and sewed them on the bottom of the double quilts and started making queen sized ones. Enter new mattress this year. We had to sit the box springs on the floor in order to get into bed and the queen quilts are now too short. I've given up on the doubles and run them long ways across the bed and use as duvets. The one I just finished is 108" long, I'll find out next weekend when I remake the bed if it will need an extender too!
06-23-2020, 09:52 AM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,074
Someone posted an interesting article on shrinkage recently. The author made several of the same quilt under different circumstances (washed/unwashed fabric/ shrunk/unshrunk batting, etc.) and posted pictures of the results. I don't remember the title of the thread, unfortunately.
06-24-2020, 06:13 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
Posts: 7,240
I notice a bit of shrinkage in a few quilts for the most part I have always compensated by making my quilts a bit over sized. It is just a habit of mine. I prefer larger than smaller quilts. Over the years on some quilts they settle into being just a bit smaller but for me that's ok.
06-24-2020, 10:05 AM
#7
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 170
Originally Posted by joe'smom
Someone posted an interesting article on shrinkage recently. The author made several of the same quilt under different circumstances (washed/unwashed fabric/ shrunk/unshrunk batting, etc.) and posted pictures of the results. I don't remember the title of the thread, unfortunately.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f0HCDygUeI
06-24-2020, 10:46 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: California
Posts: 1,732
Originally Posted by KalamaQuilts
my shrinkage has come in the form of mattresses I made double quilts because we had a double mattress, I think we were about the last couple in the country to switch up to queen! So I ripped a sheet into 5 strips and sewed them on the bottom of the double quilts and started making queen sized ones. Enter new mattress this year. We had to sit the box springs on the floor in order to get into bed and the queen quilts are now too short. I've given up on the doubles and run them long ways across the bed and use as duvets.
The one I just finished is 108" long, I'll find out next weekend when I remake the bed if it will need an extender too!
I made double quilts because we had a double mattress, I think we were about the last couple in the country to switch up to queen! So I ripped a sheet into 5 strips and sewed them on the bottom of the double quilts and started making queen sized ones. Enter new mattress this year. We had to sit the box springs on the floor in order to get into bed and the queen quilts are now too short. I've given up on the doubles and run them long ways across the bed and use as duvets. The one I just finished is 108" long, I'll find out next weekend when I remake the bed if it will need an extender too!
06-27-2020, 02:41 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 761
Originally Posted by joe'smom
Someone posted an interesting article on shrinkage recently. The author made several of the same quilt under different circumstances (washed/unwashed fabric/ shrunk/unshrunk batting, etc.) and posted pictures of the results. I don't remember the title of the thread, unfortunately.
06-27-2020, 07:00 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Cedar Falls, IA
Posts: 911
I look at what the batting shrinkage is, and I adjust my size appropriately, usually by adding another border or making one a bit bigger. For example, if I want a 100” square and shrinkage is 4%, I plan on a quilt 104” before washing. I also like nice long drops on bed quilts, so that gives me some wiggle room.
