auniqueview

When you dye eggs for Easter, you put vinegar in the water to set the color. Makes sense that it would set fabric dye. Our gg and gmothers knew what they were doing, lol.

I wash in cold, use hot dryer, just like I would for any other laundry.

mommatomboy

I pre-wash all my Fabric in cold water with a cup of vinegar if they are red mixes. Also starch all my fabric, makes it easier to cut and sew. Yes you can buy color catcher at Wal-mart. Happy Quilting

Rann

Bring your daughter in one the big secret and let her help. That'll make her feel really special.

Sierra

Wow! So many suggestions! So many steps many of you do that I don't!!! It seems so easy to me the way I do it.

1a) If small, or look likely to run, I put them in a bin in the laundry (or kitchen) sink and soak in HOT water (I don't know at what temperature the quilt owner will use);

1b) If large I put it in my wonderful new machine on "handwash" using hot water (my old machine had a off/on cycle for delicates);

2) if one runs I use salt in cold water to stabilize it;

3) I put it in the dryer and set the control to just below the "normal" setting so it won't overdry;

4) When I take it from the dryer (right away when the dryer buzzes or my alarm goes off) I hang it over the top of my drying rack to finish drying or the back of the couch on an old blanket if it is really a large piece (because if you leave it in the dryer too long it isn't soft and is rudely wrinkled!); if it is several yards of fabric my husband always sweetly helps me so I can fold it before leaving it to dry more;

5) I DON'T worry about unraveling on the edges -- never had a problem with this and wonder if fabrics are made better than they used to be, or is it that I use 100% cottons only? I NEVER iron beyond smoothing with my hands, with the exception of the ocassional wrinkle (and I can't remember the last time that came up). I DON'T use starch because some fusibles say not to and I do some applique frequently (see my avatar).

6) If we are making the quilts for someone else we can't know how it will be washed and dryed so I try to cover all the basis. One daughter washed her kids quilts every two weeks in hottest water on regular cycle because of family allergies! After she brought one back to me after about 5 years (my first quilt ever) and asked me to mend it she washed them on "gentle" from then on, at my suggestion. LOL

But my time if valuable and I'm not going to do more than I feel I must!

Quilterfay

www.harmonyhanddyes.com is a really good site for info on coloring fabric.

Quilterfay

EagarBeez

I had not prewashed before. Hearing about reds and blacks possibly bleeding. I started to. I am making a quilt for my sister in red,black and white. I took the red and black basted the ends to help lessen loose ends. Put them in a laundry bag with some shout color blockers. Used cool water and gentle cycle. Hung on line

vivoaks

I always do mine in the washer, unless it's just a few fat quarters. I always use a Shout Color Catcher - just wash as I would anything else, then throw it in the dryer for a bit, to start getting the moisture out, then iron it before it's completely dry. Easy-peasy!! ;-)

katieranch

I have a rinse and spin cycle that I use, no detergent, warm water and vinegar if colors are dark. Hot dryer, starch and iron.

munfordf

I am in the middle of doing this! My friend asked me to make a sunbonnet sue with white background squares....red dress and black hat and shoes.....Red flannel for the back. I washed the red flannel (7 yards) in cold water and used 3 color catchers....the 3 color catchers were bright pink almost red....so I washed again with 3 more color catchers...this time a lighter shade of pink.....I then dried the fabric. The red cotton fabric (4 yards) for the dresses...did the same.....I am very concerned about this fabric as I just know it will ruin the white back ground the first time it is washed as a quilt. The fabric is moda....I haven't cut the fabric as I am worried...I have a call into the quilt store where she bought the fabric...haven't heard back from them. both selvedge edges which are white are now a light shade of pink.

MargeD

I've always just thrown my fabric in with a load of wash, if it doesn't make up a full load, in like colors. I always wash in cold water, but don't add fabric softener. You can use Orvus instead of detergent, which is what most LQSs recommend for laundering your quilts. Then I just toss in the dryer, and if I can catch it in time, take the fabric out while still damp and it will be easier to iron. Also, cut the corner off each piece of fabric - it cuts down on the fraying.