to wash or not to wash
09-14-2011, 05:14 PM
#21
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC
Posts: 51,433
Originally Posted by fabric_fancy
if the quilt will be washed during its lifetime then i wash the fabric first.
if its for a swap and the rules are washed, then i wash.
if its an art quilt or a show quilt i do not wash.
if its for a swap and the rules are washed, then i wash.
if its an art quilt or a show quilt i do not wash.
09-14-2011, 05:31 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Junction City, OR
Posts: 481
Tough decision, as a garment seamstress, I always pre-wash. As a quilter, I kinda like how the fabric behaves if it's not pre-washed, and I like the shrinkage too, but I don't like how the chemicals in the fabric make my skin feel.
09-14-2011, 05:45 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 962
I have always prewashed until I started making kaleidoscope quilts. They tell you to not prewash as the fabric sizing keeps the fabric more stable when you are lining up the layers. I also have made a couple of kits which had 2 1/2" strips or FQs which I didn't prewash. I do wash it when it is completed as my furry quilt supervisor does love to lay on everything while I am working on it. (she is just making sure that the "energy" is right!!) I use 100% cotton batting that shrinks about 3% so I always hope that the fabric shrinkage will look OK with the batting. So far, so good!
09-14-2011, 05:59 PM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,570
When I buy yardage, I wash. If it's smaller than a FQ I don't. Usually those pieces are only LQS fabrics for a BOM and I've not had issues. Just wash the whole quilt after so shrinkage rates are the same.
09-14-2011, 06:22 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Washington state
Posts: 474
Originally Posted by Lady Crafter
Originally Posted by Morningcoffeegal
I wash my fabric before making a quilt for 3 reasons:
1. remove any sizing or treatment that the fabric may have
2. to make sure its colorfast( if it runs or bleeds or fades I want to know beforehand)
3. shrinkage
1. remove any sizing or treatment that the fabric may have
2. to make sure its colorfast( if it runs or bleeds or fades I want to know beforehand)
3. shrinkage
09-14-2011, 06:29 PM
#30
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Pacific NW, Washington State
Posts: 237
I don't prewash fabric unless it looks like it might bleed. Then I take a small piece of the fabric and test it for color-fastness to determine if a wash is necessary. It gives me peace of mind.
I recently bought a large amount of fabric at an estate sale; this woman did prewash all her fabrics. Get this: she zigzagged around every single cut of fabric (mostly fat quarters) before washing. I know it prevents tangled threads, but what a lot of extra work!!!
I recently bought a large amount of fabric at an estate sale; this woman did prewash all her fabrics. Get this: she zigzagged around every single cut of fabric (mostly fat quarters) before washing. I know it prevents tangled threads, but what a lot of extra work!!!
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