CraftyRN

I always used to pre-wash my fabric, back when I was quilting a decade ago. Now that I've taken it up again, I've discovered all these wonderful layer cakes, jelly rolls, etc. Instructions always say not to pre-wash these, and I can totally see why. My question is what to do when you have a mixture -- some pre-cuts and some yardage -- in the same quilt. I'm tempted not to wash any of it rather than have some washed and some not. Then I'm thinking I'll just use Shout sheets when washing the finished quilt and keep my fingers crossed about shrinkage. At least that way any shrinkage is more likely to be uniform.

I've also just bought a kit that contains pre-fused appliqué pieces. Obviously they can't be washed, but the rest could. I just don't wanna!

Am I thinking along the right lines?

Cari-in-Oly

As a rule I don't pre-wash, the only time I do is when I buy fabric at a garage sale or thrift store and it needs it or flannel, I always wash flannel.
I've never had a problem mixing washed and unwashed cotton. Maybe I've just been lucky.

Cari

katier825

I am a pre-washer of yardage, but not with pre-cuts (except FQs sometimes). I mix washed/not washed all the time and never had an issue. They have not been a problem as far as shrinkage. I do wash with color catchers all the time, and never have bleeding problems.

CraftyRN

Thank you both. It looks like nothing terrible will happen either way.

I love this board!

QuiltnNan

not only is there a possibility of shrinkage and bleeding, but the fabric contains chemicals from manufacturing. so i want those chemicals gone. and if it's going to bleed, i want to know before i do all the work of putting it in the quilt.

CraftyRN

Good point, Nancy. But then I'm back to my original problem -- the fact that we're not supposed to wash pre-cuts (because of raveling, I presume). I think I'll try not washing with a couple of fairly small wall hangings (that have pre-cuts and pre-fused appliqué) and see how it goes.

Sync

If you really want to wash your pre-cuts, try using a mesh lingerie bag. Place the pre-cuts in that and throw it into the washer. I have done this once or twice with no raveling.

Dolphyngyrl

I think its mostly because when they shrink slightly they will be off and not work with the pattern requiring a specific size, and the raveling. I don't think you will have a problem mixing you can always test a scrap for bleeding if you are concerned about a color

NJ Quilter

I am normally a pre-washer as well. However, when I do the sampler at my LQS, they give you small cuts for the monthly blocks. But the finishing pieces are all yardage. I tend to not wash those since I don't wash the small cuts in the balance of the quilt.

BUT, I really don't think shrinkage is that much of an issue today - the way it was decades ago. I think the biggest shrinkage factor is the batting vs the fabric. And unless you have lots of red or are dealing with lesser quality fabrics, I don't think you'd have an issue with not pre-washing.

tessagin

I am a prewasher. I use the lingerie bags. As we all know the jelly rolls can get tangle up. When I purchased jelly rolls I would sew a large baste stitch about every 6" and this helped hold them together. I would sew about 5 at a time. I don't buy pre cuts any more. Never get correct size always off and pricey.