Washing Charm Packs
#21
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,654
Originally Posted by Blinkokr
It is almost impossible to wash them, as then you have all sizes. . . . .
Ellen
Ellen
Yes, there will be some squaring up of the units - interesting to see how they change shape - but I'd rather do it "before" than have a crappy finished product "later"
I also think one should be able to wash an item such as a placemat, child's quilt, (any item one expects to wash ), put it in the dryer, and it will be "good to go"
Just for the record - I do wash finished items in cool to tepid water on a gentle cycle, rinse in cold (my washer only has "cold" for rinse settings) and dry on a gentle cycle only to "barely dry" Take the item out and smooth it out, fold it and put it away, or put it back to use.
I think having to block a finished item would be aggravating - especially when I can do a bit of extra work "up front" and not have to deal with it again and again over the life of the item.
#23
well said bearisgray I do not have any trouble with my squares by pre washing by hand if some shrink to much I use them in a different project and if some blled to much I know it before all of the sewing work and I to want my finished projects washable
#24
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Enid, OK
Posts: 8,273
Originally Posted by PaperPrincess
I have read (but never tried) swishing them around in a sink filled with hot water. Use a salad spinner to get out most of the water, then dry flat. You could also just try steaming them with a hot iron.
ironing while damp finishes the shrinking process.
NOTE, all fabrics contain sprayed on pesticides, so when hand washing keep this in mind in you suddenly get nauseous or get a headache... if you are known to be sensitive to the chemicals, wash outdoors in fresh air!
#26
If you have a netted bag that ties you can wash them in it. If not pin them at the top and the bottom. I neveer use hot water I only use cold to wash my material and have very lttle shrinkage or color loss. It is just a suggestion though as I do not use charm packs.
#27
Originally Posted by PaperPrincess
I have read (but never tried) swishing them around in a sink filled with hot water. Use a salad spinner to get out most of the water, then dry flat. You could also just try steaming them with a hot iron.
#28
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 180
My rule is that if I'm making anything that there's a possibility that it will have to be washed in the future, then I always prewash and dry in the drier. If it's charms I wash them in the sink with fairly hot water and soap and let the darker ones soak for a while to make sure they won't bleed. But I wash every square, even the lighter-colored ones. Then I dry them in a mesh bag in the drier.
They do come out crinkly and messy and must be ironed, but when I do it this way I can be pretty sure I won't get any surprises re shrinkage or bleeding.
I for one don't think it's too surprising if fabrics by a certain manufacturer, Moda for example, shrink and bleed differently. They all contain different dye and often probably are printed on slightly different fabrics with different shrinkage potential. That's my take on it anyway.
They do come out crinkly and messy and must be ironed, but when I do it this way I can be pretty sure I won't get any surprises re shrinkage or bleeding.
I for one don't think it's too surprising if fabrics by a certain manufacturer, Moda for example, shrink and bleed differently. They all contain different dye and often probably are printed on slightly different fabrics with different shrinkage potential. That's my take on it anyway.
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Portland, OR via Hawaii
Posts: 1,342
I must be "charmed" so far! :roll:
I've used charm packs for a number of quilts and have never pre-washed those, (and believe me...I am a pre-washer!).
Actually getting right in and actually using a charm pack or oneof those jelly rolls was difficult because I couldn't pre-wash them easily.
That being said, I have never had a problem with shrinkage with any of them. Maybe it's because the first wash I use is on a gentle cycle. That plus I also take it out of the dryer before it's totally dry.
I'll probably have a major shrinkage problem with the next one just because I've put it in writing! :shock:
I've used charm packs for a number of quilts and have never pre-washed those, (and believe me...I am a pre-washer!).
Actually getting right in and actually using a charm pack or oneof those jelly rolls was difficult because I couldn't pre-wash them easily.
That being said, I have never had a problem with shrinkage with any of them. Maybe it's because the first wash I use is on a gentle cycle. That plus I also take it out of the dryer before it's totally dry.
I'll probably have a major shrinkage problem with the next one just because I've put it in writing! :shock:
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