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Who says there's no reason to pre-wash?

Who says there's no reason to pre-wash?

Old 05-11-2011, 12:02 PM
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Who says there's no reason to pre-wash?

.... then consider this ....

Before washing .... one metre of 60" cotton
After hot water wash/dry #1 ... one metre by 56"

With that much shrinkage, I thought I'd see what happened with a second wash/dry. No change in size.

That's one inch gone for every 15" ... hhmmm?


I bought the piece as a test for a OBW/SAW/4PP. It seemed to have a lot of fill in it and I was suspicious and wanted to know if I'd have cheesecloth or what? After the shrinkage, it's a nice tight cotton and yes, I'll probably buy the yardage.

Though if I'd sewn it and later washed .... not sure I'd be happy!


Of course, each to his/her own! :)
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Old 05-11-2011, 12:03 PM
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As a side bar ... I don't normally measure my fabric before washing. Just do it and know that all in my home have been abused and prepped!
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Old 05-11-2011, 12:05 PM
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I think some people like the wrinkling effect of the fabric shrinking. I haven't tried using unwashed fabric yet but I probably will just to see if I like it or not (but it will be for something I'm keeping for myself)
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Old 05-11-2011, 12:05 PM
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Harriet Hargrave doesn't pre-wash and that's good enough for me. Even if a quilt shrinks some after washing it'll still fit the bed.
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Old 05-11-2011, 12:06 PM
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I have always prewashed my fabric. Then I use a lot of starch. And my quilts still get that old quilt look when washed.
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Old 05-11-2011, 12:07 PM
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I thought I read in one of the stack & whack books - that you shouldn't wash the fabric before hand - I think the reason was that washing sometimes warped the fabric so it as harder to cut the stacks correctly.

Will have to reread that part of the book
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Old 05-11-2011, 12:07 PM
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I love the look of my quilts after it's been washed for the first time. (no pre-washing fabric)
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Old 05-11-2011, 12:15 PM
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I love the wrinkly and shrunk look I get from not prewashing. But I read in one of my new quilt books that the author gets a very wrinkly look by pre-washing the fabric and using 100% cotton batting. When it is washed and dried, it is very antique looking, she said. I may give it a try and see what kind of look I get.
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Old 05-11-2011, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by JUNEC
I thought I read in one of the stack & whack books - that you shouldn't wash the fabric before hand - I think the reason was that washing sometimes warped the fabric so it as harder to cut the stacks correctly.

Will have to reread that part of the book
You did. Once you wash a fabric the repeats won't be perfect anymore and it's very difficult to use it for any of the stacked repeat patterns.
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Old 05-11-2011, 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by JUNEC
I thought I read in one of the stack & whack books - that you shouldn't wash the fabric before hand - I think the reason was that washing sometimes warped the fabric so it as harder to cut the stacks correctly.

Will have to reread that part of the book
It does say so ... when I did the course, I had prewashed before I knew so. I asked and the teacher said, no problem, just starch it up good. There is the risk of it stretching some, though in her view, the non-wash or starch lets the fabric slide better on top when you are stacking it. Plus it helps stabilize the bias cuts and minimize fraying.



Even if you do pre-wash, you will still get the wrinkles when you wash the quilt. The 80-20 Warm and Natural estimates about 2%. This fabric would have been 6.7% ... that's a lot more wrinkles.

As I said, whatever works for you ... works!
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