Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
Why not to wash top before quilting. >

Why not to wash top before quilting.

Why not to wash top before quilting.

Old 02-09-2015, 12:08 PM
  #1  
Super Member
Thread Starter
 
Barb_MO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,485
Default Why not to wash top before quilting.

I read in message asking if they should wash a quilt top before quilting because of stains, etc. Thought I would show why you shouldn't do that.
My aunt gave me this top that my mother had made back in the 50's or 60's. I could tell it had been was wash because there edges were frayed. Anyway, I bought some pretty blue, lavender and white fabric for a backing and was going to quilt this to give away to one of my family members in a drawing.
When I washed the backing I decide to wash the quilt top because it had been laying around for so many years.
Lots of strings matted in with the triangle point making pretty good size knots that would surely break a needle.


Spent a little while cleaning up the seams before ironing the top and getting it ready to quilt.
Attached Thumbnails dsc07592-medium-.jpg   dsc07595-medium-.jpg  

Last edited by Barb_MO; 02-09-2015 at 12:11 PM.
Barb_MO is offline  
Old 02-09-2015, 01:27 PM
  #2  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,131
Default

Thanks for posting. We do have a lot of new members who are new to quilting and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
ManiacQuilter2 is offline  
Old 02-09-2015, 01:31 PM
  #3  
Super Member
 
Judith1005's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: *where the sun almost always shines*
Posts: 9,323
Default

OOO, that's bad. A picture is worth a thousand words. I think this one says it all! Thanks. (lol, I guess I was thinking along the same lines as ManiacQuilter2.)
Judith1005 is offline  
Old 02-09-2015, 01:42 PM
  #4  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
Default

I got a crib size quilt top at an estate sale couple years back. I stitched around the outside edge before washing. It had not been pre washed before but was glad I did. It bled a little. Some fraying but not like if I had washed on normal cycle. Threw into the dryer. Trimmed away the small amount of fraying pressed and looks good. It's all preference. Like I said it was crib size.
tessagin is offline  
Old 02-09-2015, 01:52 PM
  #5  
Super Member
 
Macybaby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 8,117
Default

I've washed them - but I also use the "hand wash" cycle which is a very slow agitation.

I only do this if there are "issues" and I figure it needs it. Since I inherited a bunch of my Mom's UFO's - and some have rodent stains - I want to make sure they will clean up before putting the effort into quilting them.

But then I also prewash ALL my fabric purchases - which has included about 7 bags of scraps and small yardages. They smelled smoky - and if I'd not got that out, I wouldn't have used them (BTW - I bought one bag and washed it, and when it "worked" I went back and bought the rest). Also went through a gallon of vinegar.

I did trim off all the loose threads between the washer and dryer. And I would get a quite a handful with each load.
Macybaby is offline  
Old 02-09-2015, 02:05 PM
  #6  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,370
Default

That really did not look too bad. It looks like it held together okay.
bearisgray is offline  
Old 02-09-2015, 02:19 PM
  #7  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 29,519
Default

Thanks for sharing the pics! Great reminder.
Mariposa is offline  
Old 02-09-2015, 03:54 PM
  #8  
Power Poster
 
ube quilting's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 10,704
Default

I think women in America, in my experience, are overly zealous about cleaning in general and I think, imho, think about the thing being clean before anything else that may be relevant to the situation. We should take our time and think it through. Clean may not be the most important or first thing to be done to any project. Hope your quilt finishes up well. A pretty blue and white.

Thanks for posting this great visual lesson for everyone.
peace
ube quilting is offline  
Old 02-09-2015, 06:32 PM
  #9  
Super Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,344
Default

Originally Posted by ube quilting View Post
I think women in America, in my experience, are overly zealous about cleaning in general
I agree. Although rodent stains would get a good washing in my book. I'd probably sew up a large lingerie-type mesh bag to put the quilt top in for washing.
Peckish is offline  
Old 02-09-2015, 06:36 PM
  #10  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 10,357
Default

Originally Posted by ube quilting View Post
I think women in America, in my experience, are overly zealous about cleaning in general and I think, imho, think about the thing being clean before anything else that may be relevant to the situation. We should take our time and think it through. Clean may not be the most important or first thing to be done to any project. Hope your quilt finishes up well. A pretty blue and white.

Thanks for posting this great visual lesson for everyone.
peace
Much as I'm a clean freak sometimes a spot clean (for anything really awful) or a good shake and airing is the go. Then finish it up and then wash.
earthwalker is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bearisgray
Main
98
03-04-2015 09:06 AM
Julie in NM
Main
73
08-08-2011 02:59 PM
bearisgray
Main
31
09-15-2010 06:47 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter