I finally have all 24 fabrics for a bargello and am going to wash most of them before cutting. But I need the specifics. Hot water? Cold? Detergent or not? I just need to make sure the dark teals don't run when I am done washing.

I usually just toss them in with the appropriate load of regular washing, with detergent, etc. I often will also toss in a Colorcatcher just to make sure. Have had good luck with this in all the tops and quilts I've pieced.

I wash lights separately from darks with detergent but no fabric softener in warm water. I've never had any problems. When the quilt is done, I wash again on warm with a color catcher. Make sure you remove it right away to dry!

I separate like colors together. Depending on the color, I'll wash in warm or hot (hot for heavy bleeders). I do use detergent, but not as much as I would use for laundry. Enough to get the processing chemicals and sizing out. I use a delicate cycle. I dry in a warm dryer, take out when dry and fold immediately. I don't iron or starch until I'm ready to cut.

Why would you want to wash only "most" of them and not "all" of them? If you some and not others, the ones that were not pre-washed will shrink while the others will not. If your bargello uses narrow strips (1" or less) you will really notice that after it's pieced and quilted.

IF... a teenaged son spilled spaghetti sauce on the newly-made quilt, and panicked, and dumped it in the machine with hot water and detergent, set it on the long cycle... or let it soak for two days... would the fabrics bleed? [This is a worst-case scenario in my mind.]

My philosophy on pre-washing is to MAKE SURE the fabrics will not bleed in an insane situation such as that.

Often, fabrics will not bleed until they have been in HOT detergent water for 20 minutes (based on my washing experience).

I always separate by color families. I inherited a large (mostly unwashed) stash, and I put the darkest colors in the machine tub first. If all went well, I then added the brights, and then the lighter colors, after a time.

If the darks bled heavily, I washed them until they bled only a tiny bit before adding the brights. Colored water can/will color the lighter fabrics.

Color Catchers will not always pick up all the loose dye, if it is strong. I don't like to waste a Color Catcher until the bleeding is much lighter.

Let the fabrics soak in HOT water for 20 minutes... either in the tub washer, or on top of the stove in a big pot... if you only have a few fabrics in the same color family.

To keep the fabric from roping and shredding in the TUB washing machine, DO NOT AGITATE.

DO NOT let it agitate through the cycle. To prevent that, just keep the machine lid open. Swish the fabric around, periodically, with a large spoon or paddle.

I like using a Color Catcher, too, but it's not required. You can tell when fabrics are through bleeding. Teals, red-purples, reds, and even some browns have been heavy bleeders, in my experience. But I wash everything before putting it into my stash.

There are other points of view. This is mine.

Have fun with your bargello!

From Kathryn Kistner in Texas, who's now saying,
"DO NOT AGITATE, DO NOT AGITATE, DO NOT AGITATE..."

I also use only about a tablespoon of liquid detergent.

It's ok to let the machine spin... but not agitate.

KK

One piece of fabric is a white satin (yes, I know...will be a pita to deal with) and is a poly blend, there are several others that are very light and not worried about them bleeding. Am most worried about the darker teals and browns.

This works for me. I also assume worst case scenario - and like to do what I can to minimize possible problems down the road.

I would strongly suggest that you treat ALL the fabrics for this project in the same manner.

Would you only wash half your face? or one sock? if you bought new bedding, would you only wash SOME of it before putting it on your bed?

Light colors may not spill color, but they sure are capable of shrinking!

Sort by color. Cold water, regular cycle.

For smaller pieces like fat quarter, I pop them in a mesh laundry bag and then toss that into the washer.

I use hot water, by hand separtely, in a sink and then dry in the dryer.