I made a table runner, I am not an expert...lol
 

I made this table runner as a test piece with a pack of charm squares, and I washed and dried it, and I wondered what you thought. I will need to try a binding at some point, but does this look terrible? I know you can't prewash charm squares and when I washed it the runner did shrink a little and got a little warped.

I want to make a couple as gifts, but do I need to be concerned or explain about washing and drying to the people I am giving it to? I may be over-thinking this. Maybe I could suggest to hand wash.

Thank you very much.

It is pretty. Don't overthink every any flaw you may see. Press the runner using steam and it will be fine. Tell the ones you gift that it is washable and may need a pressing to de wrinkle it if desired.

Charm squares can be washed.

Soak them in hot water in a large bowl, sink, big kettle) with a drop or two of detergent.

Drain them in a colander (think cooking spaghetti)

Put back in container. Rinse. Drain. Rinse. Drain.

Spin out in salad spinner. Spread out on a towel to dry.

If you don't have a salad spinner, roll them in a towel - and then spread them out to dry on a dry towel.

This is the tedious way - but it does minimize fraying.

I washed some 5 inch squares. One of them ended up about 4.25 x 4.5 inches.

I use Warm and Natural batting. That got soaked in hot water and then dried in the machine.

(Don't know how I will do it with this front loader machine in this house)

I prefer to get the shrinkage out of the way before I start cutting.

But - there are people that swear that they get no shrinkage. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, because most of my fabrics did shrink during the washing process.


Wash or not wash. Suit yourself. But I KNOW almost every cotton fabric I have washed (thousands of them - Really!) shrinks. Some - not much. Some, a lot. i usually can't tell ahead of time which fabrics will do what.

I prefer my table runners and place mats to lay flat.

I never wash pre cuts. Fabric only shrinks in one direction. A jelly roll will shrink lengthwise not width wise. There is really no way to tell which grain way squares are cut so it's a guess which side they shrink. The easiest way to pre shrink fabric is to steam iron it or use starch to press it before cutting. No need to go through the wash cycle unless checking for bleeding. If anyone remembers the older issues of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine there were articles full of useful info about fabric, thread, manufacturers, and quality goods. I learned a lot from that magazine.

I had a Michael Miller solid black shrink over 2 inches crosswise. From three different bolts. I think the original width was only 42 inches.

I have actually measured before and after washing.

Most fabrics actually shrink a bit in both directions, but usually more in one direction than the other.

I had bought some Kaufman strips that were cut on the crossgrain. they were 2.5 inches to start. they were 2.385 inches after washing.

I started measuring after I was going to sell some cat print fabrics - when I measured them they were only about 35 inches or less long. I know that the pieces were at least 36 inches long when I purchased them.

As I've repeatedly stated - I have actually measured thousands of pieces of fabric before and after washing them. If that number seems high - consider that I have been accumulating fabric for over 40 years,

Washing fabric before cutting it is useful to me. What others do, is up to them.

Some people have said that quilting will minimize the shrinkage. Don't see how that would do it, if the batting also shrinks.

The table runner looks great!! Anyone would be happy to receive it,

Do not over think this - This is my take - there are others that would cringe and some others that would agree. I only prewash Flannel - never precuts. They will all shrink and it is my philosophy that they will all shrink within a few % of one another Except flannel which can shrink way more.

If you have also washed the finished product then whatever shrinkage was going to happen- it has happened. I do however tell people that they should wash with like colors and in cool to warm water and dry on med heat.

Your runner is adorable! Give a good press and gift them. I don’t pre wash. As for shrinkage issue: machine washing in cold and line drying will help with most of the shrinkage problem. When gifting I usually include washing directions and a couple of Color Catchers.

Don't over stres on the shrinkage....ALL quilted items will shrink a little when they are washed and dried.

I had a Michael Miller solid black shrink over 2 inches crosswise.

Jellyrolls are cut crosswise so the shrinkage will be the length of them.

A 42 inch strip would become a 40 inch strip.