I FINALLY finished my MIL's Christmas gift quilt...with just two weeks to spare, because we're celebrating early. I finished hiding all of my loose threads last night and threw it in the wash...I took it out today and it's shrunk and distorted and puckered and I am so sad. I pre-washed all of my fabric (front and back)...I think the batting is what shrunk (it is a cotton/poly blend but I don't know the ratio because I bought it second hand without packaging or anything)...It looks awful. I feel awful. I can't give this as a gift to somebody...it's terrible! I'm so sad. It's shrunk AT LEAST four inches!!!

:cry:

Now what am I supposed to to about MIL's Christmas gift?!? AHHHHHH

She won't know that it shrank. Post a picture. I'll bet it's fine.

I am sure it can't be as bad as you think. Do you have a picture?

You could try re-washing it on a gentle cycle and then gently stretching it back out to shape and air dry it. This sometimes works with sweaters, it may work with your quilt.

I am curious to see what others say.

Did you put it in the dryer? I am not sure what to do but I am sure someone on here might be able to help you out.

Sorry this happened. I have heard others say it is a good idea to put the batting in the dryer to shrink before use.

I thought of this, too. See if this works!

If the batting is a poly cotton mix, it shouldn't have shrunk much at all. Wool batts shrink significantly-as much as your describing. Are you sure it's not wool?

take out the quilting and requilt it with new batting. It was the batting that got smaller.

oh, that is horrible!! I feel so bad for you!! what temp did you wash it at, and did you put it in the dryer? I would tend to think the dryer is what did it.
I hope your MIL is nice and will understand - maybe a "gift certificate" for another quilt??

I don't know that it is not wool...it seems too light to be wool, but I suppose it could be. I'm almost certain that it's got poly in it though...