G'ma Kay

I too am a prewasher. If you have small pieces like charms or strips, I would preshrink them with a hot iron and lots of steam before cutting. I've seen too many disappointing color runs to not prewash, but I think a kit would be a nightmare to sort out after washing. I have heard people who surge all the edges before prewashing, but I'm just not that ambitious.

Tudey

I have never had any problem prewashing CT fabric. If you normally prewash, go ahead and do it!

Onebyone

I buy untreated organic cotton wash cloths at Tuesday Morning when they have them. Some baby items are made from untreated organic cotton fabric that work great as a color catcher. I'm still using some I bought over five years ago. When too dark, bleach and reuse.

MargeD

I generally don't buy many quilt kits, but the times that I have I have not prewashed the fabric, even though I almost always prewash fabric for quilting. I tried it once a long time ago but washing the small pieces didn't turn out so well. I would wash the quilt after the top is made, or after quilting.

wraez

I hate to prewash cuz I hate that some fabrics wrinkle like crazy and ironing, especially large cuts, is a pain in the behind!

QuiltingHaven

I have purchased two or three quilts kits from Connecting Threads plus other additional fabric and backings. Usually they send the fabric in the package with the fabric measured out and you do the cutting. I use my rotary tool with a pinking blade and barely cut the edges they cut the material on. Then, I wash the fabric in warm water using color catchers and put them in the dryer for 10 minutes. I take the material out of the dryer (still slightly damp) and fold it to hang over plastic hangers finger pressing the edges. Let them dry (you could start ironing when they are just slightly damp), then I spray them with starch and iron them - hanging them back on the hangers or lay them out on a table. Then, I start cutting out the pattern pieces. I love Connecting threads, the fabric is wonderful and my quilts have turned out beautifully. There is always enough fabric to complete the quilt with a tad bit extra (just in case you might make a error...never happens to me ;-) Hope this helps. Oh, one other thing, if the material is in smaller pieces like a fat quarter, I put them in a lingerie bag to wash - use this for all my smaller pieces like charms or jelly rolls.

KathyKat

What she said!
Kathy

JanieH

I have done several kits from CT and never had a problem with their fabric. But I do wash the quilts when completed with color catchers for all the reasons Jan in Va gave! (post #6)

roserips

Something to remember when washing small pieces of fabric use a mesh bag so they don't get lost or mangled in the process. I also clip a small corner on each corner that prevents excess raveling. I prefer to wash all of my fabrics due to allergies. I also wash my quilts when I am finished because I tend to drag them all over the place and they need it by the time I get them done.

carolynjo

A young friend washed several of her grandmother's quilt tops before she brought them to me for finishing. Disaster! They came to pieces and were unusable. So DON't wash until all seams are quilted down and the quilt is bound.