Reasons to not wash fabric (and other washable components) before cutting them
05-13-2021, 03:07 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 706
I’ve just started pre-washing everything after years of not doing so. I think it will save me money in the long run because buying new fabric is not nearly as exciting when you have to take it home and wash and iron every piece!
05-13-2021, 06:28 PM
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Virginia
Posts: 229
I always prewash, as I want as much dye to come out ahead of time as is going to come out. Also, I have even had prewashed fabric run all over its neighboring pieces in a quilt top when it got wet from glue basting. Fortunately the stain came out in the wash when I used a color catcher. I don't bother to iron prewashed fabric. Just take it out of the dryer immediately. I only iron as much of a piece of yardage as I'm going to cut on a given day, so the ironing really isn't a big issue..
05-14-2021, 04:03 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Vermont
Posts: 6,980
Most of my quilts have been made from scraps, so I don't pre-wash. I always include instructions, wash in cold water, line dry.
I did pre-wash when I was making masks. I have not had good luck with color catchers.
I did pre-wash when I was making masks. I have not had good luck with color catchers.
05-14-2021, 05:32 AM
#16
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Outside St. Louis
Posts: 38,181
Originally Posted by rjwilder
I prewash all my fabrics, when I buy clothing I wash them before wearing. I wash new sheets, towels, linens, before using. I wash everything I buy before using it. I'm just cautious but some people call me a neat freak.
05-14-2021, 06:36 AM
#17
Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 62
Originally Posted by rjwilder
I prewash all my fabrics, when I buy clothing I wash them before wearing. I wash new sheets, towels, linens, before using. I wash everything I buy before using it. I'm just cautious but some people call me a neat freak.
I used to prewash ALL fabric as soon as it got into the house. Comes from sewing clothing. But since my health hasn't been so good I've been buying precuts more and more and you can't really prewash them. I don't want the backs or other larger pieces to shrink differently than the precuts, so I now skip washing them too. I wash things together if they'll be in the same quilt, but won't wash different colors together if they won't be sewn together. I do still wash all fabrics that will be made into things like t-shirts or pjs due to shrinkage. And when I make things like bed sheets out of wide fabric I will wash that on hot since I normally wash in warm, just to make sure most of the shrinking happens before I hem everything. Same with curtains. I do like that old fashion quilt look though, if I preferred the flatter neater look I would probably prewash when I could.
05-16-2021, 08:46 AM
#18
Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by Onebyone
I usually don't prewash but I steam and iron the fabric in every direction before cutting.
05-16-2021, 08:48 AM
#19
Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by gardengirl1331
I too wash EVERYTHING I buy from the store before using, I shudder to think of people opening up sheets and just putting them on the bed. Or underwear!
I used to prewash ALL fabric as soon as it got into the house. Comes from sewing clothing. But since my health hasn't been so good I've been buying precuts more and more and you can't really prewash them. I don't want the backs or other larger pieces to shrink differently than the precuts, so I now skip washing them too. I wash things together if they'll be in the same quilt, but won't wash different colors together if they won't be sewn together. I do still wash all fabrics that will be made into things like t-shirts or pjs due to shrinkage. And when I make things like bed sheets out of wide fabric I will wash that on hot since I normally wash in warm, just to make sure most of the shrinking happens before I hem everything. Same with curtains. I do like that old fashion quilt look though, if I preferred the flatter neater look I would probably prewash when I could.
I used to prewash ALL fabric as soon as it got into the house. Comes from sewing clothing. But since my health hasn't been so good I've been buying precuts more and more and you can't really prewash them. I don't want the backs or other larger pieces to shrink differently than the precuts, so I now skip washing them too. I wash things together if they'll be in the same quilt, but won't wash different colors together if they won't be sewn together. I do still wash all fabrics that will be made into things like t-shirts or pjs due to shrinkage. And when I make things like bed sheets out of wide fabric I will wash that on hot since I normally wash in warm, just to make sure most of the shrinking happens before I hem everything. Same with curtains. I do like that old fashion quilt look though, if I preferred the flatter neater look I would probably prewash when I could.
05-16-2021, 12:43 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Gainesville, Missouri
Posts: 520
The only yardage that I don't pre-wash is Muslin, the shrinkage is so minimal that I'm not too worried about it.
When I first sat down at a sewing machine was in Home Economics in high school. The teacher practically beat it into our heads to always pre-wash your fabrics and after I made a mistake years later to not wash for a dress (I thought I had) and the shrinkage was so bad that I couldn't even wear the dress, I vowed to never make that mistake again. Now, the only time I don't pre-wash are pre-cuts.
When I first sat down at a sewing machine was in Home Economics in high school. The teacher practically beat it into our heads to always pre-wash your fabrics and after I made a mistake years later to not wash for a dress (I thought I had) and the shrinkage was so bad that I couldn't even wear the dress, I vowed to never make that mistake again. Now, the only time I don't pre-wash are pre-cuts.
