Traveller

Hello
I just ordered 6 yards of 108" backing fabric. It's quite stiff and will be a nightmare to work with. I'd like to launder it in cold water then just line dry in order to soften it up. Do you think this will cause it to shrink even if it's not put in the dryer?

I don't pre-wash my piecing fabric. I'd like to avoid a conflict in rate of shrinkage between the top and backing.

Thank you.

dluvs2quilt

Try cutting off a small piece and see what happens after you wash it.

QuiltE

You may get some shrinkage, but definitely not the ultimate.
So if you are trying to match your non-washed piecing fabric,
then that is probably the best route to go.

The washing may remove the stiffness. And may not.
If not, then you may want to try another wash, and dry in the dryer.

Keep in mind, some fabrics stay stiff, no matter what you do to them!
Been down that road ... and I hot wash/dry before I start to work.

Good Luck!!

bkay

For me, this is an obvious question. Why in the world would you not want it to shrink? I always want to get my fabrics to shrink and get it done. It's going to shrink. It's cotton! Someone, sometime is going to put it in a dryer. Why not you, when you have control?
bkay

cashs_mom

I'm not sure why backing fabric that is stiff would be a nightmare to work with. I want mine stiff so I don't get any creases on the back when I quilt it. I actually starched heck out of one piece I just used so it would be easier to quilt.

Onebyone

Cotton fabric only shrinks in one direction. Example : A Jelly Roll strip will shrink in length not width. Any liquid on cotton fabric will start the shrinkage process. if you want to go to the extreme of keeping the fabric/quilt the absolute perfect size then blocking when wet can be done. I deep starch all my fabric before cutting. Sometimes i wash and dry in hot dryer.

Traveller

I didn't say I don't want the quilt to shrink. As mentioned, I don't prewash fabric before sewing. I know cotton shrinks that's why I wash / dry / shrink the final quilt. Then all the fabric shrinks pretty uniformly.

Combining unshrunk and preshrunk fabric could be a problem for the finished quilt.

QuiltE

Traveller ... I understand your strategy.

However, keep in mind, that with no pre-washing, you leave yourself vulnerable to the unwanted surprise of colours running/staining, after all your hard work.

That's why many of us are committed pre-washers, to face and deal with any issues with the fabric before we get to work. Your choice though!

Onebyone

In your case to want the backing fabric not as stiff by washing it, it will shrink if wet so your best option is to use it stiff as is. The stiffness won't bother the quilting unless maybe hand quilting it.

Peckish

Just putting this out there... as a longarmer, I find pre-washing backings helps a lot with tension issues.