Originally Posted by Iceblossom

Here's my test -- the package I had (I think I got when my local Tuesday Morning was one of the first to close down) had 2 strips each of 7 different colors, so I used one set so I could compare them with the others. They all seemed well cut at 2.5". In their defense, the back of the package said Do Not Prewash! (Picture 1)

I layered them into my impeller (no agitator) washer with the towels on the bottom and a 4 yard piece of yardage on top. I didn't have any color catchers but I did have an old school/well used dye grabber from back when they were cloth... While they did come out snarled, it wasn't as bad as I expected. (Picture 2). I carefully separated them and cut off the loose threads and tried not to stretch or otherwise alter the fabric. I then dried them with the towels for maybe 10-15 minutes.

Even including the thready edges, they were all consistently about 1/8" narrowert after the wash/dry. When I measured between the frayed edges, they were over 2" and closer to 2.25. Some pieces frayed more than others. The lengths of the fabric was at least 1 to 1.5" shorter! The big thing for me was the color loss in the purple -- they look like two entirely different shades after the washing, which is why I left a line of the dark purple. The turquoise also had quite a bit of color loss, the others were not so bad. (Picture 3).

Originally Posted by Iceblossom

Short form: Although I am big on prewashing, I'd risk a commercial set of jellyrolls. I have concerns over where my seam allowance is on the ones with pinked edges, but honestly haven't had much experience with them.

Long Form: In all my years of quilting (45!) I've only had one project ruined by running fabric. I prewashed it but didn't check that it was fully set. It was a "quilt shop quality fabric" and it never stopped running. Started out as dark maroon, after seven or so washings it was more orange than anything else. I also used a blue from the same line with no problems. Unfortunately the quilt also had white squares, that was what was really ruined they turned baby pink with no going back

I've never had a project ruined by shrinkage but I have not used fabric where I was unhappy with the quality once the sizing and such was pre-washed out of the (name brand) fabric and elected to not use that fabric.

I don't typically buy jellyrolls but I do have a package of something like 10 2.5" pieces -- I'm going to do a test in my impeller (no agitator) new washing machine to see how they come out -- will just toss them in with a few towels or whatevers and see how they come out.

For me, it is not the raveling of long skinny pieces, but rather the knotting up and tangled mess that they can become, strangling other things in the process. I buy a lot of my fabric at thrift stores or estate sales and often have long narrow WoF (width of fabric) pieces -- they are by far the worst to prewash, will take a 6-10" square any day over a long narrow.

If you really want to wash the strips, I'd suggest putting just a few each into lingerie bags or pillow cases (I use my ponytail elastics to close the pillow cases). You can put as many bags as the washer can hold!

Originally Posted by dunster

I pre wash yardage and FQs, but never jelly rolls or layer cakes. I prefer to work with fabric that has been washed, but I just take my chances with the pre-cuts.