Do I Wash My Material First?

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09-24-2010, 10:24 AM

#11

virtualbernie

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: Maryland

Posts: 3,586

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlehud

I don't prewash unless it is for a swap or round robin. It works for me.

me 2!

09-24-2010, 10:26 AM

#12

dotcomdtcm

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: New York City UWS

Posts: 4,222

I learned to wash mine. I used 12 different 18" squares. Some shrank,. some did not. Good to know.

09-24-2010, 10:35 AM

#13

Quilter7x

Super Member

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: north east

Posts: 8,394

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSandy

Thank you all for these tips. My fabric is off white 100% cotton. So, I think I will cut it into three sizes for 10" blocks and wash them all. Then I can iron and size them. This way I know they won't pucker as much after they are stitched. I am making 8" squares, so I am cutting 10" squares to fit over my hoop with room to spare.
I have Nancy Z's quilting video. I hope I can put it all together after I get the squares done. I plan to use iron on stabilizer with stitching it out.
Sandra

Sounds like a good plan. If you have a way of pinking the edges of the fabric (not the selvedge, just where the fabric was cut), do that. Or zig zag along the cut edges or you will end up with what Virtualbernie appropriately calls a "stringy mess". :D

09-24-2010, 11:01 AM

#14

Prism99

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Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: Western Wisconsin

Posts: 12,930

Wash and starch the fabric *before* you cut into squares! It will save you a lot of aggro.

09-24-2010, 11:12 AM

#15

fabric_fancy

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: at my sewing machine

Posts: 1,916

if its a quilt that will be used i prewash, otherwise if its a wallhanging or for show i don't.

i always prewash batiks with retayne to set the dye - its nothing worth risking them bleeding.

i also prewash fabric for swaps because those are the rules.

09-24-2010, 11:37 AM

#16

MadQuilter

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Join Date: Mar 2009

Posts: 15,639

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSandy

So, I think I will cut it into three sizes for 10" blocks and wash them all.

I would strongly suggest that you wash, dry and press your yardage and THEN cut. If you do it the other way, you will have a frayed and tangled mess on your hands and the shapes will be out of shape.