MargeD

I've washed 6 yard pieces of fabric as well as larger ones in my washing machine with no problems. It's like washing sheets. I do, however, clip a 1/4" to 1/2" piece off the corner of each side of the fabric as I find it decreases the amount of strings that can come off the fabric and reduces raveling. If you don't have a full wash load, toss in a couple of towels, tablecloths or whatever to help with agitation of the wash load.

Stitchit123

Over the week end we went to a church sale. I bought 8 bundles of fabric. I now have 2 pcs each of black -a dusty lavender and a very pretty mint green all are 54w x 9yd plus folded inside each bundle were the coordinating fabrics these were in 6yd-4yd and 2yd all 45w-the other 2 bundles were pcs ranging from 1/2 yd to 2 1/2 yd pcs -final measurement on all this is 137 yds. It took 5 loads to wash it all. I washed the 9yd pcs in 3 loads and had no problems-only the folding I had to get help to be able to wrap them onto bolt boards. They all smelled of moth balls so they spent 2 days on the cloths lines being rained on-let nature do half of the work. I believe this has been my best score ever. 137 yds of cotton fabric for only $4

jazs2

I serged the ends to keep from raveling, I just washed 12 yds and it came out great.

bbeyes

i pin the selveges together and seem to have less tangles fraying.

IBQUILTIN

If I am going to wash a large fabric piece, I always run a zigzag stitch on the cut edges. It helps prevent the raveling threads from making a tangled mess. Otherwise, treat it as a sheet

carolstickelmaier

I do the same thing. no more twisted fabric!

annette1952

I always wash as normal on a gentle cycle. Never had a problem

mojo11

I also do my large yardage like this. Was a tip on this board or elsewhere?

Donnamarie

Don't bother. I used to prewash but not anymore. Really, I've never experienced any fabric shrinking like it used to. Besides after it is quilted (and washed at some point), I really like the crinkled up look of a quilt.

carslo

I do not have a serger but I used to just sew the ends together to prevent fraying and cut it off after drying. Good luck!

PS I stopped washing fabrics and just throw in color catchers when I wash the finished quilt.