Washing fabric
08-08-2012, 03:53 PM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SOO, MI
Posts: 838
I DO NOT pre-wash my fabric except for red, black and blues and I soak them in Retayne before I put them into a hot wash. The amount of color left over in my sink with these colors is enough to create a rainbow.
I have 3 boys so I already have enough laundry to do, the last thing I want to do is pre-wash my my hobby. That takes all the fun out of it.
I have 3 boys so I already have enough laundry to do, the last thing I want to do is pre-wash my my hobby. That takes all the fun out of it.
08-08-2012, 04:06 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: OK
Posts: 701
I wash everything. I never know what I am going to make with it. I frequently make little bags that I use a light weight fusible stabilizer with. It does not stick well to fabric with any sizing/starches or finishes.
08-08-2012, 04:21 PM
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Blue Springs, Missouri
Posts: 2,481
I don't prewash. I've washed a red before, but don't even do that any more. I don't like working with mushy washed fabric and certainly don't want to have to starch and iron it before I can sew.
08-08-2012, 05:48 PM
#35
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,728
YOu are not alone!
I'd far sooner find out and deal with it before cutting and sewing ..... than to have disaster strike later on after I've put hours into a project and $$$$$$$$ for all the fabrics, batting, etc.
I'd far sooner find out and deal with it before cutting and sewing ..... than to have disaster strike later on after I've put hours into a project and $$$$$$$$ for all the fabrics, batting, etc.
08-08-2012, 05:54 PM
#36
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
I prewash everything. While bleeding colors are an issue, I'm more concerned about shrinkage. I have noticed that all my quilting cottons, with the exception of batiks, shrink along the width of fabric, some as much as 2". I have found this to be true even with name brands. They don't seem to shrink at all along the length. I'm concerned that if I use the fabric without prewashing, my quilt will be distorted because the shrinkage is only in one direction.
08-08-2012, 07:25 PM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Mechanicsville, IA
Posts: 1,497
I prewash all. Don't want any surprises after all that work. I have only so much time to piece for myself after LA work. I even prewashed Hoffman Bali pops. Good thing, too. Did it in the sink with Hot Water and Retayne. Learned a lesson there. Had to use bleach to get dye out of sink. Took 2 washes of Retayne and 2 rinses. Spun out water a few strips at a time in a salad spinner and hung on clothes rack to dry. Then pressed (not ironed). Now I am happily piecing worry free.
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