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  • To wash or not to wash.....

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    Old 07-16-2010, 05:04 AM
      #31  
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    Originally Posted by retired2pa
    I'm curious....after you finish a project that will be given to someone, do you wash it first or just give it "new"? What if it's for a small child?
    I always wash fabric, but never washed the final quilt, becasue I wanted it to look new. But someone suggested that it be washed before giving to ensure it washes OK, so I'll try the the next time.
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    Old 07-16-2010, 05:17 AM
      #32  
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    Originally Posted by ksea
    Can I ask why you stopped prewashing your fabric, I thought that was a golden rule. I have washed every yard of fabric that I have brought into my home for the last 5 years, and then spend hours and hours and hours ironing it.
    I was taught the same thing in my quilting class and I too have spent hours at the ironing board. Since joining this board, I have had numerous folks tell me if you're buying quality fabric, there is no need. (Unless it is a red/black high dye/bleedable fabric) My stash has all been washed and I haven't bought anything new recently but who knows......I might take the plunge and gasp.......not wash the next stack that comes into the house.
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    Old 07-16-2010, 05:25 AM
      #33  
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    Originally Posted by ksea
    Can I ask why you stopped prewashing your fabric, I thought that was a golden rule. I have washed every yard of fabric that I have brought into my home for the last 5 years, and then spend hours and hours and hours ironing it.
    Because it just isn't neccessary. I don't even prewash reds anymore. Fabrics are dyed with chemical dyes. If they "bleed" and another fabric picks up the color it won't be set and will wash out. I buy good quality fabrics and as a rule they all shrink pretty much the same. Puckering is your friend. It covers a multitude of quilting mistakes.

    And even if I did prewash I wouldn't spend hours and hours ironing it all just to have to iron it again when I was ready to use it. Why iron twice? Plus new fabrics have a finish on them to help prevent fading.
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    Old 07-16-2010, 06:27 AM
      #34  
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    I do not wash, but for those of you who do wash, I have a question, You wash your top and backing fabric. So do you wash you batting? I use 100% cotton batting most of the time, so if your washing the top & backing (Preshrunk) and you don't wash your batting it is going to shrink and create puckers correct?
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    Old 07-16-2010, 06:36 AM
      #35  
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    I wash all my material before using and I wash my quilts when I finish them. I use the dissapering pens and the water wash out pens to do my marking and I want to be sure the ink is out of them.
    The finished quilts is washed with just cold water and put in the dryer on permapress, not completely dry tho.
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    Old 07-16-2010, 07:11 AM
      #36  
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    I prewash all my fabrics before I put them in my stash.

    As for the quilts...

    If they're machine appliqued...I wash as part of the process.

    If I used a blue washout marker or pencil or starch...they're washed.

    If it's for a baby...it's washed.

    Other than that...unwashed.
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    Old 07-16-2010, 08:22 AM
      #37  
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    Due to allergies, I have to prewash the fabric when I get it home, so unless I see some dirt on it, I do not prewash the finished quilt before giving.
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    Old 07-16-2010, 08:33 AM
      #38  
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    I always wash mine. Just to make sure it washes well and there are no problems.
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    Old 07-16-2010, 10:02 AM
      #39  
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    I usually leave a little "DNA" here and there so I always wash.
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    Old 07-16-2010, 10:06 AM
      #40  
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    with a dog and cat I always wash then put in a matching drawstring bag to gift it. Never know who has what allergies at its' new home.
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