To pre-wash fabric or not
10-01-2011, 10:58 AM
#51
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Central CA
Posts: 132
I prewash, mainly because of the chemicals and all the other things the fabric can pick up while being manufactured. I then use magic sizing to help stabilize for cutting, etc. The only time I haven't was using a layer cake(?) to make a quilt.
10-01-2011, 11:18 AM
#52
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18
I can't imagine telling a customer that I didn't prewash batiks! The only reason I can think of is that the shop doesn't want to deal with the lengthy bleeding of these fabrics, which sometimes require washing several times before the color running stops. I've had astonishing amounts of dye run out of even small pieces of batik. Sometimes I've even have to throw them out rather than risk ruining other pieces in the quilt or even the entire quilt.
10-01-2011, 11:33 AM
#54
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Richmond, NH
Posts: 1,092
Pre Wash, chemicals used are very toxic. Cutting into them creates so much lint that you breath in. Personally know of two women who worked in fabric shop that have lung cancer. Could be unrelated, but what if it's not. Our texile mills, coal mines and many other jobs had created many cases of lung aliments. Our enviroment is toxic all by itself, I try to help my own where ever I can to make it healthier.
p.s. my family thinks I worry too much. But if they warn us to wash for babies because it's toxic, what about the rest of us!
p.s. my family thinks I worry too much. But if they warn us to wash for babies because it's toxic, what about the rest of us!
10-01-2011, 12:29 PM
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Oxford MA
Posts: 943
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Some of us are adamant about having everything washed/shrunk before cutting it.
Others are equally adamant that it is not necessary to bother with doing it.
My personal experience has been that it's worth the effort. It's kind of in the same category as using seat belts - most of the time the fabrics are okay enough to use "as is" - but every once in a while I come across a stinker.
Same for seat belts - most of the time I get to and from wherever with no problems. Once in a while one doesn't.
Others are equally adamant that it is not necessary to bother with doing it.
My personal experience has been that it's worth the effort. It's kind of in the same category as using seat belts - most of the time the fabrics are okay enough to use "as is" - but every once in a while I come across a stinker.
Same for seat belts - most of the time I get to and from wherever with no problems. Once in a while one doesn't.
10-01-2011, 02:44 PM
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Elkview, WV
Posts: 1,079
I always pre-wash mine but, someone told me not to pre-wash the strips. I have some fabrics that actually shrank after washing/drying and don't want the strips to shrink if not washed. So...wash or not wash strips??
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