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Before sewing your fabric, do you -

Before sewing your fabric, do you -

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Old 08-17-2016, 07:08 AM
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Default Before sewing your fabric, do you -

Pre-wash it?

Pre-dry it?

Pre-starch it?

Pre-iron it?

Pre- cut it?

Last edited by bearisgray; 08-17-2016 at 07:11 AM.
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Old 08-17-2016, 07:33 AM
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I prewash and dry before it comes into my house. Can't stand the smell of some of the fabric since I get from different sources. Even the fabric and LQS. Especially from thrift and estate/garage sales. They get a hot water wash and hot dryer. I don't use dryer sheets but sometimes a white vinegar goes into the rinse cycle. Again mainly because of the odor and not knowing who handled it last.
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Old 08-17-2016, 07:41 AM
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I test for bleeding if the fabric is color saturated. I wet with starch and iron the fabric stiff so no need to prewash. I get all the distortion out before I cut I usually pre wash backing fabric. I will wash the quilt when it's finished.
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Old 08-17-2016, 08:38 AM
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Pre-wash it? Yes, due to allergy to sizing. I wash in cold water, gentle/hand wash cycle with small amount of Tide Free
Pre-dry it? Yes. On low heat until about 90% dry.
Pre-starch it? Yes. I use a LOT of starch. Helps me get straighter cuts & makes it easier to sew 1/4" seams.
Pre-iron it? Yes.
Pre-cut it? Not sure what that means.
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Old 08-17-2016, 08:49 AM
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I pre-wash it all, even if it has been washed before (from a friend, thrift shop, guild exchange, etc.).
I prefer to line dry, and iron it when ready to cut. I don't starch.
Drying in the sunshine helps with any odors that may be still in fabric after washing.
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Old 08-17-2016, 08:49 AM
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I don't do any of that....unless the fabric is red. Then I prewash, and then, of course, I have to pre-dry and pre-iron.

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Old 08-17-2016, 08:50 AM
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I don't pre-wash. I don't have the convenience of living with a washer/dry.
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Old 08-17-2016, 09:07 AM
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this is not really a question about washing your fabric. it is a matter of pointing out that the prefix 'pre' is redundant and not used consistently in our quilt dialogue. Oh well, that is the nature of the English language.
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Old 08-17-2016, 09:52 AM
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I wash, dry and iron my fabric before I use it in a quilt but I don't starch. It makes me itch and spoils the fun of quilting for me.
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Old 08-17-2016, 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by MandyC View Post
this is not really a question about washing your fabric. it is a matter of pointing out that the prefix 'pre' is redundant and not used consistently in our quilt dialogue. Oh well, that is the nature of the English language.
BINGO! I usually just wash, dry, and fold my fabric until ready to use. then iron/press and - once in a blue moon, I will use sizing/starch on it - iron again - and then cut the fabric.
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