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I hear so many times that you must wash the material before you start to sew. I have done it both ways. However, when you buy the pre-cut fabric I don't see that you can really wash it before you sew. So, advice from those of you that have been doing this for a while? Wash first or not and what about the pre-cuts?
I would never wash precuts. I no longer prewash any fabrics, except flannel, and that is because it usually shrinks. If you are concerned about colors bleeding, get some Color Catchers, sold in the laundry aisle. Toss one or two in with a new quilt and wash, no problems with bleeding colors.
BTW, some people will suggest washing precuts by stuffing them in a sock or a lingere bag, but the whole thing with precuts is they are supposed to make your quilting life easier, why bother with all that when you don't have to?
What Karen said.
As Karen said, precuts are not suppose to be washed. The quality of fabric that you would find at M*QC won't give you bleeding problems. I don't wash any other fabrics that I use with them and haven't had any problems. : )
I never wash precuts, but do wash most/all of my yardage. That is mainly because I buy from thrift stores or yard sales, so that MUST be prewashed. I haven't had a problem mixing prewashed yardage with unwashed precuts because it all shrinks a bit anyway after it's all bound and the batting goes through the washer for the first time. I think it's just your personal preference on whether or not to wash yardage, but don't wash the precuts for sure! The edges get frayed (don't ask me how I know!!!!!)
:)
Susan
With pre cuts, I put them in a lingerie bag and wash them that way. Helps keep them from wrinkling so much and being pulled out of shape and from clinging to something else only to be found later. These bags are cheap (at the Dollar Store) and I use the large size for a whole stack of charms or fat quarters. However, I did buy 2 so I split the pre cuts.Quote:
Originally Posted by BarbGalloway
Also, I used to use a huge safety pin and pin about 10 together and wash them that way also, but they didn't dry well. I'd pin at the top and they'd get all wrinkled, so I pinned top and bottom, and they washed fine, but in the dryer, they were to close together, stuck together with thewater etc, and they didn't dry with the cycle so the lingerie bag works best in my view..easier too!
Again, thank you everyone for your answers. This is a terrific forum. I wish we could all get together and sew, sew, sew.
Flannel and denim shrink so they get pre washed. Quilting fabric from a quilt shop never gets washed. The process is different than it used to be and it isn't necessary. The shrinkage is about 2-3% tops so there is just no reason. Jenny says never wash a precut, so I never wash a precut.
Ditto Karen!!
Never wash precuts, only flannel.
If you use steam to press all your fabrics before cutting them out, and precuts, you'll preshrink them that way. I ALWAYS do this, even if I don't use steam again during the piecing process, and have NEVER had any fabric in a quilt top shrink during or after assembly.
Cheers, Pami
Ditto here. If I'm using cotton fabric then I don't wash until it's completely done. Yes, it will shrink but I really like the pucker effect.Quote:
Originally Posted by K. McEuen
I would love to be able to use pre cuts but I purchase yardage, pre wash and cut my self.