Do you always wash your quilts when finished?

I'm sorry if this is already a thread, but I searched and didn't see one. I'm fairly new to quilting as there has been such a long hiatus from quilting years ago. So many of you mention that you are finished with your quilting, binding, etc., now wash and dry. It sound like most of you wash your quilts as soon as they are finished and I was wondering why? I seriously doubt they are very "dirty" but understand if giving as a baby gift. I can also understand washing to get rid of markings used for FMQ. I just started FMQ and haven't marked anything yet. Some of my quilts I've made recently and in the past were just wall hangings. Would you wash those too when finished? Note: I don't pre-wash my fabrics either. I used to years ago but don't now. I did just recently buy Best Press but haven't even tried it yet.
And, another question for those that wash their quilts, do you always dry in dryer or hang up to dry? And, do you ever press after this? Thanks! I love these forums and all the tips and such I'm learning.

I wash my quilts after they are finished because I like the soft, worn look that comes from the slight shrinking of the fabric. That being said, if I make a wall hanging that I want to stay crisp, I do not wash. Washing also takes out the crayola washable marker if that is what I used to mark my quilting lines.

Washing also lets you know if there is a problem with a quilt - like seams not holding up or colors bleeding. It shrinks the quilt some which made me very grateful on the last large quilt I made. It covered up a lot of mistakes.

I take the large ones to the laundromat and put in the front loading washer. You don't want the agitator scraping against the pieced top and the large quilts don't swish back and forth. I dry mine about 80 to 90 percent dry then spread out over a bed to finish drying. We have so many birds around here nobody has a clothesline. So, no outside drying. Someone on here recommended the color catchers and I'm amazed at how much they catch.

You have handled it throughout the process, one would assume. Therefore it has your skin oils and tiny flakes of skin all over it. That helps deteriorate fabric a little faster. Wash it out. Now, if you wore a Hazmat suit throughout the whole process, there would be no need. :lol:

I haven't completed many quilts yet, but I have always washed mine when I finish. I have "fur helpers" that might have spread hair, and hubby is a great smoker -though never in our bedroom, where I sew.

But the main reason is to check the quilt will survive through a laundry cycle, both for the color bleeding and for the security of the seams. I quilt quite densely so it helps for the stability, but I have had to mend a couple of fraying seams in my first quilts. Nobody has dryers round here. I live in the country and dry on the line.

There is an exception, though: I have finished a rag quilt and I understand that for a better rag look it needs to be machine dried. I have seen laundromats in the university district, it costs 3,00 € for 25 minutes, but as I have never used them I don't know how long I should have my quilt dry in the machine.

I've done a lot of research on this topic on blogs, here on the forum, from quilt shop owners and even one fabric manufacturer. The best advice I'd give is for you to prewash your fabrics to get out any chemicals that might be used for sizing, dying, etc. Most fabrics these days don't run, but some do, especially dark batiks, so that's another good reason to prewash. I wash mine as soon as they come through the door so that I know everything I have has been prewashed. Except for precuts. Too tough to wash those! If you like the crisp feel of unwashed fabric, I recommend Mary Ellen's Best Press. It works great.

I didn't used to wash my quilts after quilting them but now I do after hearing many good reasons here on the forum. I have cats, so that's one good reason to wash them. They can also become dusty from being out and about. Plus, we have oil on our hands that will get on the quilt. And you do get that lovely crinkly look to them after washing and drying! I love that. And you will see if there are any problems with seams holding up. You'd hate to give away a quilt that is coming apart in one or two places. I partially dry mine in the dryer, then hang outside on a chair (no clothesline) to finish drying, but I don't see any reason why it can't completely dry in the dryer. Once it's given away it will probably go through the washer and dryer many times, especially if it's a quilt for a child.

Wallhangings? I never wash those because I want the crisp, flat look. I use the flattest batting I can find and even iron the top when it's done. They hang better that way, nice and flat and straight. I don't want the puffy, crinkly look on them so I do not wash them. I occasionally clean them with a lint roller to keep them free from dust. (Can you tell I live in an old house?)

I'm sure you'll find different opinions to answer your question. Weigh the pros and cons and decide for yourself which method is right for each of your individual quilts. And have fun quilting!

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Originally Posted by asta

I wash my quilts after they are finished because I like the soft, worn look that comes from the slight shrinking of the fabric. That being said, if I make a wall hanging that I want to stay crisp, I do not wash. Washing also takes out the crayola washable marker if that is what I used to mark my quilting lines.

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WOW mind blown Crayola washable marker!!! wow I may start marking things because I will know it will come out!! and it will not fade before I finish a project

I always wash and dry my quilts as soon as I am finished with them. It is partly because I use spray basting which gives the quilt an odd stiff look but totally washes out. I use warm and natural batting and I like how the quilt looks a little puckered after wash/dry. Even before I started using spray basting, I washed and dried.

I don't pre-wash my fabrics either.

If I were making a wall hanging, and if I pin basted instead of spray basted, I might not wash/dry after making.

Yes... I always wash my quilts when they are done..... For one thing, I love the lovely crinkled look the quilts have when they come out of the dryer. To me, that's when the quilt becomes quilty....

Also... I have two Chihuahuas who love to cuddle under any quilt I am sewing the binding dine on, or hand quilting. They thunk I have made it for them....

Another thing, is that I want to wash out my spray basting, any chemicals in the fabrics, and any starch I may have used. I just want my quilts to be nice and fresh when I give them away.....

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Originally Posted by cyndiofthevortex

I've done a lot of research on this topic on blogs, here on the forum, from quilt shop owners and even one fabric manufacturer. The best advice I'd give is for you to prewash your fabrics to get out any chemicals that might be used for sizing, dying, etc. Most fabrics these days don't run, but some do, especially dark batiks, so that's another good reason to prewash. I wash mine as soon as they come through the door so that I know everything I have has been prewashed. Except for precuts. Too tough to wash those! If you like the crisp feel of unwashed fabric, I recommend Mary Ellen's Best Press. It works great.

I didn't used to wash my quilts after quilting them but now I do after hearing many good reasons here on the forum. I have cats, so that's one good reason to wash them. They can also become dusty from being out and about. Plus, we have oil on our hands that will get on the quilt. And you do get that lovely crinkly look to them after washing and drying! I love that. And you will see if there are any problems with seams holding up. You'd hate to give away a quilt that is coming apart in one or two places. I partially dry mine in the dryer, then hang outside on a chair (no clothesline) to finish drying, but I don't see any reason why it can't completely dry in the dryer. Once it's given away it will probably go through the washer and dryer many times, especially if it's a quilt for a child.

Wallhangings? I never wash those because I want the crisp, flat look. I use the flattest batting I can find and even iron the top when it's done. They hang better that way, nice and flat and straight. I don't want the puffy, crinkly look on them so I do not wash them. I occasionally clean them with a lint roller to keep them free from dust. (Can you tell I live in an old house?)

I'm sure you'll find different opinions to answer your question. Weigh the pros and cons and decide for yourself which method is right for each of your individual quilts. And have fun quilting!

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I agree with you. I pre wash everything...started from "back in the day" when you had to due to shrinking and bleeding. But many say the shrinking isn't an issue, but I have found sometimes it is so why bother stressing about which shrinks and which doesn't and will it or not? I just pre wash everything, the press and starch. I also pre wash pre cuts....I put them in a lingerie bag...works great.

But I wash when the quilt is done to..for all reasons mentioned...but it is kind of a final answer. Make sure all the markings are out, make sure all the stitches have held, nothing bleeds (I'd had to give it to someone and it bleed for them on the first wash!) everything is as it should be. You are also seeing what it will look like when the person washes it for the first time. Again, I want to see what they are going to see so I can fix things or learn from my mistakes etc. IT isn't that big a deal to wash it...alone or with other things depending on size. But I like to wash mine alone and put in the dryer a scented fabric softner sheet. That tad bit of fragrance just makes for a nice "gifty" kind of ambiance to the quilt when it is opened and admired!

I wash mine because:

• We have pets in the house
• To wash out any markings I have used
• To make sure they are not going to fall apart
• To get off any dirt and grime it has picked up from handling and such
• Because I like that crinkly look

There are probably more but those are the main reasons I wash them.

1. I don't prewash anything.

2. I wash my quilts after they are finished to wash out all the chemicals, sizing, and starch I might have used. I do throw in a couple color catchers. I have yet to see any dye come out on them though.

3. Like most others, I love the crinkled look. So I dry mine all the way like anything else.

4. Durability- I have 4 young children with a 5th on the way. The quilt has got to last. No special treatment. My son's quilt is probably washed and dried 3x week from bed wetting. So the first wash is a test for anything that might fall apart.



--- If I am giving quilts out as gifts I am sure to wash them first. I imagine that if you got a quilt all crisp and startchy- the first time you wash it- when the whole thing shrinks and wrinkles- would be quite a surprise. I would think that I ruined it.

--- Wall hangings I wash as well- I'm weird.

Thanks for all of your responses! It definitely seems as though more people wash than don't.

I don't. I don't prewash because I use precuts and you aren't supposed to wash them. And I don't after because I don't use spray batting. And I ship mine to the quilter to be finished and I have her ship direct to whomever they are for. That person is welcome to wash them if they wish.