Why not wash fabric first?

Sorry if this has already been covered but my wife keeps asking me and I couldn't find an answer for her.

In several of the swap threads it is requested that the fabric used to make the blocks be unwashed. I understand that if some blocks were washed and some were unwashed it might lead to uneven shrinking in the finished quilt but won't using unwashed fabrics (especially reds next to whites) be a recipe for ending up with a red and pink quilt rather than a red and white one?

I tried to ask within the swap group but that thread doesn't get much action so I thought I'd ask here instead.

What is the advantage of not washing the fabrics before they are sewn into blocks?

Followup question: What is the best way to prevent the reds from turning adjoining white squares pink when the fabric in question is unwashed?

Any clarification you can provide is appreciated.

I always, always, always wash reds several times to prevent exactly that. It is virtually impossible to get the whites white again. I suspect you have the right reason for groups requesting the fabric not be washed. A lot of us don't prewash (except for reds) because it washes out the sizing.

Since many quilters use precuts, it is not recommended that the precuts be washed because it distorts them and they fray. If you are using only yardage it's your call. But I think most people think do one or the other, but don't mix. I've mixed and haven't had any disasters. Many people use the Shout color catcher cloths in their washers during the first washing of quilts that had fabrics that had not been washed. The red next to the white is a problem, but the color catcher (some people use more than one) should take care of it. The only advice I've heard forum members say is to definitely prewash flannel, because it shrinks so much, it would distort the quilt badly if used unwashed. I myself have never had a problem with color bleeding, and if I am unsure, I use the color catchers. You find them in the laundry section by the dryer sheets. I get mine at Target.

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Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine

Since many quilters use precuts, it is not recommended that the precuts be washed because it distorts them and they fray.

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I owe you a beer. Attachment 37721

It makes so much sense to hear you say that but I'm not sure I ever would have figured it out on my own. I knew there had to be a reason I just couldn't come up with it. Mystery so

Sometimes I think it is a personal preference to wash or not wash. It does wash out the sizing but I like to pre-wash my yardage I always use the Color Catchers when I wash also. Your can always iron your fabric after you wash it and use either Spray Sizing or Spray Starch to give it back a little of the crispness the fabric may have lost in the wash.
If you don't know about Color Catchers they are like dryer sheets but you use them in the wash and they attract the dye that would otherwise bleed onto any other fabric. They work pretty good.

I never prewash, but I have never made a red and white quilt either. Not sure what I would do in that case. I don't like the way the fabric looks after being washed. It gets wrinkly, ravels, flimsy.

I don't prewash as the fabric is easier to handle, less distortion while cutting and sewing.....and I use color catchers in all of my laundry because you never know when something is new and is going to bleed.....and most times I am thankful I did!

Can you imagine washing a jelly roll and what a tangled mess it would be. lol

When I do childrens clothes (for etsy) I alway's prewash.,but that is yardage. I did an experiment a few months ago and pre washed two squares of a layer cake to see how much it actually shrank, I'm so sorry I did.. because I either have to wash the rest or toss one square.

Im with roxanne. I never prewash, i hate how it feels used out of the dryer, wrinkly and too soft. I just made a baby red and white quilt top that now i hope doesnt bleed. Ill try out the color catcher on that one and hopefully it will be fine since i didnt even think to pre wash red. First one ive made with red... if it does i guess it will go to my son lol and yes flannel shinks a lot. I prewash that if im mixing fabrics.

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Originally Posted by HandsomeRyan

I owe you a beer. Attachment 37721

It makes so much sense to hear you say that but I'm not sure I ever would have figured it out on my own. I knew there had to be a reason I just couldn't come up with it. Mystery so

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Ryan, I feel very certain you would have figured it out on your own the first time you threw a jelly roll or a package of charms into the washing machine.

Love Love the color catchers! Have done a red, black and white quilt and it came out great. Unless I'm making clothes, I never Prewash. The bit of shrinkage looks good after you have quilted it, it makes your quilting all crinkly looking.

I received some batik f/q's at Christmastime and have been a bit nervous about them since reading posts about pre-washing... Batiks are often hand-dyed, so you MUST pre-wash them. BUT, fat quarters are pre-cuts, so you must NOT wash them. BUT, maybe fat quarters are big enough that you MAY wash them...!! Oy.

So this morning I called Connecting Threads and the nice lady who answered the phone (and let's give credit where credit is due: I called at 9:30 a.m. East-Coast time, so it was only 6:30 her time and she was still very pleasant!) told me they do NOT recommend pre-washing. So I'm not going to, and I won't worry about it.

... BUT, I think I'll go out and get some of those color-catchers, for when it's all done.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. For now.

I started quilting back when lots of things (not just reds) ran and there was more of a problem with shrinkage. Since I like my quilts scrappy I mix my new and old fabrics for almost all of my quilts. I pre-wash all of my new yardage as soon as it gets in the door, even fat quarters, so that I know all of my fabrics have been washed before I pull them out to use them. What can I say? It's just the way I was raised.

I find that unwashed fabrics handles better - the seams are crisper and everything fits together better.

If the swap host requires unwashed, then it is the responsibility of the participants to deal with the potential of colors running. When I deal with intense colors I generally pretest them to see if they will run. I would not send out a runny fabric in a swap. But then there are color catchers. Some people will wash their precuts (or steam the heck out of them) before putting them in their quilts.

I never wash anything but flannel. NEVER EVER wash pre cuts.I prefer working with unwashed fabric. I do however iron before cutting. Whether washed or unwashed once the blocks are sewn together and washed it will be fine. I use color catchers on any quilt that has dark colors on the first wash. I personally prefer the soft comfy feel of a quilt once it is washed, than a stiff starched feeling one. Who the heck would want to cuddle up with something like that? lol

I don't prewash because I have a big family and do enough Laundry. I haven't had any issues thus far with colors running, flannel shrinking, maybe I've been lucky!! Knock on wood! I use color catchers when I wash a finished quilt. I'm going to do a red and white quilt next month so well see!