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I am off to purchase fabric for my two youngers quilt today. I know that when you get the precut fabrics you can prewash. I am planning on getting yardages. Do I go ahead and prewash them? It would be so much easier, less time consuming if I could just go ahead and cut but wondering what is advised?
You ladies are a wealth of information. I have so enjoyed this board.
Blessings,
Sandy
I do not wash my fabric and it does ok--I think it is a personal preference.
I have done both, and for me, at least, I see prewashing as a waste of time and energy. Others will disagree, but I don't anymore. And, I have used both unwashed and prewashed in the same quilt with no problem. I like the stiffness of the unwashed fabric - I think it's easier to cut and sew on. The two exceptions would be flannel, which does shrink and fabrics I would be afraid might bleed.
I don't wash my fabrics either. The only fabrics that I prewash is flannel. Flannel is a must because it will shrink more.
For regular fabrics it is a preference. If you don't prewash, you will get what I call the "quilt crinkle" after you wash and dry your quilt, which I love cause it makes the quilt look homey, and cozy.......But, if you do not like that look, pre washing your fabrics will lessen that effect.
HI Sandy,Quote:
Originally Posted by mom4him
Unless it is a darker color no need to wash -- I heard an instructor say when you steam the sewn pieces--it mini washes them anyway. the 1st time you wash the finished quilt--any shrinkage wil ltake place at the same time--so no worry.
Prewashing strips is messy & then you have to starch them so they lay flat--a lot of work.
You're so right about it being messy and time consuming! I was thinking the other day about the clothes I've made for myself. I never pre-washed any of that fabric. Now I put all my quilting fabric in the washer & dryer, I have to clip off all the threads, and then starch, starch, starch to get them ready to cut. Beginning to see the light. I think I'll stop pre-washing, except for some reds, blacks and other colors that might bleed, and say myself a ton of time and mess. Thank you all for your observations!Quote:
Originally Posted by scrappy quilter
You're so right about it being messy and time-consuming. I was thinking the other day about the clothes I've made. I never pre-washed any of that fabric. Why do I do it with quilting fabric? I think I'll still pre-wash reds, blacks and any other colors that might bleed, but it will sure save a lot of time not pre-washing the others. Thank you all for your observations!Quote:
Originally Posted by scrappy quilter
Oops! Sorry about the double post. I thought the first one had been deleted.
I used to pre wash everything too, then I had to use some unwashed fabric in a quilt mixed with pre-washed, and there was not a single bit of difference.
I used to also prefer the way washed fabric handled, but now that I am quilting, it IS easier to cut and sew unwashed. I am a creature of habit and like familiarity, but let me say that I VERY quickly became familiar to sewing with unwashed fabric!
And there is no noticeable difference in the wrinkliness of the finished quilt either way after it's washed and dried. Most of today's quilting cottons shrink very minimally, so don't worry your quilt won't look as 'quilty' if you do wash first.
If you use "color catchers" when you wash your quilts you won't have to prewash even the colors . I've put red and white in the wash with a color catcher and had no problems. I made a purple and cream quilt and no problems with that one either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SittingPretty
Hi. I'm afraid I have a different opinion from everyone else.
First, I don't think it's a good idea at all to wash pre-cuts. They are so precisely cut that any shredding of the edges in the washer would be a major headache and could really ruin any quilt you had planned for them.
Having said that, though, I do always pre-wash my yardage. There are two reasons: Once I had a mixture of pre-washed and unwashed high quality Asian fabric that I was going to use in a One Block Wonder (you have to have six exact repeats of your fabric to make a hexagon). I couldn't get them to match -- and discovered a two inch difference in the WOF between the washed and unwashed. So despite having bought expensive fabric at a high end quilt shop, I definitely had shrinkage.
But here's the most important reason I pre-wash yardage -- especially for younger quilters. Virtually all fabric is manufactured overseas, and they do not have the same environmental standards that we do in the United States. They use some pretty harsh chemicals on their fabrics, including formaldehyde. Not only that, but you just don't know what little bugs and critters might have embedded themselves from far away.
So in your case, buying this fabric for youngsters, I highly recommend pre-washing.
I don't like the smell of the dye, sizing, or whatever it is. I pre-wash for that.
I have also found that it helps me line up the grain better when I fold it to cut. If you do decide to pre-wash, here are several things to consider.
Run a line of stitching down the edge with a short stitch length. (Practice your 1/4" seam line?!?!) A serger works great, and some folks report that clipping the corners off of the edges keeps the fabric from fraying in the wash. If you do get a string ball, cut it off while the fabric is wet, before you put it in the dryer, it will keep the fabric from wrinkling in the shape. It won't usually fray any more.
Pull the fabric out of the dryer a little damp. It will iron out as nicely as anything.
I haven't had a problem mixing washed & un-washed (pre-cuts especially) in a quilt either.
Happy quilting!
I never pre-wash my fabrics. I don't even do the blacks, reds or blues. I will use color catchers in the wash. I haven't heard if any of my quilts that I gave away had any problems. Good luck.
Never ever wash pre cuts. They are not meant to be washed. I never wash anything except flannel, and that is because of the extreme shrinking. I do use color catchers though the first time I wash a new quilt.
I am also a newbie and I pre-washed a bunch of pre-cuts that I bought...what a disaster! They frayed like mad and are completely out of shape. I will never pre-wash again, especially not pre-cuts.
I pre wash my fabrics for several reasons. I just wanted to say that even though I pre wash my fabrics I still get the "crinkley" look after I wash it before gifting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Madeforyouinma11
I'll just agree with this. I prewash even if I just buy 12 inch WOF. And press.Quote:
Originally Posted by GuitarGramma
I truly loathe prewashing.
It's too much time and energy. Not to mention, we don't have a washer and dryer installed in this house yet, so everything has to go to the laundromat. At $6 just to wash a load....it's also cost prohibitive for us.
They only thing I do prewash is flannel.
However, I just did a flannel backed quilt with out prewashing. I guess I lucked out because I had no issues once I washed the completed top.
Oh, ETA: I do use color catchers when I wash, no matter the color combination of the quilt.
This is a "it depends" answer. I am not allergic to any of the chemicals in the fabric. I also shoot for consistency which means that I either wash all of it or I wash none of it.
Batik tends to run so I wash ALL batiks before use.
When the colors of my new fabric are intense (reds, blues, purples, black) I tend to do a color test on a swatch. If it runs - or rubs off - when wet, I wash it. Otherwise, I may well make the quilt as is. I just did one in red-white-black that will get a few color catchers added to the wash - just in case.
Precuts get used as is. I do not want them to distort in the wash. If I have to spend a lot of time pressing and stretching the precut AFTER washing, then what is the point of buying precuts in the first place. I generally give them a good hit with steam.
It comes into the house, gets dumped out of the shopping bag and onto the pile of laundry. ALL fabric is washed before I use it. If you give it to me as a gift, it is put directly in the laundry pile.
I want to know WHAT that fabric looks like after it's washed and before I invest time and effort into creating a quilt.
And all of the reasons stated above are why and how...
However, I do NOT iron after washing. Handpress as I fold to put away, ironed as I am ready to use it!
What is a color catcher? Lorene
I always prewash except for precuts. coming from being a clothing maker and prewashing everything for shrinkage... nothing worse the taking your time doing a great job on a nice new outfit and then the first washing it shrinks and doesn't fit any more. just a waste. also as said in previous posts the little buggies that sometimes get in the fabric and do their thing. also I don't like the sizing they put in things and the dyes sometimes cause skin problems and I like the smell of my washing detergents and starch (thanks Blondie for the recipe). I also line dry all fabric never put in the dryer , but then I rarely use my dryer except in the winter when I can't get out and hang things. Just me quirky. Happy sewing
I damp press. I forgot to say that. I wash and dry to damp and then press with hot iron.
GuitarGramma, thank you for this reminder. It should be a no brainer for me as we do have chemical issues in our house. I probably wouldn't have survived working with all the fabric un washed for the time that you need to make a quilt.
I have never prewashed any fabrics and have never had an issue. I have 5 kids I do enough laundry hahaha, even though only 4 live here. I do however always use warm and natural batting and use a color catcher when I do the first wash. If it has red I use two. I don't know if the batting has made a difference on shrinkage but it's never been an issue. I agree I think its a personal preference. What kind of quilt are you making? I love to see patterns picked for boys!
I guess I'm lazy, impatient or both. I've never pre-washed anything but I have used a lot of precuts and thought it was not advisable to wash Jelly Rolls or Charm Squares
When I participate in fabric swaps, most still require it to be washed, and pressed. The exception being precuts. (Like store bought FQ's).
Ok, I just thought I would check in and give my final decision. I am going to prewash my fabric, drying part way and pressing while still a bit damp. I had never considered doing this before. It is the ironing the fabric what is all rolled up in a wrinkled ball that I really hate. I know for our circumstance I need to pre wash.
Thanks for all the info and suggestions given.
Blessings,
Sandy
mom4him, I understand. Once (thank goodness, only once) I walked into a fabric store and my eyes started watering and wouldn't stop. A lady even came over to see if she could help me. It was awful. I don't know why I'm less sensitive now, but I still sneeze a lot when I'm fabric shopping.Quote:
Originally Posted by mom4him
Good luck to you and your youngsters! Please post a photo of the quilt top when it's completed!
They may have just gotten a new shipment of fabric in. I can normally get by in larger fabric shops but the small one we have here in town is in a home with normal 8' ceilings. There are times I walk into it, turn around and walk right back out. I rarely let my son go in there with me.Quote:
Originally Posted by GuitarGramma
I am figuring out the picture thing so I will be posting picture, starting with the one I am presently working on.
I don't prewash either. I do use the color catchers and those are great!
Heck, NO!
Except for flannel, of course.
I learned this one a little too late, and am still trying to find a way to back-peddle out of this 'not so' perfect, lovely mess of a baby quilt.
And another, that I pre-washed that I can't find my way back to, but HAVE to because she is nearing her first birthday.
The learning curve....