Soft fabric?

[GrammaJudy]

I love the look of the quilt after it is done while the fabric is new but it is not very soft feeling. Do you wash your finished quilts to make the fabric softer? Any suggestions?

[K. McEuen]

I always wash my quilts when I am finished with them. I throw them in the wash with a couple Color Catchers just in case the fabrics bleed and then dry them in the dryer to get that nice crinkled look.

[snowbird]

I always wash my quilts when I am finished with them. I throw them in the wash with a couple Color Catchers just in case the fabrics bleed and then dry them in the dryer to get that nice crinkled look.

I do the same as Karen plus I've been known to "antique" mine too...something about looking old and feeling comfy! Now, I am talking about the quilt looking old...

[Bubby]

I also love the look of soft crinkled quilts and I wash mine as soon as they are done. Cold water, delicate cycle, 2-3 color catchers, low dryer heat.

[Sharyn J]

Ditto, always wash them with a couple color-catchers.

[Auntpiggylpn]

I prewash all my fabrics due to allergies and always wash the quilt when I am done. I wash the quilt just like I do all my laundry: warm water on a regular cycle. I dry them in my dryer on a medium setting. I have never used a color catcher nor have I ever had a bleeder. (I contribute this to my pre washing). As 99% of my quilts are gifted, I want to make sure it will hold up going through the wash. I know that a new mother isn't going to wash a baby quilt in cold water on a gentle cycle; It probably won't get any stains out.

If you don't like the crinkly look after you wash a quilt, you can reduce or eliminate it by pre shrinking your batting and prewashing your fabrics. Get all the shrinkage out of the way before constructing your quilt !!!

[HdWench]

Wash cold delicate with a Color Grabber, dry gentle for 1 timer then hang dry. I've also been known to touch it up with an iron when gifting so it presents a little nicer and I usually make a ribbon for it :-) That's a nice present touch

Put it on my blog if you haven't done one before - Good use of the Dec Stitches

:-Debbie

Blonde Using Rotary Cutter

[buckeyequilter]

I always wash my quilts when they're finished to give them that old fashioned look. I also wash them to make sure they don't fall apart, bleed and just because I feel they aren't as clean as they should be after I've finished with them. I use a cold wash, gentle cycle and low heat in the dryer...and a couple of color catchers.

[Lisapc]

I always wash my quilts when they're finished to give them that old fashioned look. I also wash them to make sure they don't fall apart, bleed and just because I feel they aren't as clean as they should be after I've finished with them. I use a cold wash, gentle cycle and low heat in the dryer...and a couple of color catchers.

I wash them partly to make sure they are clean as well. I love hand lotion and then there is the starch to wash out and I do have 2 dogs and I just want to make sure they are clean and ready to be washed as the recipient will wash them. Color catchers-a new quilts favorite thing.

[Joan@DebtofGratitude]

I am a washer too. (After, though. I never pre-wash.) To me, a quilt is not a quilt until it's crinkly.