Re: What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
easyquilts
I never pre-wash anything anymore.... The quilts look just fine... I wash them in cold water, and dry them on perm. press. Shrinkage is minimal...
What is the "minimal" shrinkage you see?
Re: What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?
I never pre-wash fabric. I did do it once when I was first starting out, but the fabric had such shredded edges it really made it a pain to piece the top. So I stopped pre-washing.
I use color catchers in the wash, always wash on warm, dry on high.
My quilts have a little bit of puckering, I think it gives it a "real" quilt look, very vintage.
Re: What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gayle8675309
I never pre-wash fabric. I did do it once when I was first starting out, but the fabric had such shredded edges it really made it a pain to piece the top. So I stopped pre-washing.
I use color catchers in the wash, always wash on warm, dry on high.
My quilts have a little bit of puckering, I think it gives it a "real" quilt look, very vintage.
You dry on high? You are the first I have ever heard say that! It is always luke warm or cold! But if it works...why not! ALL your quilts have minor pucker? I like that effect sometimes on certain quilt patterns but mostly it makes me think the quilt is wrinkled!
Now if I could do where only parts are puckered and others not... like parts of a block are puckered and the background and sashing are not...that'd probably be cool to make parts of it pop out...3-D kind of, while the other is smooth. Maybe I could try to not pre wash the pieces I use to make the design and pre wash the background and sashing and then wash it and see how it turns out. That way only certain areas would pucker and the rest would be smooth. Could look very amazing. Have to give that some important thought!
Re: What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ilive2craft2
I don't pre-wash anything....
I'm with Lisa, I don't pre wash.. never have... never will.
Re: What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
coffeebreak
You dry on high? You are the first I have ever heard say that! It is always luke warm or cold! But if it works...why not! ALL your quilts have minor pucker? I like that effect sometimes on certain quilt patterns but mostly it makes me think the quilt is wrinkled!
Now if I could do where only parts are puckered and others not... like parts of a block are puckered and the background and sashing are not...that'd probably be cool to make parts of it pop out...3-D kind of, while the other is smooth. Maybe I could try to not pre wash the pieces I use to make the design and pre wash the background and sashing and then wash it and see how it turns out. That way only certain areas would pucker and the rest would be smooth. Could look very amazing. Have to give that some important thought!
I never pre wash and when I do wash the quilt after it is done, I wash on hot water in a hot dryer. Love the "vintage or well loved" look and the quilt is warmer after washing... just my opinion.
Re: What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fabriclovr
I never pre wash and when I do wash the quilt after it is done, I wash on hot water in a hot dryer. Love the "vintage or well loved" look and the quilt is warmer after washing... just my opinion.
I didnt know so many washed in hot! I'd venture to say that might help in softening up the quilt? And I assume we are talking about 100% cotton? I like the vintage look the puckers give, but just not all the time on every quilt. It makes me think the quilt is wrinkled, giving me the impression I have been working with junk and the quilt came out sloppy! I am going to try it tho...gotta see how this works out!
Re: What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?
The only thing I pre-wash is flannel if I will be using it on the back of a quilt. The reason I do this is because it shrinks at a different rate than regular cotton. As far as pre-cuts are concerned, I don't prewash them. The manufacturers recommend that your do NOT prewash them. The only selvedge on a precut is at the end of 2.5" strips, which you don't sew into your projects anyway.
After my quilts are complete I wash them right away in cold water with a gentle liquid detergent and I throw in about 3 Color Catcher sheets to catch any migrating dye. I dry them on low in the dryer. I like to look of washed quilts..a little crinkly/puffy. It makes them look loved.
If your fat quarters shrunk, the way to square them up is to put your selvedges together in a manner that allows your fabric to fall straight. You may have to slide your selvedges to the point they are uneven. Once the fabric lies flat, trim off the edge to get a straight edge and go from there.
Re: What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?
I either prewash everything for a project or nothing - but I generally don't mix prewashed and unwashed because the pieces may shrink differently. If you prewash everything, then there is less shrinkage when the entire quilt gets washed. Unwashed fabric can lead to more shrinkage and more "puckering" - I happen to like the antique look of the puckered fabric. Another component to the overall look is the amount of quilting on the piece. Uneven quilting density will make the quilt look more puckered in some areas than others.
Re: What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?
I don't prewash anything. I have found the crinkled look comes from how close I quilt. The closer I quilt it crinkles the further away the flatter is lays. That just what has happened to me. I use warm and natural. I wash everything together as a finished product
Re: What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?
Cotton is GOING to wrinkle and pucker, every single time it's washed, no matter how many times it's washed. That's why we have to iron cotton clothing every time we wash them, and they make wrinkle resistant bed sheets for those that don't like wrinkled sheets.
The better quality quilting cottons shrink and color bleed very minimally, but like ALL cotton there is not much you can do to prevent the wrinkles once you wet it, even if you air dry it it's still not going to dry perfectly smooth.
Your batting choice will also effect shrinkage and puckering after washing, as well as your backing. If you want no to very minimal shrinkage and battings that will repeatedly dry as smooth as possible, stick with poly battings. Cotton is going to behave like cotton inside your quilt.
I wash on whatever temp is best for the whole load, and if my dog has particularly outdone herself on messing one of the couch quilts with slobber it will be washed on hot. ALL my quilts are dried on high. I do not have the patience or the space to look at a soggy quilt stretched out to dry, I want it DONE. And I hate the crispy feel of air dried fabrics.
I have also mixed unwashed and prewashed fabrics in quilts before and there is absolutely no way to tell which fabrics are which once the whole quilt is washed.
