What does a non-pre-washed fat quarter make a quilt look like?

I know it is preference as to pre washing pre cuts like fat quarters. However, when I pre wash things, there is some shrinkage as when I fold the washed/dried item, matching the salvages...the fold is wonky. So to make an even fold, I have to allow the salvages to be crooked(not matched evenly) and then start the cutting. So obviously there is shrinkage somehow in the yardage. Now just cause it is a pre cut, doens't mean this will not happen...they have a salvage also. And when washed...odds are these non pre washed fabric will shrink somehow/where and that will make the quilt have that puckered look. I like that some times, but other times it looks out of place...like the quilt is wrinkled and is not appealing.

I just bought 2 sets of FQ's when they were on sale and got the little stars and little dots from CT and they are beautiful prints and colors and I want to create with them. I usually put them in a lingerie bag. But last time I did that with some I had, they got all wrinkled and wadded up together. No big deal really as I just ironed them out but still...I would rather that not happen. And rather not have that extra work on 48 fat quarters... and I also got 48 cake layers!

So what I'd like to hear from those that DO NOT prewash fat quarters....when the quilt is done, how do the areas you used the FQ's on .. look? How does the whole quilt look if the FQ's are not pre washed and now have done any shrinking they will do? I also am cautious of colors bleeding, but have been using the color catchers and they seem to do great so if I decide not to pre wash, I know those would cover the bleeding.. (unless I use red..then it is pre wash a few times!) But if anyone has any experience with cutting pieces of non pre washed fat quarters..please share and if you have them..post a close up picture.

I assume they cut and sew fine, but if that is a problem due to no pre washing... share that experience if you would. I have my "to do" list for next year in the making and these fat quarters as so awesome, I want to use them right away! Thanks for your comments

I don't pre-wash anything....

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Originally Posted by ilive2craft2

I don't pre-wash anything....

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Do you ever have any problems with how the fabric looks in the finished quilt after it is washed? Does it distort in any way? I am thinking maybe the smaller the pre cut, the less chance of shrinkage, but maybe not. I pre wash everything just to cover everything in the beginning and not have it tarnish the finished quilt.

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Originally Posted by ilive2craft2

I don't pre-wash anything....

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Nor do I. All fabrics start on an even playing field. Tonight I washed a quilt for my niece with questionable black backing. The color catchers (3) did the trick.

I try to use good quality fabric and if there is shrinkage, it is similar throughout the quilt - have not seen any distortions. When I have used cheaper fabric for projects, such as pillowcases, I have seen some distortion and shrinkage. Some of my quilts have been washed numerous times - they were kid quilts and get washed a lot and no problems. I do give a color catcher with my projects - pillowcases or quilts. Just bought a box so that I can give them with the pillowcases for the kids tomorrow.

Sometimes I think the selvages are part of the distortion problem when pre-washing- it is a different weave than the rest, so could be part of the distortion as it would shrink differently. If you want to pre-wash, I would cut off the selvage. The precuts don't have selvages, so they should not distort either.

I pre-shrink with starch and by pressing with steam. I don't prewash. I like the antique kind of wrinkled look, so it doesn't bother me if the fabric shrinks a bit more after being quilted. I always do a post-quilting/binding wash, before giving a quilt to its next owner...

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...

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Originally Posted by ilive2craft2

I try to use good quality fabric and if there is shrinkage, it is similar throughout the quilt - have not seen any distortions. When I have used cheaper fabric for projects, such as pillowcases, I have seen some distortion and shrinkage. Some of my quilts have been washed numerous times - they were kid quilts and get washed a lot and no problems. I do give a color catcher with my projects - pillowcases or quilts. Just bought a box so that I can give them with the pillowcases for the kids tomorrow.

Sometimes I think the selvages are part of the distortion problem when pre-washing- it is a different weave than the rest, so could be part of the distortion as it would shrink differently. If you want to pre-wash, I would cut off the selvage. The precuts don't have selvages, so they should not distort either.

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Well, now I hadn't thought about that...the salvages are very different weave than the rest of the fabric. That very well could be where the problem is. The first wash of a finished quilt...and none of your quilts have that pucker effect?

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Originally Posted by SiobhanF

I pre-shrink with starch and by pressing with steam. I don't prewash. I like the antique kind of wrinkled look, so it doesn't bother me if the fabric shrinks a bit more after being quilted. I always do a post-quilting/binding wash, before giving a quilt to its next owner...

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So you starch and press then cut? The steam does any shrinking? I hadn't heard about that before. Do you get that "antique" kind of wrinkle all the time? I only like that on certain styles of quilts...very rarely. I know it looks antique-y, but most of the time to me, it just looks wrinkled! I feel all my work is inferior when I see wrinkles!

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Originally Posted by ilive2craft2

I try to use good quality fabric and if there is shrinkage, it is similar throughout the quilt - have not seen any distortions. When I have used cheaper fabric for projects, such as pillowcases, I have seen some distortion and shrinkage. Some of my quilts have been washed numerous times - they were kid quilts and get washed a lot and no problems. I do give a color catcher with my projects - pillowcases or quilts. Just bought a box so that I can give them with the pillowcases for the kids tomorrow.

Sometimes I think the selvages are part of the distortion problem when pre-washing- it is a different weave than the rest, so could be part of the distortion as it would shrink differently. If you want to pre-wash, I would cut off the selvage. The precuts don't have selvages, so they should not distort either.

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I buy Calico Keepsakes prints and Kona and Legacy Studio solids at Joann's Crafts...98% of the time. I don't buy online often as it is to expensive. Sadly, my budget dictates what I buy. Plus I have had bad experience in the colors I see on screen are different than the actual color. Just happened when I bought some thread, although no big deal, I can always use most colors, but in a fabric...usually you need the exact color. But on the FQ's and charms etc...I don't really like charms for other than making HST's and to teach my grand daughter quilting. But the fat quarters are a nice size for many things.

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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...

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What is the "minimal" shrinkage you see?

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.

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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.

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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!

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Originally Posted by ilive2craft2

I don't pre-wash anything....

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I'm with Lisa, I don't pre wash.. never have... never will.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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.

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.

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

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.

I never prewash because it would shrink and then you would have to do more work to square things up again.

I was going to come in here and say that your quilts are going to have some wrinkle to them no matter what you do because it's the nature of the beast, but Cathryn beat me to it.

I supposed if you made a quilt out of polyester, with polyester batting that it wouldn't have any wrinkles or crinkles, but then it wouldn't be a very comfortable quilt. I hate polyester fabric.

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Originally Posted by Bubby

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.

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Thanks for the "lesson" I appreciate that. I will keep that in mind. I have heard a few say about the salvage being the part that shrinks so maybe that is it. I had never thought of that before. I like the crinkled look sometimes, but not all the time. I am going to be using some fat quarters with some yardage to make some decorative pillows for my living room so I think that will be the best time to try a non-pre-washed FQ and see how it goes!

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Originally Posted by K. McEuen

I was going to come in here and say that your quilts are going to have some wrinkle to them no matter what you do because it's the nature of the beast, but Cathryn beat me to it.

I supposed if you made a quilt out of polyester, with polyester batting that it wouldn't have any wrinkles or crinkles, but then it wouldn't be a very comfortable quilt. I hate polyester fabric.

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Yes, I have noticed that about 100% poly batting. I try to get 50/50 or at least 80/20 as I don't want it to shrink. I like the look of the crinkle SOMETIMES, but not all the time. To me...my first impression is "it needs ironing!"

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Originally Posted by BellasQuilts

I never prewash because it would shrink and then you would have to do more work to square things up again.

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But if it is going to shrink at all...it shrinks in the pre wash OR the first wash of the finished quilt. The only diff I know of is the quilt will get that crinkled looked if no prewash was done. So I would say if you aren't pre washing, also don't square up. But then..would thinks match and be equal while construction?

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Originally Posted by Cat n bull

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.

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Yeah you are right about the cotton batting shrinking to. I try to stay with 50/50 or 80/20 as the cotton is softer but the poly is sturdier...and I hadn't thought about the shrinkage of the batting. Learned something new in this discussion! I am going to make some decorative pillows for my living room and am going to try to mix pre washed (yardage) with a non-pre-washed FQ and then wash and see how ti goes. I think I am still back in the early 20th century as that is when fabrics were not as technoligically inclined as they are today...maybe progress has allowed fabrics to not shrink as they used to.

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Originally Posted by MartinaG

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.

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Pre wash to lessen shrinkage is exactly why I do pre wash. I am not a huge fan of the pucker look. Okay on some styles of quilts, but for others....I dont' care much for it and my first impression when I see a "puckered" quilt is..."it needs ironing"...which means it looks sloppy. I dont' want that impression to something I have worked so hard to create and make.

I never prewash anything, and especially not precuts. The only thing I wash is flannel, because it shrinks so much. That being said, if the entire quilt is made of similar flannel, I may not wash that either.