Fabric, Pre-cuts to wash or not for quilting

[Bubby]

I buy only good quality fabric and I give it a good steam press before cutting. The color catcher sheets really work. I use them every time I wash a quilt and so far so good. Color Catcher sheets can be found in the laundry detergent section of your grocery store, They come in a box similar to softener sheets. I would think that washing pre-cuts would most likely be risky due to the raveling factor. Barb

[toggpine]

Oh Suzy Que! I'd have kept the blocks and done some tie-dye or something! How sad!

I pretty much prewash because I can't stand the smell of the fabric when it comes home from the store. Some pieces because I want to see if they will change texture or shrink, but mostly for the smell.

[Melissa Conklin]

Aww, I wish I had searched on this topic earlier. I am starting my first quilt with pre-cuts and pre-washed a jelly roll. It is all one big, tangled, raveled mess I just want to throw it out and forget about it! Now I know better. :-)
I'd never heard of color catchers though, and am glad I found this thread so I can go hunt some down. Thanks for the advice!

[msquaredarts]

Thank you for all the great advice! I am a newbie and was debating on prewashing! I think I will make my first twin quilt without the prewashing and use a colour catcher thingy... wish me luck!

cheers

[nancy14418]

OK here is a question for you. I washed a quilt (wall hanging) after it came down after Christmas. Don't know where my head was but just threw it in even though it had red and white. Well, you guessed it, the red bled onto the white. Anyone have any suggestions for removing the bled over?

Thanks,
Nancy

[Txgrandma]

I have done many, many rag quilts before starting the piece quilting and have never prewashed. I always throw a color catcher sheet into the wash and have had absolutely no problems at all. The sheet comes out a really weird color though. I love the color catchers, keep them on hand all the time for laundry especially if there is a new garment going into the washload.