Fabric, Pre-cuts to wash or not for quilting

[hemaravi]

I always wonder if we need to wash all the cotton quilting fabric ? What do we do if we are quilting using the pre-cuts like charm packs, layer cakes etc.

I'm totally new to quilting and not sure how to go ahead with it. Any help would be great!

thanks,
Hema

[Mimis-quilts]

I never prewash any of my fabric and haven't had any problems so far. Have fun learning this wonderful world of quilting!
Mimi-Pat

[hemaravi]

Thank you, Mimi-Pat! That's helpful!

[quiltingtrish]

iT IS HIGHLY SUGGESTED THAT YOU DO NOT WASH PRECUTS. YOU WILL PROBABLY HIGH A NIGHTMARE OF UNRAVELING TO DEAL WITH. WHEN YOU DO WASH THE QUILT AND IT HAS FABRICS IN IT THAT MIGHT RUN - LIKE REDS, BLACKS, PURPLES - THROW IN A COLOR WASH SHEET AND IT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE BLEEDING.

HUGS,

[hemaravi]

That is a good warning. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for sharing, quiltingtrish!

[meemeecyn]

A few times I was very afraid of the colors running, so washed the smaller cuts by hand. It was so much more gentle than the washing machine. I didn't know about the color wash sheets, but will try them now! Thank you Trish.

[toggpine]

I pre-wash all but the pre-cuts. There have been a few horror stories from gals on here that washed the pre cuts. Tangled nightmares were what they called the resulting mess. I think you might have better luck hand soaking any questionable colors of pre-cuts to see if they did bleed. That would control the agitation and still let you see if they wanted to run before you incorporated them into your quilt.
I'm working with my first pre-cut quilt now, so we'll see if it makes a difference if you mix washed and unwashed fabrics together. I had pre-washed fabrics in my stash that I wanted to use with a honey bun, so I am giving it a try.
I have also heard good things about the color catchers. I use a cup of vinegar in the rinse on fabrics I think might have a problem holding their color. It's supposed to help set the color and work as a fabric softener. The fabric feels fine and does not smell like a pickle when it's finished!

[Emmari]

I sew a lot of clothes and did this before I started quilting. As a rule all cotton fabric should be washed to get rid of ev bleeding, shrinking and not least different chemicals from the get go.

As mentioned above wee pre cuts have the ravelling issue, so I wash everything but jelly rolls gently in a wash bag, the prior I steam press to get the shrinking issue etc out of the way.

I then wash the finished quilt before giving it away to check that it holds up AND
is free from chemicals all over.

*Hugs*

[CherylR]

I prewash only if I am garment sewing. for quilting I buy only good fabric and steam press before I cut. When the project is finished I wash with a Color Catcher sheet(or5). This worked even on the Dr. Suess quilt with red, yellow and lots of white.

[pamstone]

what is a color catcher sheet?