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Thread: Washing fabric

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  1. #1
    MargeS is offline Junior Member
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    Default Washing fabric

    New Quilter! How important is it to wash fabric before sewing? Are Charm packs washed?

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    ozziepuppy's Avatar ozziepuppy is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Washing fabric

    People have lots of different opinions on this topic. Usually I don't, but for my son's wedding quilt, which will mix batiks and regular quilting cottons, I will be pre washing is Retayne and Synthrapol to set the dyes and prevent bleeding later. Usually, though, I just use the Color Catchers the first time something is washed.


    Marci

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    BobW's Avatar BobW is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Washing fabric

    I have never pre-washed. Especially with charms. I think they would come apart. I don't think fabric fades, shrinks and such as much as it used to.
    Bob

    (If all the pieces fit perfectly, people will think it was made by a machine!) LOL

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    sewluvit is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Washing fabric

    I prewash all flannels but would never prewash charm packs or any precuts, I don't prewash my cotton yardage either.

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    QuiltingRN's Avatar QuiltingRN is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Washing fabric

    I wash all of my fabric except precuts and flannel. I like to use flannel for rag quilts and it frays better if not prewashed. I never had any problem with colors bleeding, so far!
    You will get lots of opinions but I think we will all agree on not pre washing precuts.
    April

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    Sylvia H's Avatar Sylvia H is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Washing fabric

    I never prewash the precuts, like charm squares. I rarely prewash at all, but I did prewash the yardage for some children's quilts. In my mind, I wanted to make sure the fabric wouldn't run and that it would hold up to washing, as a child's quilt probably gets washed more frequently. If I have some dark colored fabrics, and I want to make sure they won't bleed, I will snip off a piece, put it in a jar of water with some detergent added. I shake it up and then leave it in the jar for about 30 minutes to see if there is any bleeding. I have never used color catchers, but I will be trying that when I wash my grandson's quilt.

  7. #7
    Iris Girl's Avatar Iris Girl is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Washing fabric

    I prewash all fabric except pre cuts.
    Iris Girl = April = fabric, Fabric FABRIC!!
    Time spent with cats is never wasted.
    Sigmund Freud

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    sewlucky is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Washing fabric

    I don't pre wash anything, ever. That said, if I decided to mix an old fabric with a new one then I would wash all just because shrinkage would probably be different.

    Terri

  9. #9
    DonnaB is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: Washing fabric

    I never prewash good quilting fabric. i do prewash Joanne or Walmart fabric for curtains or whatever. It is the feel of the material.

  10. #10
    yeeehawterri's Avatar yeeehawterri is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Washing fabric

    I wash nothing until it is finished. Including flannel. I've only had trouble once with some black off brand fabric and color catchers took care of it.

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