To prewash or not to prewash--that is my question!

[deckerbunch]

I just made a quilt top using Serena charm squares and a jelly roll. Obviously, since it's a precut, I didn't prewash. After I finished, I ordered a navy blue backing. I just got it today, and it's a lot darker than I anticipated. Generally I prewash everything, so it wouldn't be an issue. But since I didn't prewash the top, I don't know if I should prewash the backing. It's really dark, and I'm afraid when the quilt gets washed that it will bleed (or just turn the sheets blue from contact.)

I've heard one shouldn't mix pre-washed with not pre-washed fabrics, so I'm in a quandry. Since y'all are much more familiar with the fabrics yo sell, I thought you might know the answer. Do I pre-wash the backing?

[deckerbunch]

I just made a quilt top using Serena charm squares and a jelly roll. Obviously, since it's a precut, I didn't prewash. After I finished, I ordered a navy blue backing. I just got it today, and it's a lot darker than I anticipated. Generally I prewash everything, so it wouldn't be an issue. But since I didn't prewash the top, I don't know if I should prewash the backing. It's really dark, and I'm afraid when the quilt gets washed that it will bleed (or just turn the sheets blue from contact.)

I've heard one shouldn't mix pre-washed with not pre-washed fabrics, so I'm in a quandry. Do I prewash the backing?

[Claire Hallman]

I would wash it since it is not going to be pieced into the Serena, just be the back the quilt so if it shrank or didn't then it would not affect your quilt top. I have seen some high quality navy bleed terribly so prewashing would be done if there was any question in my mind.
I like to prewash but have stopped prewashing fabric that will be pieced with precuts that I do not wash. If the whole thing is yardage then I prewash all the yardage. I also use color catcher sheets when washing the finished quilts at least the first time.

[New York Sue]

I would only pre-wash a flannel, BUT I would surely use 2 or 3 Shout color catchers when washing after completion.
(Found in most grocery stores)...
Good luck, chica!

[deckerbunch]

That was kind of my thought. What happens if the whole front shrinks when it's washed, and the back doesn't? What are color catcher sheets, and where do you get them?

[vchale]

In the US you should be able to get them anywhere you buy other laundry supplies. You add them to your washer and they absorb color to keep it from bleeding onto other colors, such as white. I have made quilts with dark purple, navy blue, black all mixed with white and have not had any problems.

[irishrn]

I've had the same problem with precuts and yardage. So I serged all the edges of the precut top and put it into a laundry bag and washed it. Dried it to almost dry then used best press. Then I washed yardage with a color catcher and dried the same way. It worked out fine!!

[rebeccas-sewing]

Go ahead and wash it. I really don't think you'll have any issue with the shrinking. I'd rather that than possibly ruin the whole quilt with a bleed. You can also test to see if it will bleed by cutting off a piece and putting it in hot water. Sit it on a paper towel and let it dry. If it leaves behind dye I would definitely prewash it.

[Renate]

Normally I never prewash any fabric, but in your case I would do it. Wash it cold and with a delicate washing program, than it will not shrink.
A Lady from a laundry told me, why fabric shrinks: it is the difference in temperature between the washing part (let`s say with 30 °C) and the rinsing, that usually happens with cold water.
That means: if you want to shrink fabric, make a big difference between the washing and the rinse temperature. If you don`t want that your fabric is shrinked, wash cold.
In my experience, it is not necessary to wash quilts with temperature besides they are really really durty and in this case I prefere to use stain remover than higher temperature.
I hope I could help, good luck

[deckerbunch]

Thanks, all, for the information. I prewashed the fabric on cold, and line dried it. Hopefully it will work out just fine!