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Hi! I really need to know whether you pre-wash your quilt fabric or not. I have heard both sides of this coin and just haven't formed an opinion yet. My biggest concern is color bleeding. I am learning now to order quality fabric from online quilt shop companies such as Missouri Quilt. Maybe buying from a local fabric shop such as Hancock's for Jo-Ann's is not a good idea, yes or no?? So will the fabric shrink a lot as well if I don't pre-wash?
I pre-wash all the fabrics I use, except for precuts, such as jelly rolls, charm packs.
I wash. The moment anything comes into the house, it is brought into the laundry room. This way, everything I own can at any time, be integrated into a quilt, without having to worry that something is washed/shrunk and something is not. I do not buy to make a quilt, I stash build, so if I have an inspiration I want to work on it, not have to worry about this.
Reasons to wash would be, other than bleeding after all that hard work quilting, would include removing sizing from fabric, which may cause allergic reactions, and more specifically, may give the illusion that the fabric is a higher quality, smoother and finer than it is. I would rather discover what the fabric is really like BEFORE I work with it.
I do not really use the precuts, but if I did would at least soak them so they could be blended with my other, prewashed materials...
If I'm using precuts in any project I don't prewash any fabrics at all. I've never had issues with bleeding (I use cold water and Shout color catchers).
If I purchase yardage for an entire project or quilt separate I'll wash all of it.
It is all or nothing with me otherwise it turns out wonky looking mixing washed and unwashed fabrics.
I don't wash anything. I made a red and black and white quilt and didn't wash prior to sewing. I washed it after it was quilted with a color catcher and didn't have any problems.
Becki
Thanks for the advice. I have a lot of pre-cuts right now for quilting. So I guess I won't wash them first because of the raw edges. I will purchase a color catcher and wash in cold water. I heard that putting a little bit of vinegar in the rinse cycle also helps to hold the color true and get out any residue of detergent. I am grateful for your opinions.
I don't wash anything but I wash every quilt I make as soon as it's done and use color catcher sheets. They catch any bleeding that occurs. Pre-cuts should not be pre-washed. :)
I always wash my fabric first. I had bought some fabric from Joannīs last summer, washed it, used it in a photo quilt and washed the quilt when I was done, as I always do. Ya know what? The fabric bled and ruined most of my photos. Luckily it was just a throw quilt for my daughter and SIL and not a customer. Now I am making them a proper quilt.
I bought some Shout color catchers when I was in the States over Christmas and I needed to wash some new brown fabric when i got home. I didnīt know brown ran so much!
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS wash my fabric. Precuts will be included in that.
I never prewash and have never had a problem but I do wash afterwards with color catcher....sometimes a couple if a lot of red or contrasting colors....has worked well for me...otherwise I would be in the laundry room all the time...I think not!
Trish, I agree wholeheartedly with your comments and couldn't have explained it more clearly. Uneven shrinkage would be one of my major concerns and I'd much rather know sooner than later.
I agree wîth Trish and Mary. I wash everything that comes in the house. As I'm a scrapper and recycler, that is a MUST.
I don't use the precuts very often, so I don't have that problem.
But I had a problem recently with the dryer. Made some tablemates , washed them, they were ok, but coming out of the dryer, they were a mess. Especially the binding. So the next time I use my good old clothesline again. Lucky they were only sets.
That is learning by doing!
This is and has been a highly debated subject by quilters everywhere. It all comes down to preference in my opinion. I don't wash anything. Once my quilt is completed it then gets washed.
Again it is all what the quilter likes and prefers.
I don't wash my precuts.. but I do pre wash everything else.. esp the fabric for the backing. I also throw in a color catcher with the quilt the first time I wash it. Only then do I gift or certify it done.
a good idea with the color catcher before giving a quilt away. Have to keep that in mind. Thanks for the info.Quote:
Originally Posted by Granny Judy
I'm a prewasher! I'd prefer not to take the chance of bleeding fabrics in a finished quilt. I also like to get rid of the sizing in the fabrics.
I never prewash--I would be in the laundry room all the time and I am there enough with all the family's clothes. I like the ideo of Shout color catchers----I have heard many great things about these sheets.
I am so used to garment making that I still pre-wash everything that can bleed color or shrink. Since cotton falls into both categories, I do wash it first.
So far I have never had a negative experience from washing to discourage me from continuing. I don't find it extremely time consuming, I don't buy so much fabric at one time that it would take longer than throwing a load into the washer, not sure how it could be that time consuming? I even wash it with clothes or towels, it doesn't get pampered.
I don't like the smell and feel of unwashed fabric either. For the many hours of handling involved in making a quilt, my personal preference is to handle it washed.