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  1. #1
    Carolyn23's Avatar Carolyn23 is offline Senior Member
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    Default To prewash or not to prewash

    So what is the rule regarding pre washing fat quarters? Do you do it? Is it necessary? I usually wash and iron them but then I end up combining them with charm squares which obviously can't be washed ( or can they?). Thanks for your input. I'm new to this forum so if this has been covered recently, I apologize.

  2. #2
    LynneLeavell's Avatar LynneLeavell is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: To prewash or not to prewash

    I don't prewash. It is more your preferance than anything. There is no actual rule about it.

  3. #3
    coffeebreak's Avatar coffeebreak is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: To prewash or not to prewash

    LIke Lynne said...matter of preference. This has been going around for a Long time! Everyone has their own way. I do. I was raised that way! But these days with allt he extras you can get... I still do. The color thingy you can toss in the washer to grab all the color to wash with mixed colors...I know I'll never remember to buy more or keep it on hand. I dont know who will be taking care of the quilts I give away so I just prewash the fab so it won't shrink or discolor on them as they toss it in the washer. I think that smaller pieces wouldn't shrink as much so if making that way...why bother, but then I would forget which I have prewashed and which I haven't and worry about mixing them up and messing the quilt up with some shrink, some don't, some discolor, some don't. And the list goes on .....so...I choose to stick with my upbringings and pre wash.

    But... have learned a few things here...

    So I say: Prewash...BUT.....
    1. IRON. Yeah, get out that iron and iron the yardage. Gets the wrinkles out and none to set in while it sits on the shelf waiting to be used.Iron while watching TV. Since the iron is always set up, iron one before you hit the sack. Don't take long and the outcome is very much worth the time spent.

    2. Iron with SPRAY STARTCH. So muc for the days when spray startch was for collars on men's dress shirts!!! However, I have found to use a water mister if you want wrinkles out...works much faster. So you can do that then fold. Or do that, then startch. I usually spray mist and when the wrinkles are out, go back and spray startch of I don't have a use for the fab right now. If I know I am going to use it this week, I will spray mist the wrinkles out, and then startch it. Spray startch makes things stiff...you don't want a stiff wrinkle!

    3. When I am ready to use the fabric, I take it out and spray startch it when I am ready to cut it. Just stiffen ups the fabric a bit more for a more exact cut. I learned the hard way that just that littel bit of pressure from the rotary cutter to the fabric to the healing matte, is enough to make the piece measurements off by just enough to make all the shapes off by just enough to make you go crazy trying to match things up.

    Then just sew as you like. I have tried this several times, adding and taking away things, and found this to be the best way..at least for me. I also, found..100% cotton only is the best. I was buying Poly/cotton blend and found that to be to thin, and to stretchy...however...I have found that I can use this blend if I am just doing small pieces. And just starch the fab all the time! Do as above and then once sewn together, starch it as you set/press seams. It really helps for keeping the thinner fab from giving to much and helps the stretchyness not be so stretchy!But again, just small pieces. Don't use it for long strips. The stretch will get you!

  4. #4
    buckeyequilter's Avatar buckeyequilter is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: To prewash or not to prewash

    I usually prewash everything except the precuts (I do prewash fat quarters).

    The quilt I'm working on now - I did not prewash just so everything can shrink at the same time (I used a jelly roll).

    The quilt I'm making for DH I prewashed everyting including the batting.
    Shirley aka buckeyequilter
    I work to support a sewing habit that I don't have time for, because I work!

  5. #5
    bakermom is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: To prewash or not to prewash

    I'm not a prewasher, never had any problems by not prewashing. however if you do decide to prewash, use the settings you expect to use to wash the finished item. I know many people wash on HOT for shinkage etc. but if you read the ends of the bolts for care inst. you will see warm/cold is recommended for many fabrics . IMO if you should follow the manufacturers recommendation for handling their fabric for the best results.
    But again, everyone has their own ideas based on habit or experience.

  6. #6
    Margok is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: To prewash or not to prewash

    I have not been prewashing because I have used LQS fabrics. But this week I got out all my fat quarter bought early in my quilting experience from JoAnn's and washed them primarily to prevent shrinkage later on. The Color catchers showed no color caught so that was fine. But as they are going to be mixed into the group I prefer the closer thread count.

  7. #7
    Bubby's Avatar Bubby is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: To prewash or not to prewash

    Normally I don't pre-wash unless I'm worried about a dark red or some other saturated color, then I test a small sample and proceed accordingly. If you buy good quality cotton the dyes are pretty stable. I wash all my quilts as soon as I finish them and use color catcher sheets in the wash. The manufacturers of the pre-cuts recommend you do not pre-wash them. In the end, it's personal choice. Once upon a time I washed every centimeter of fabric I bought and pressed it like my life depended on it! Go figure....maybe I am a nut job!!! lol!!!

  8. #8
    Carolyn23's Avatar Carolyn23 is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: To prewash or not to prewash

    Thank you so much everyone. You were all very helpful and gave me the okay to NOT wash "every centimeter" of fabric. I've never had a fabric bleed and always wondered why I had to wash, clip the nasty threads that were wrapped around the whole wad of wet fabrics and then iron. From now on, I'll just skip to the ironing part.

  9. #9
    JessicaP is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: To prewash or not to prewash

    I don't wash until all finished, I am too lazy and I hats to iron. Lol

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