There are many quilt kits out there that offer pre-cut strips. Seems like a time saver, but they are not pre-washed. How would one pre-wash these pre-cut strips?
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
You don't. Modern quilting cotton has very little shrinkage, and very little dye bleeding. You would be creating a mess if you wash jelly roll strips, particularly if you used a washing machine.
Unless you are allergic to the dye in the fabric, you will find it more practical to wait till after the quilt is finished before washing, then use color catchers. -
Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
The consensus is you do not pre-wash pre-cuts. I've heard tell it is not a pretty sight.***Kathy***Comment
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
NO- NO - NO! You never wash pre-cuts! I've heard some people wash fat qtrs., but I never do. I have yet to have any fabric colors bleed. I always wash my finished quilts in cold water. I don't use those Color Catchers because I can't tolerate the fragrance.Comment
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
I'm in the minority and prefer prewashing my fabrics. I don't buy precuts. However I did have some scraps that someone gave me and I washed them before using them in a quilt. I used my pinking sheers and cut a small cut in each corner of the fabric to be washed. This stops the edges from turning into a tangled mess. It does require pressing time afterwards though. I do this when I prewash yardage or fat quarters also.Comment
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
I haven't prewashed ANY fabric in the past 20 years or so. With most decent quality fabrics, there is no need. Why wash out the sizing, then have to starch to use it? Really sad waste of time and energy with the modern fabrics.Comment
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
lol that brought me back to when I had a charm pack on the floor scattered a bit and my puppy peed on them. I put it in a mesh bag etc. I ended up throwing it away. Yeah, it's not a pretty sight. lolOriginally posted by klgls View Post🌺 LorieComment
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
Add me to the DO NOT WASH group. I don't wash the precuts, or the yardage I use in my quilts. Even the backing does not get washed.
But I haven't used flannel in my quilts yet. Those I probably would prewash.Comment
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
Yesterday I washed the quilt that I just finished. None of the material had been prewashed - including the flannel backing. Some of the material used were dark colors, seemed heavily dyed, and I wasn't sure of the manufacturer of a few of the fat quarters. Because of those reasons, I really wanted to use color catchers - but I forgot to do so! There was NO bleeding of colors at all. The shrinkage was not any more than that of any other quilt I have made.
Here is a recommended way of testing materials if you think the colors may bleed:
Do not prewash any precuts! This is because washing these fabrics causes so much fraying on these smaller sized fabrics, that you just end up with a tangled mess of strings.
Trim off a small piece of the fabric, such as a 2.5" square.
Place the cut piece into a closed container with water and detergent.
Shake the container to get the water 'sudsy'.
Let the fabric sit in the water for 15 minutes.
Shake the container again.
Did fabric dye come out in the water? If yes, you should prewash. If no, go to the next step.
Rinse the fabric and blot between white paper towels.
Is there fabric dye on the paper towel? If yes, you should prewash. If no, you can wait until the quilt is completed before washing. Wash with color catchers as a final precaution.If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.- Zig ZiglarComment
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
The first time I used pre-cuts I ordered a jelly roll of flannel. The pattern said, "pre-wash your fabric." Not knowing any better I did just that. When I opened the washer I had a nest of strings that I had to throw away. I'm not a pre-washer but I am (was) a person who follows directions
:icon_happy:
sigpicComment
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
Never wash precuts. As for the washing vs not washing fabric debate, I recently, for the first time ever had a red fabric run into a light blue fabric when I washed the quilt before sending to the recipient, and, all of the fabrics in the quilt including that red had been prewashed.Comment
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I always soak reds for several hours in cold salt water. A lot of salt and maybe even a cup and a sink full of cold water. My mother always did this and I I always got the impression that it was something that people had done for many years.. She always soaked reds overnight and sometimes I do that. The salt sets the color. I have not done this with batiks but now that I think about it that should do the trick for boutiques also
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
I don't wash pre-cuts OR quilt kits. I learned the hard way by doing this and ending up with a mess from the washing machine and not enough fabric for the quilt due to whatever shrinkage there was and having to trim off so much that had unraveled. I do, however, prewash all yardage I come home with and I buy extra if I'm buying for a specific pattern. I do this because I have allergies and asthma and am sensitive to the chemical smell, slight as it may be, from new fabric. This chemical smell, for me, would be overwhelming if I had an entire room full of unwashed fabric.Comment
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
I orewash nothing.... Haven't for a long time, now, and have never had a problem... I fo wash my quilts before gifting them,, however, and always throw a couple if Coloe Catchers in the washer....
When I first started quilting...in 2001---I pre washed everything... I bought lots of fat quartered, and vividly remember the mess it always was to wash them... All that trimming of raveled ends...
One day...don't remember when,,, I decided I was wasting lots of time and energy, and simply stopped... Nothing happened...scoot I got to wotk with nice, crisp new fabrics....
I really thunk thst today's fabrics shrunk very little...I wash my quilts in cold water...and the dyes are rarely a problem.
I do thunk it's smart to test any questionable fabric...such as a bright red,,,but honestly,haven't had a problem with any fabri..regardless of the color... I usually forget my own advice...
Sandy from Cincinnati
AKA KermitComment
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We both started quilting at the same time and we both had the same mess with fat quarters. I also bought loads of fat quarters in the beginning and back then always pre- washed. Like you the day came when I thought it was just ridiculous washing all that fabric, So much time wasted for quality fabric that barely shrinks. And I also wash all my quilts before I give them to anybody always using a color catcher.
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
I never prewash...I never even thought of prewashing until I came on the forum. Call me a lazy sewer but one of the things I like about sewing is the new, crisp ironed fabric. Same with clothing I buy at the store. I really like the feeling of the new unwashed material.success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiam
Terry of NCComment
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Re: Prewashing pre cut strips
Nobody wahes precuts!!! So dont do it!Comment
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