Prewashing flannel

[janicep30]

I'm fairly new to quilting and just purchased some of the Woodland Noel flannel pre-cut squares as well as yardage. In looking around on the internet there are arguments for and against prewashing flannel. As of now, I'm pretty much confused which way to go. Thoughts please?

[sewluvit]

Re: Prewashing flannel

In my opinion washing precuts would be a disaster but I do pre wash flannel yardage. Not sure what would be best if flannel precuts and yardage are used in the same quilt. Probably don't prewash anything and use 1/2 inch seams throughout the quilt as is usually recommended for flannel anyway. I have a flannel layer cake to use as well so I am interested in the responses here.

[jjkaiser]

Re: Prewashing flannel

1. If you bought flannel fabric by the yard: Yes wash before cutting & dry in your dryer on medium heat. This minimizes shrinkage after your quilt is made. Flannel usually shrinks lots more than 100% cotton.

2. Never never never prewash precuts! This includes jelly rolls, charm packs, mini charms, layer cakes, turnovers (triangles), jolly bars, & honey buns. They will fray like crazy and you will have strings and threads everywhere and a tangled mess when you take it out of the dryer!!! They will in the end not cause your completed quilt to shrink very much because they were not washed first. And if you don't believe me, wash and dry a couple JR strips and see what happens to them!

[janicep30]

Re: Prewashing flannel

Ok, I don't wash the precut squares. Should I not wash the yardage (which will be the back) so it will react the same to washing?

[bakermom]

Re: Prewashing flannel

I would not wash it.

[jjkaiser]

Re: Prewashing flannel

Okay.... Stand by!. I just happen to have a flannel quilt that I recently finished. I bought flannel by the yard for the back and prewashed it and dried it in the dryer. The top was made out of Woolies flannel charm squares and sashing out of a flannel jelly roll. No pieces for the top were prewashed. I will wash and dry it on Sunday and let you know how it comes out.

[Sylvia H]

Re: Prewashing flannel

I don't prewash flannel. I made a quilt using the Woolies jelly roll. The flannel backing was purchased at a LQS (local quilt store). I washed after quilting, and the shrinkage was the same. I also used flannel as a backing to a quilt where the top was cotton. Again, no difference in the shrinkage after washing.

I have never bought what is considered "cheap" flannel. I understand it does shrink quite a bit. But, if you are concerned, I recommend this - make a quilted square using the same materials that you are using for your quilt. Wash and dry it. Based on the results, you will know if you should prewash or not.

[Cathy F]

Re: Prewashing flannel

I'm with Sylvia, I 've never washed my flanne before starting a projectl, and all my personal quilts are backed with it. I buy quilt quality flannel and have never had a problem with shrinkage. This is just my personal experience.

[Claire Hallman]

Re: Prewashing flannel

I recently bought a 5 yard quilt kit that is flannel. The instructions say that if you pre-wash you will not have enough material to make the enclosed pattern, yikes.
That being said, washing in a washing machine is different that hand washing so if you are really concerned perhaps a gentle hand wash is in order.

[Iris Girl]

Re: Prewashing flannel

I am a washer so all yardage gets washed and hung to dry before used. Especially flannels as they tend to shrink more then other fabrics.I do not wash precuts.

[Irene221b]

Re: Prewashing flannel

I just finished a flannel quilt. Did a double slice layer cake made from flannel Woolies 10" squares (layer cake precut). The back is large pieces of the same woolies line (from yardage) put together to be a giant version of the quilt block. Hobbs 80/20 batting.

I quilted a free motion meander all over. I did not pre-wash anything. The finished quilt came out of the washer and dryer fine. It did shrink a little. The shout color catchers had a lot of the purple in them, but the quilt washed and dried with no problems. Hope that helps.

[Marta]

Re: Prewashing flannel

I made a double slice from Moda flannel layercake. Did Not prewash the layer cake. The back is pieced from quality flannel yardage and fat squares from another project. The backing fabric had all been soaked in cold water and line dried. ( that is what my first quilting teacher had us do) When the quilt was finished I washed in cold, dried on medium . It came out lovely. I made a newborn sized quilt from not good quality flannel, did not prewash- after machine washing and drying it became a doll quilt.

[jjkaiser]

Re: Prewashing flannel

Okay.... Stand by!. I just happen to have a flannel quilt that I recently finished. I bought flannel by the yard for the back and prewashed it and dried it in the dryer. The top was made out of Woolies flannel charm squares and sashing out of a flannel jelly roll. No pieces for the top were prewashed. I will wash and dry it on Sunday and let you know how it comes out.

Okay results: the quilt did not get wonky at all from prewashing only the back. It was just a lap size. The before wash measurements were 54 x 64 and the after is 52 x 62, cold wash and medium dry. I used Dream Puff batting which I think is poly. It has a very high loft.

[Irene221b]

Re: Prewashing flannel

Okay results: the quilt did not get wonky at all from prewashing only the back.

that is great news, thanks for sharing

[Quilt Junkie]

Re: Prewashing flannel

I only buy good quality flannel and i still prewash my yaradage. One beacuse of shrinkage and two because the darker colors (reds, blues, & purples) always seem to bleed more with flannel. Flannel and muslin are the only fabrics I ever prewash.
That said, quality flannels dont shrink like they used too.