loopywren

Mine do not shrink very much, but I only wash in cool water in the machine and line dry, and never tumble dry.. I find the heat of the dryer makes them shrink...dryers are not so much in evidence over here, mainly used in winter or by Mums who work, the people I know both young and old mainly line dry.

Lori S

I have purchased a whole bolt of bleached and unbleached muslin... it was ..."Premium, Pre-shrunk" and paid top $$. Guess what I cut 36 inches washed and ... 33 inches came out of the dryer.
So .. yes I preshrink ... I have even learned never to trust the label.
I have had fabric shrink right on the ironing board .. a little heat ... and some steam ... and a 3 inch cut was no longer a 3inch cut.... so I wash and dry.

MadQuilter

Ain't that the truth!

wanderingcreek

I rarely prewash anything and have never had a problem. I tried using starch but the aerosol gets to me so that is out and I just prefer cutting material that is unwashed.

Scissor Queen

I'll bet even a quilt that shrinks some and looks funny will make somebody happy and keep them warm.

katied772

I like to pre-wash because I think the quilts tend to bunch up more when unwashed.

galvestonangel

I prewash because of the chemicals in the fabric. I don't need anymore chemicals in my system. Bleeding and shrinking fabrics are secondary but one less thing to worry about.

littlehud

I don't prewash because I love the crinkled look they get after washing. It's just my personal feelings. Some people don't like that look and they should prewash. Each of us have our own preferences.

Sandra-P

I never used to pre wash my fabric until one time when I made placemats and some of the strips didnt shrink and some did. What a disaster. Now I wash before I use it in hopes that I dont have anything like that happen.

cherylynne

I agree. I like that wrinkled look, too. I wash them usually before I use them.