Can I Wait to Wash Black and White Quilt Fabric
03-10-2015, 08:08 PM
#11
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tulsa, Ok
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I am finishing up on a string quilt using about 40 different black and white print fabrics. I did prewash the ones with a black background and got some very dark grey color catchers, so there was a fair amount of bleeding from some of the fabrics. I would recommend you at least prewash the blacks.
03-10-2015, 08:46 PM
#12
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 9,299
I think peace of mind is worth more than anything, even crinkling. It will crinkle more over time. I would wash both-the black for bleeding, and the white just so that everything has had a chance to shrink once. And , you never know where those fabrics have been. I like to start them with them clean-clean and having given them the color catcher treatment.
03-11-2015, 05:33 AM
#15
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: North Texas formerly The Burgh
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Maybe you should try prerub/ presoak test.
I do this sometimes when i am worried but really don't want to wash.
First, i rub a corner of the fabric with a soft white rag to see if color "rubs" off. For sure if it rubs off it will bleed off.
Then, I put a little laundry soap and really hot water in an old container i keep....and add a 4" square of fabric. If it bleeds when i swish it around a bit - i wash it....if not, i roll the dice and use it without washing first. Then use color catchers in the wash.
Also -- i always fill the washing machine at least half full before adding my quilt.
I do this sometimes when i am worried but really don't want to wash.
First, i rub a corner of the fabric with a soft white rag to see if color "rubs" off. For sure if it rubs off it will bleed off.
Then, I put a little laundry soap and really hot water in an old container i keep....and add a 4" square of fabric. If it bleeds when i swish it around a bit - i wash it....if not, i roll the dice and use it without washing first. Then use color catchers in the wash.
Also -- i always fill the washing machine at least half full before adding my quilt.
03-11-2015, 05:49 AM
#16
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
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I wash everything washable ( except the thread) before cutting it.
I have had some blacks add some strange colors to the soaking water.
If you want a crinkly look - leave the batting unwashed and the you will get the same amoint of shrinkage over the entire piece.
I have had some blacks add some strange colors to the soaking water.
If you want a crinkly look - leave the batting unwashed and the you will get the same amoint of shrinkage over the entire piece.
03-11-2015, 06:04 AM
#17
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
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This is the technique that I was taught by Harriet Hargrave. I usually only do with with fabric that I feel might be a bleeder. I never pre-wash. I always use color catchers and never have had a problem. I would use Hobbs 80/20 instead of W&N. It is a bit fluffier and not give you the flat look at W&N will give the look of the quilt.
03-11-2015, 07:09 AM
#18
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Join Date: Mar 2011
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Thanks, I've only made about 8 quilts, all with W&W and none very crinkly.
I appreciate the advice from people who have done black and white quilts specifically, since I'm guessing the black could really show up on the white if it bleeds.
I bought a bunch of batik fabric for another bed-size quilt and sewed the seams and washed it all, but did not dry it. I had some dark purple in there as well as almost white blue so I didn't want bleeding in that quilt either. I wasn't as worried about the crink because I'm using it to embroider in the hoop quilt. I'm adding wool batting under the stitching for tarpunto look.
No one has answered if I would get more shrinkage that way.
I appreciate the advice from people who have done black and white quilts specifically, since I'm guessing the black could really show up on the white if it bleeds.
I bought a bunch of batik fabric for another bed-size quilt and sewed the seams and washed it all, but did not dry it. I had some dark purple in there as well as almost white blue so I didn't want bleeding in that quilt either. I wasn't as worried about the crink because I'm using it to embroider in the hoop quilt. I'm adding wool batting under the stitching for tarpunto look.
No one has answered if I would get more shrinkage that way.
This is the technique that I was taught by Harriet Hargrave. I usually only do with with fabric that I feel might be a bleeder. I never pre-wash. I always use color catchers and never have had a problem. I would use Hobbs 80/20 instead of W&N. It is a bit fluffier and not give you the flat look at W&N will give the look of the quilt.
03-11-2015, 03:20 PM
#19
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Illinois/Wisconsin
Posts: 878
I am doing a DWR with Kona black as the background. I had to wash it 5 times before it stopped bleeding. 1st wash I did with Retayne. 2nd wash I did with just soap and water. 3rd wash I did with vinegar. 4th wash I did with Retayne. 5th wash my color catcher came out white.
03-11-2015, 04:10 PM
#20
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,667
Wow, did it ruin the whites or did it all come out?
I am doing a DWR with Kona black as the background. I had to wash it 5 times before it stopped bleeding. 1st wash I did with Retayne. 2nd wash I did with just soap and water. 3rd wash I did with vinegar. 4th wash I did with Retayne. 5th wash my color catcher came out white.
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