earthwalker

I'm a manic pre and post washer. I too worry about loose threads or a mis sewn seam. I am so glad I'm not alone in the "fur" department. I read a quilting magazine a couple of years ago and someone had an advert in for quilting services, in large print it said ALL WORK DONE IN SMOKE AND PET FREE ENVIRONMENT. I understand that people would like things to be fresh and clean when paying good money, but I did feel it kind of took the human and homely aspect out of the quilting process.

omak

When I signed on to Operation 1161, the QUilts of Valor guidelines were what we decided to follow.
Because every one of those quilts go to wounded warriors, usually in a hospital setting, some even before they get stateside, there are so many unknowns of condition that it is necessary that they be as clean as possible.
So ... I figured, I will do it for them, but then I will go back to not washing.
However, since I have read the replies above, I have decided that from now on, I will be washing all of my quilts.
I have a DDIL that is deathly allergic to cats. My cat doesn't get on the quilt, but she gets sick just being in a room where a cat has been.
I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Thank you for asking the question ... I am one convert to ALWAYS washing quilts upon completion ... I do not, however, foresee a time that I will be pre-washing my fabrics.

bearisgray

Because I have a cat- and because I handle the cat - when I wash my quilt I wash my hands before taking it out of the dryer - fold it away from my body - and put it in a big plastic bag right away.

Hopefully, that would minimize allergic reactions.

JoanneS

Never thought of giving a Color Catcher with a gift quilt. Excellent idea! I always include a page of 'how to hang' and 'how to care for' instructions with my quilts. Sometimes the instruction is 'Wall Hanging - please don't wash - because some of the fabrics won't make it through the washer!' But I try to make most of them so they can be used, even though I usually put on a hanging sleeve. Some people just refuse to USE a quilt 'because it's too pretty to use', even though I want the quilts I make to be used! At least with a hanging sleeve, there's a chance that they'll put it on a wall where they can SEE it!

quiltswithdogs

So far, I've only made 3 bed quilts and I didn't even think to wash before giving them to my daughters. Luckily, in all their years of washing them, the only thing that happened was that my handsewing of labels wore out. Since Klue gave the tip to machine sew my labels onto the sleeve when I make it, that won't happen again. Mostly what I've made are wallhangings, pillows, and small framed landscapes and those I still don't plan to wash. But, from now on, I will wash the comfy blanket quilts. After the baby wallhanging and my daughter's 30th BD wallhanging are done, I will resume the lapquilt for me and the lapquilt I started for my mom. Those, I will wash. Thanks for bringing this up, I simply never thought to wash a gift.

marytp

I am new to thsi do you wash the WHOLE quilt or just the top?

bearisgray

I think most of us are talking about washing the quilt after it's done - meaning after it's been quilted and the binding put on.

Just washing the top is to be avoided if possible - because of threads raveling, seams coming apart at the edges - occasionally it has to be done - one of my cats anointed something I was working on - I noticed it when I was pressing it - wretched creature - thought I had it out of his reach -

I soaked it in the tub, let it drain as much as possible, and draped it on a drying rack. Then had to press it again. The piece edges are frayed looking now - I had to resew a few of the edge pieces.

marytp

Thanks, Bearspray!

JoanneS

I haven't been able to handquilt for several years, so all of my quilts are machine quilted. I feel that they CAN stand up to machine washing and drying better than handquilted quilts, so I include washing and drying instructions when I give them as gifts. When I give wall hangings that have fabrics that should NOT be washed, I say so in the message that goes with the quilt.

I NEVER make gift quilts larger than lap size (except for DD's & DS's families), so home machines are fine. I've only made bed sized quilts for family, and I've explained to them about using bathtubs to wash their quilts and about being very careful about pushing the water out (instead of lifting and wringing), rinsing and having 4 hands (or more!) to lift the wet quilt out of the tub. I've had good luck with commercial washers, cold water and Orvus quilt soap - then I use the commercial dryer. They are larger than home machines, so they accomodate bed-size - even queen-size quilts - so I've told both my DD and DDIL about using them.

AnnaK

I wash all the fabrics BEFORE I make a child's quilt especially. For wall hangings or art quilts, i do not wash because I really like the crispness and color of the original fabric. I only dust wall hangings, never wash.