lpsewing

I prefer the "New" look of my fabric but since I am new to quilting perhaps I should wash the fabric if my quilt will not be a wallhanging ?
Do you wash each color seperate & do you use the gentle cycle ??
Thanks in advance.
Happy Sewing !
Linda

blueangel

I don't usually wash mine before unless I buy it at a garage sale.

RkayD

No...I don't wash. I love that crinkly quilty look you get after you toss the quilt in the washer & dryer..Its a risk I know..but I put alot of trust in fabric companies to make a quality product I guess. =) All the quilts I make are to be used and loved in the real world.

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

You will get many differing opinions on this. Some folks never wash first. Some folks are adamant about washing first. It's a personal decision. Try a couple of small projects both ways and see what makes you happy.

Flying_V_Goddess

Ah, the old "to wash or not to wash" debate.

I wash it just to be safe.
1. Bleedage. At least once a week someone on here posts of how they washed a quilt they had finished and the darks bled into their lights because they didn't prewash. And why spend the extra money buying those color catchers when you can just wash your fabric and get the extra dye out to start with?
2. Shrinkage. 'Cause I'd rather not have the puckers later.
3. Not really knowing what your fabric has been treated with, where its been before you bought it, and who has come in contact with it.

Julie1

I have just been converted to washing my fabric before using it. Not because I have had any bleeding issues or shrinkage issues after construction of the quilt but because I like the way the fabric works up after it is washed, starched, and ironed. The washing taking care of the bleeding and shrinking issues before they can become problems is just icing on the cake.

cctx.

..... usually No.

I will wash the fabric if it's been requested for a swap, in that case then Yes/Pre-wash.

BrendaK

I have a small apartment so I have limited space. I wash when I bring home, then starch and press. I then put on comic book backing boards. That way I can see what I have and it doesn't take up as much room as it would if I just stacked it. You will have to find out what works best for you. Sometimes when I use the fabric it really doesn't need a second pressing. If I feel that it needs a second pressing I don't mind pressing again. BrendaK

dunster

I decided to pre-wash everything when my stash was very, very small. I washed everything I had and since then have washed everything as soon as I buy it, so the entire stash has been pre-washed (except for fabrics that I buy specificlly for OBW's). If I don't want the crinkled look then I also wash my batting, but usually I use W&N and don't wash it and so I do get the crinkled look. I try to buy quality fabrics (at a good price) and I find that the feel of the fabric is every bit as good after it is washed, sometimes nicer because excess sizing is removed.

You will find that there's always a big debate about washing vs. not washing, so you can do either. As far as I can tell, though, the main reasons people do not wash are that they like the crinkled look and like the feel of new fabric. Since I believe you can get both of these after the fabric is washed, I think the real reason most people don't pre-wash is that they don't want to spend the time it takes to wash and press, especially if they already have a large stash that has not been washed. To me, the advantages of washing (eliminating the problem of bleeding fabrics, getting rid of any toxic chemicals on the fabric, removing excess sizing that might disguise the fabric's quality) are overwhelming, so I pre-wash.

angelahen

I always wash my fabric. I love the feeling of coming home with bundles of fabric and putting them all in the washing machine. I find that working with fabric that is not washed dries out my hands.

I have to say I never starch my fabric - does this make a big difference?