Do you wash your fabric before you cut and sew it?
08-31-2011, 10:39 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Ridgecrest, CA
Posts: 886
I always wash my fabric. I also "wash" the batting. I want them to pre-shrink before I sew because I don't like the wrinkly look. I have even "washed" the quilt top before quilting if I used pre-cuts such as jelly rolls. I just put them in the water, spin dry on slow, then put into the dryer with a bath towel. It takes some careful ironing to get the seams to lay flat, but I think it is worth it.
08-31-2011, 11:06 AM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: at my sewing machine
Posts: 1,916
when i feel the finished product will be washed then i wash everything before i cut and piece the project.
if i feel the finished product will never be washed i do not wash the fabric before hand.
i also use tons of hand dyed fabric in my work so by the time the fabric is ready to be used in a product it has been in water numerous times during the dyeing process so any shrinkage has already occurred and the fabric has been treated so that it will never bleed.
if i feel the finished product will never be washed i do not wash the fabric before hand.
i also use tons of hand dyed fabric in my work so by the time the fabric is ready to be used in a product it has been in water numerous times during the dyeing process so any shrinkage has already occurred and the fabric has been treated so that it will never bleed.
08-31-2011, 11:08 AM
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
I wash and dry all my fabric before it goes into my stash. I starch occasionally, depends on the pattern.
I prefer to know if my fabric is a bleeder before putting it in the quilt. I also prefer working with washed fabs. Never know what the fabric picks up between manufacturer and point of retail sale. Have read some real horror stories here but I always washed before anyway. Even before reading about bug eggs, insecticides and other harsh chemicals.
I prefer to know if my fabric is a bleeder before putting it in the quilt. I also prefer working with washed fabs. Never know what the fabric picks up between manufacturer and point of retail sale. Have read some real horror stories here but I always washed before anyway. Even before reading about bug eggs, insecticides and other harsh chemicals.
08-31-2011, 11:12 AM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Odessa, Washington
Posts: 1,872
Wash all my fabrics...I can't stand the pesticides/insecticides that are sprayed on them in the warehouses, so if I want to breathe, I wash. I don't iron them until I am going to use them, then I do starch them.
Had a friend make a lovely quilt, hand quilt it, then wash it (no color catchers) and her turquoise bled on the white fabric and ruined the quilt. Too many hours invested in a quilt to risk that, even with color catchers.
Had a friend make a lovely quilt, hand quilt it, then wash it (no color catchers) and her turquoise bled on the white fabric and ruined the quilt. Too many hours invested in a quilt to risk that, even with color catchers.
08-31-2011, 11:17 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA
Posts: 677
I don't usually wash, I like the "wrinkley" look as I like to do traditional designs and I feel like they look older than they are. I only wash the fabric if when I pick it up it feels like it would bleed or is stiff. Gentle cycle cold always. I only usually iron if it's really wrinkley too. I don't have enough time to worry about washing and ironing fabric before cutting. and as most are scrappy, I don't think it really matters much anyway
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