Denise S

Does anyone not prewash their fabric and use 100% polyester batting (Hobbs poly-down specifically)?

I have some 4" and 5" precuts I would like to use. The quilting will more than likely be SID.

After the quilt is complete, then washed and dried, I am worried about odd shrinkage and/or pulling?

Anybody have any expereince with this combination?

Prism99

How far apart will the quilting lines be? If they are close together, the quilting will stop the fabric from shrinking more than the batting (which, if poly, won't shrink at all).

If the quilting lines are far apart, however, you could get enough fabric shrinkage between lines to cause a problem. If that happened, I would probably re-wet the entire quilt and block it to stretch the fabric back into shape, then add a lot more quilting lines. It would be a lot of extra work, though. Easier to quilt closely to begin with.

Edit: I do think it would be okay with quilting lines 4" or 5" apart on your pre-cuts. Most fabric will not shrink enough to matter over that amount.

MadQuilter

I don't prewash charm squares and I generally use Cotton batting with SID. I would imagine that you should be OK because while the fabric might shrink a bit, the poly batting should just be fluffier/fuller than before. I'd go for it.

QuiltnNan

interesting to think about. i never really give my batting shrinkage a thought. i use 80/20.

mimom

I have used unwashed charms and poly batting and had no problems. go for it

simplyme

If you are still worried, after you stitch in the ditch you could go back and put an X in your squares or a + to give it a little more stitches to hold the batting in place.

Shelbie

I don't wash my fabric and I use polydown all the time as it is my favourite batting. I also often do STID and after washing, my quilts are fine. I have seen little evidence of shrinking or pulling. I haven't seen anything that has made me switch batting or start washing fabric.

sewbeadit

Go for it. I have had no problems doing it.

k3n

According to my little chart showing the properties of different battings (yes, I'm THAT anal!) Polydown doesn't shrink at all so you should be fine. I have made kaleidoscope quilts where you don't prewash the fabric and used poly batting (Quilter's Dream Select generally, but it has the same properties as Hobbs) and the quilts have washed fine with no puckering.

mmdquilts

I have had no problems and I rarely prewash.