PRE-WASHING FABRIC
#11
I pre-wash everything for three reasons:
1. Bleeding potential- I'd rather not worry about it!
2. Chemicals in the fabric. I'd rather wash them out first thing!
3. That crinkly look- I really am not a fan of it.
1. Bleeding potential- I'd rather not worry about it!
2. Chemicals in the fabric. I'd rather wash them out first thing!
3. That crinkly look- I really am not a fan of it.
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: No. Virginia
Posts: 222
I usually prewash, too, except for using precuts. Recently,when I was in a quilt store, I was speaking to the owner about mixing unwashed precuts with fabric I had already washed, because I was worried about uneven shrinkage. She told me that cottons don't shrink as much as they used to due to the production process, which is why fabrics have gone from 44" to 42" in width. I have combined prewashed and precuts in quilts, with no problems. (And I will always prewash yardage, just because I like working with it better!)
#17
I always prewash as I have ran into problems when I didn't I did a block of the month Eleanor Burns applique in a day with precut pieces and after all that work it bled really bad and besides I do not like the chemicals I never do exchanges for this reason just my idea
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 976
Originally Posted by GingerK
I am a washer. I have never used charm packs or layer cakes because I can't wash it first. I have seem too many fabrics bleed and run--especially the 100% cottons--plus the shrink factor, which you mentioned. I just do not want to put so much money, time and effort into something that will be ruined in the first wash. And since I rarely make wall hangings, I expect my quilts to be used, abused and washed.
#19
I've seen beautiful quilts ruined with colors running. I spend too much money and time to ruin something precious. I starch when needed to give stability to fabric. From what I gather, that's the reason some have not to wash.
#20
I always pre wash. Same reason as most that do. However my washing machine does not have a gentle cycle so I fill the machine using regular cycle for a very short time. :idea: With long lengths of fabric, not on the selvage edge, but the cut edges I sew across with a fine stitch before washing. This keeps the raw edges from unraveling during the wash cycle. Then I also have poured water into my clean bathtub with liquid gentle laundry soap, swished it around a lot, put the fabric in the washer to spin, swish the fabric in clean water and back to the washer to spin. Small pieces, ie: half yards are hung on a drying rack. Extra work, but saves the fabric.
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