Rebecca_S

I pieced a quilt that my mother hand quilted, and because of the way it was marked it needed to be washed. Plus I generally like to wash finished quilts to get out the starch, oils and cat fur. Now I am thinking of entering it into a local fair. Are there any suggestions for the best way to prep a washed quilt for show?

Tartan

I like to wash a quilt and put it in the dryer until just damp. I will then spread a clean white sheet on the spare room carpet and block the quilt out flat. I put in some rust proof pins through the quilt and into the carpet to block it square and flat and wait for it to completely dry.

Peckish

What Tartan said. If you're experiencing cooler weather, maybe add a fan to aid the drying process.

maryb119

I have washed quilts on gentle cycle and then hung them on a clothes line to dry.

KalamaQuilts

I do what Rebecca does also.

Rebecca_S

Thank you! That sounds fairly simple and easy.

Onebyone

I wash on gentle cycle and then dry in dryer for all my quilts even the ones I enter in local shows. I have several 1st place ribbons, a Best in Show ribbon, and several Viewer's Choice ribbons from shows so it works for me. I got one 2nd place ribbon because there was a smudge of dirt on the quilt of course on a white fabric piece. LOL

ppquilter

Is there any rules about washed/unwashed in a quilt show? I have a pet free/smoke free house and always wait till quilt is all done and bound before washing. But I have never entered any of my quilts into any fair or quilt show, but thinking about it this year.

rryder

I don't wash quilts before entering them into a show. Instead, if they need to have markings removed I use a spray bottle of water since I only use water soluble markers, soap slivers, or chalk depending on lightness or darkness of the fabric. I block all my quilts before sending them out by pinning up on my design wall then spraying with water until wet and re- positioning the quilt and re-pinning as needed to get it completely flat and square.

I also go over both top and back with one of those lint rollers before sending any quilts out to shows.

Rob

Peckish

It depends on the show; each show has their own rules and you should read them thoroughly before entering.

Having said that, however, I don't think I have ever found a show that had a specific rule about whether quilts should be washed or unwashed. You want your quilt to look its best, of course, and I think most people think unwashed quilts look and hang better for show than washed, crinkly quilts.