Preshrinking flannel?
#11
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I am using a flannel layer cake and will be adding flannel yardage for borders plus flannel yardage for the backing. I have not washed/dried anything yet. Should the first wash be when it's completely quilted and done or would you at least wash/dry the flannel backing before quilting?
#13
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I am using a flannel layer cake and will be adding flannel yardage for borders plus flannel yardage for the backing. I have not washed/dried anything yet. Should the first wash be when it's completely quilted and done or would you at least wash/dry the flannel backing before quilting?
#14
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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I am using a flannel layer cake and will be adding flannel yardage for borders plus flannel yardage for the backing. I have not washed/dried anything yet. Should the first wash be when it's completely quilted and done or would you at least wash/dry the flannel backing before quilting?
I would warn against washing the top before it is quilted. You can end up with a distorted mess from pieces of fabric shrinking at different rates and in different directions. Also, flannel ravels more than regular quilting cotton (which is why some quilters use 1/2" seams with flannel). You could end up with a *lot* of threads on the wrong side. If a top absolutely has to be washed before being quilted, the safest way to do it is to first closely baste the top to a piece of muslin or other fabric, then hand wash and lay flat to dry. I would not recommend even that for a flannel top because of flannel's horrendous tendency to shrink.
I have washed some flannels that did not shrink at all, and others that still shrank after their 3rd trip through the washer and dryer. There is no way to tell which kinds you will have in your quilt top. This is why it is much safer to quilt before washing so the batting will take over and shrink everything evenly. Fabric shrinks entirely differently when it is washed and dried on its own compared to when it is quilted to a batting and backing.
#17
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
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So far I only use the for rag quilts but do wash them once. If I had a quilt with other fabrics mixed in I'd probably do it more but with all flannels, and most coming from the same source I only wash once because I know they'll shrink. My rag quilts turn out great so its working so far. I'd definitely do it more if I was using it as backing for cotton, the cotton would get washed as well.
#19
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Illinois/Wisconsin
Posts: 878
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I always find this to be so funny....many people will insist you have to wash your flannel so many times its not even flannel any more. I've made so many quilts that I didn't pre-wash it at all= and years later they are still just as great as when they were new- if the flannel I buy is single sided, and a looser weave or thin I do *most of the time* pre-wash it===once. if I am using great, heavy, double sided flannel I generally do not pre-wash it unless it is a deeply saturated dyed flannel that might bleed. I do always launder my finished quilts- as soon as the binding is done last step to a completed quilt is laundering - I've never had any problems .... since shrinkage is dependent upon the whole quilt (top, batting, density of quilting along with backing) **sometimes people tend to over complicate things and create a lot more work for themselves then is ever necessary.
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