Beachbound

I normally prewash all of my fabric. I have recently bought a bunch of flannel and am kinda wondering if that is a good idea. I'm afraid it will lose some of it's nice nap. What do y'all do? Does it shrink? What to do/what to do! lol

Jim's Gem

YES!!!
I don't usually prewash my quilting cottons. I ALWAYS prewash flannels. They have a tendance to shrink more than other fabrics and unevenly.
Do prewash!!!

BKrenning

Yes. Flannel shrinks a lot and more going one direction than the other on the cheaper flannels.

It won't lose it's nap but it will lose it's body (becomes floppier & softer) so you will probably want to starch it or spray it with sizing before ironing & cutting.

I love flannel but after having to repair the seams in 2 different baby quilts--I always prewash it now.

bj

Absolutely prewash flannels. They do shrink, sometimes quite a lot.

CarrieAnne

I always wash mine as it usually shrinks. Some of it ALOT!

wvdek

Could not have said it better. Better to wash now than after your project is made and it shrinks.

Beachbound

Rats, okay...I'll wash. I guess I can always wash the finished item to get the soft nap back. I only have about 14 yards to do *groan*. I noticed a lack of flannel in my stash & HAD to do someting about it! Starch is becoming my friend lately. Things just seem to come out better with a bit of stiffness to the fabric.

jlong

I made a flannel twin XL quilt for my 6'3" son and it shrunk so much that he now uses it for a lap quilt.

littlehud

I always wash my flannels. They shrink, and sometime shrink a lot. Just to be safe.....wash them.

bearisgray

Just for something to do -

Measure your fabric before washing -

measure the width and the length before and after washing.

And let us know what happens.