Julienm1

It's 4.00 am and getting ready to start sewing. Project for today, or part of today, is to prewash fab for daughter's queen quilt. Need to prewash because I need to get the sizing and chemicals out before I sew. I'm allergic. Started zig zag last night and noticed this fabric does not smell like fabric from JAs. Have 12 more fab to sew and then to the laundry room I go. Short walk since it's only 5 steps from my sewing room.

So...do you prewash?

SusieQOH

Only reds and colors that look suspicious. I've never had a problem. But also I'm not allergic to anything (except housework).
Sewing at 4 am - really???

Julienm1

Sewing at 4 am - really??? Yep! Just a touch of insomnia.

mojo11

I pre wash all my cotton fabrics. I don't want any surprises. I want to get rid of dirt, chemicals, sizing and/or starch, shrinkage, and color running. Don't want any bugs or bug eggs either.

Doggramma

I don’t, but I know fabric is really quite dirty. I will wash a quilt after it’s quilted unless it’s a wallhanging.

juliasb

I do not pre-wash everything. The things I do pre-wash are fabrics for swaps, fabrics that have dark blues or reds, and purples and I also pre-wash flannel. I didn't really put much thought to sensitivities to sizing. It is now something I will consider when making quilts for others. Though I usually wash quilts before I send them out because I am now using a glue basting.

katiebear1

I do the same. I do wash my finished quilts in cold water with a color catcher.

Tartan

I prewash intense colours and test any others that I suspect might be bleeders.

dunster

I prewash everything but pre-cuts and panels. I started doing this very soon after I started quilting, so almost all the fabrics in my stash are already washed and ready to be used.

Onebyone

I pre wash in hot water because some fabric, even the best brands, shrink when pressed. I have had too many sewn blocks suddenly become wonky after pressing them especially when using a spray while pressing. All it takes is one fabric piece to shrink. I've noticed it's usually the white fabrics that shrink more then the printed fabric if not pre washed. That's why I pre wash.