the shrinkage has more to do with the batting and the density of quilting than it does with the actual fabrics- the way to avoid that problem with table clothes/toppers is to skip the batting- or use a layer of muslin or pre-washed flannel for batting.
if you want to pre-wash a pre-cut i would use a net bag- and do it on gentle- figure on sitting for awhile ironing- each and every one will be a crumpled little mess- you will have to smooth and press...i never pre-wash pre-cuts- i only use them for projects that i'm not worried about shrinkage- or bleeding color. i do pre-wash most yardage. but it is the batting that causes most shrinkage surprises in finished quilted projects. :thumbup: |
This thread is indirectly related ... and may add some Food for Thought on this subject!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-122370-1.htm |
thanks for the link and everyone's comments
Originally Posted by QuiltE
This thread is indirectly related ... and may add some Food for Thought on this subject!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-122370-1.htm |
I have only used charm packs one time... It was for a crazy 9 patch class (and the only quilting class I ever had also). It was great to have a nice color combination and not have to cut. But I found I had to do a LOT of squaring of the blocks when I put it together and I was not real happy with the finished quilt after I washed it. Then this week, I needed a few coordinated pieces to try a new pattern so I pulled out 4 of these unwashed charm squares left from that project. I noticed right away that some of them were not square. I had to trim a full 1/8" from one corner on one of them.
So not only possible shrinkage, but possibly the charm squares aren't square. I am not sure I'd buy them again though that was not the context of this thread. |
Originally Posted by ckcowl
the shrinkage has more to do with the batting and the density of quilting than it does with the actual fabrics- the way to avoid that problem with table clothes/toppers is to skip the batting- or use a layer of muslin or pre-washed flannel for batting.
if you want to pre-wash a pre-cut i would use a net bag- and do it on gentle- figure on sitting for awhile ironing- each and every one will be a crumpled little mess- you will have to smooth and press...i never pre-wash pre-cuts- i only use them for projects that i'm not worried about shrinkage- or bleeding color. i do pre-wash most yardage. but it is the batting that causes most shrinkage surprises in finished quilted projects. :thumbup: |
Width shrinks more than length I believe. So, when you have unwashed charm squares, the shrinkage could be very odd in the finished project I would imagine. I pretty much wash everything first for this reason. I've avoided the issue with the packets as I don't use them or kits much for this reason and for the extra $s they cost. I've had real problems using some precut fabrics in sampler classes too.
Think I would really wet them good with water or starch and steam press them. Then when I'd sew, I'd then treat every 'shorted side' of the square as being a scant cut I guess, if that makes sense. That's not very practical but I've been forced into worse I guess. BTW, one thing I've always hated with kits: Borders cut from the width of the original fabric that results in sometimes wavy borders for my project. I just don't understand why they can't be cut from the length of their yardage for these kits! After all, they are preparing numerous kits at a time and aren't like the individual quilter who has to think more than twice about buyin the extra fabric! OK, here's Mary Ann getting off her soap box now... |
Wouldn't it just be faster to buy yardage, wash, dry and cut it into squares? All this swishing and squaring and fraying sounds like a lot of work to me.
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Originally Posted by bobquilt3
Wouldn't it just be faster to buy yardage, wash, dry and cut it into squares? All this swishing and squaring and fraying sounds like a lot of work to me.
Patti |
I prewash mine by just putting them in my bathroom sink in hot water sqeeze water out lay on my ironing board to dry the iron when still damp a lot of them will bleed and somrtimes I will have to do that three times
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It is almost impossible to wash them, as then you have all sizes. I do not wash before sewing. I sew my project, then I buy a nice piece of clear plastic (the little heavier kind) and put it over my beautiful table cloth. If I use place mats to match they go under the plastic also. No muss no fuss. Just wipe clean after your meal. Hope this helps you, it has been a Blessing to me. And saved many a beautiful items.
Have a Blessed day Ellen |
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