Shrinkage
#1
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,666
Shrinkage
I measured hundreds of pieces of fabric before and after washing them - just to see what happens.
For all my quilting cottons - I now do the hot water soak for at least two hours - or until I remember to wash the fabrics - and then wash gently in cool to warm water and dry "until done" - I have a dryer setting that stops when "done".
I do put like colors together - so in case one is a bleeder, it won't make too much of a difference - and I'm not chancing ruining other colors.
From my experience - most of the fabrics shrank more in one direction than another. Very few of them had little or no shrinkage. I have had up to 2.5 inches of shrinkage on a 42 inch width of fabric (a Michael Miller black and some others) with no shrinkage on the length - I had over two inches shrinkage per yard in length on the Legacy muslin (which is a very nice muslin) from JoAnn's.
From what I have heard, fabric will also shrink when steam pressed - and I am going to go downstairs and check that out right now. I have some "virgin" legacy muslin on hand that I was going to use for another experiment, but this one will be quick and easy to do.
For all my quilting cottons - I now do the hot water soak for at least two hours - or until I remember to wash the fabrics - and then wash gently in cool to warm water and dry "until done" - I have a dryer setting that stops when "done".
I do put like colors together - so in case one is a bleeder, it won't make too much of a difference - and I'm not chancing ruining other colors.
From my experience - most of the fabrics shrank more in one direction than another. Very few of them had little or no shrinkage. I have had up to 2.5 inches of shrinkage on a 42 inch width of fabric (a Michael Miller black and some others) with no shrinkage on the length - I had over two inches shrinkage per yard in length on the Legacy muslin (which is a very nice muslin) from JoAnn's.
From what I have heard, fabric will also shrink when steam pressed - and I am going to go downstairs and check that out right now. I have some "virgin" legacy muslin on hand that I was going to use for another experiment, but this one will be quick and easy to do.
#8
After purchase (or receiving fabric gifts) it goes straight into the laundry room. It does not leave until it is machine washed and dried. Only then is it folded and added to the appropriate stash box/drawer/pile.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,530
I have a good sized stash, and I prewash when I use it, that way it only takes a little extra time.
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