Lynnie25

I only prewash Reds, Navy Blues and Blacks. Otherwise I never pre-wash fabrics.

I never wash my quilts after they are completed either unless I have marked them quite heavily for quilting. If I give a quilt away (very rarely), I always include washing instructions in the label.

sharoney

I prewash every piece of fabric I buy. Even jelly rolls. I just washed 3 sets of jellyrolls tonight. I swished them around in the sink with warm soapy water, ran them under running water to rinse, squeezed them out, and put them in the dryer. They came out wrinkled, but intact. Just have to iron and starch them.
But that's just my preference.
However, I sewed clothing for many many years, and ALWAYS prewashed garment fabric.

Scissor Queen

I don't prewash. I quit prewashing years ago and haven't had a single problem.

earthwalker

I prewash everything, even if it means really having to take time with it. Here (Aus.) we don't use our dryers much, so everything gets line dried. I then fold it up at put away. Nothing gets ironed or starched 'til I'm ready to use it.

frarose

I always buy quilt shop name brand fabrics and never wash. I use to always wash and then found that I like working with the unwashed fabrics and I like how my quilts looks after washing. They take on that old look and I like that.

gaigai

Ditto. I don't even join swaps where you are supposed to prewash. It truly is a matter of personal preference.

Lilrain

There are two schools of thought on this subject. Some never wash, and some quilt teachers claim it is not necessary unless you feel it will bleed and possibly ruin your quilt.

I have heard of people who had problems when using Bali Pops or Jelly Rolls, and the finished quilt having faded or runny fabrics.

I wash some, and not others. But, always am consistant in the same project. If I was one piece I wash it all.

I have had some bad experiences when I did not wash, like an unreasonable amount of shrinkage. Also prewashed a back one time and had it go from bright and cheerful to looking stonewashed after the laundry process.

Some people wash strips or small pieces in lingerie bags.

I usually prewash my cotton batting, as I do not like that shrunken look.

BrendaK

:D I was always taught to pre-wash before sewing. Some say that is just if you are making garments. But you know how hard habits are to break. I recently purchased some jelly rolls and layer cakes and I did pre-wash them. I realized that I needed some more of the same fabric so I purchased the same jelly roll. On the same day I received in the mail a jelly roll book and one on the first things I read was NOT TO PRE-WASH. I figured that since I had already prewashed the first roll I had better do the same with this roll. I put them in a bucket and ran hot water on them. I couldn't believe the difference in the size of the strips. I did steam iron them and was able to get them back to almost the same size. The next Jelly Roll I will not pre-wash and then after I make the quilt I can compare them. I feel that you always have to pre-wash some fabrics that you know will srink. So I think it's something that you have to figure out which you like best. We all are different (that's what makes the world go round). Good luck to you. Brenda

pojo

I never pre wash my fabric.
Your choice.
Use color catchers in the washer.

k3n

I prewash everything except fabric for stack n whack and One Block Wonder quilts but must say I've never had anything bleed (except one or two batiks)or shrink noticeabley. I hardly buy charms or jelly rolls but wouldn't prewash those... so why do I prewash my regular fabric? Dunno! I LIKE doing it then pressing it all nice and flat then folding it neatly away into my stash! Plus sometimes it smells of that formaldehyde type stuff and I don't like that. :mrgreen: :D