Washing Fabric before use.
06-12-2010, 07:06 AM
#72
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Posts: 859
Flash! I'll bet I'm the only one who ever had thread bleed on a block (red thread, must hv been 30 years old). The embarrassing thing was I was "teaching" my great-grandson how to make blocks...it was during the summer, and he was bored. Um, he lost interest following that...wonder why?
06-12-2010, 03:32 PM
#73
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Chicago,IL
Posts: 186
I prewash all of the time. I want to thank the group for the suggestions of the color catcher and to serge or zig zag the edges of the fabric before washing. I really hate when everything gets stuck together!
06-12-2010, 03:35 PM
#74
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,660
Originally Posted by geckogirl
My DH and I rent the house that we currently live in and unfortunately we have an ooooooold septic tank. We try to limit the amount of "washing" we do . . . so I can't really wash fabric any time I buy new. So what I do is fill my bathtub up with water and a tad bit of my laundry detergent. Then I soak one color at a time to get any excess whatever off the fabrics. I just ring out the fabric and put them in the dryer all together :-)
I have heard that if you do not prewash your fabrics and you wait to wash your quilt AFTER it is complete that sometimes you will get an effect of a rather old quilt . . been a long day so my brain doesn't really want to work LOL
I have heard that if you do not prewash your fabrics and you wait to wash your quilt AFTER it is complete that sometimes you will get an effect of a rather old quilt . . been a long day so my brain doesn't really want to work LOL
06-12-2010, 03:53 PM
#75
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
I prewash everything before it hits my sewing room. I do it mostly for the bleeding but I think it is more habit then anything else. Also I get a great deal of satisfaction when pressing my brand new fabrics before folding them and putting them away. I love looking at a big 'ol hunk of brand new fabric splayed across my ironing board. I seem to notice colors and designs all over again and in more detail then when I purchased it. Even more so if it was an on line purchase.
06-12-2010, 03:59 PM
#76
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,660
Plus, if there happens to be a flaw, one can spot it while ironing/pressing it.
I "tag" fabrics that have a flaw with a small safety pin on the selvage near where the problem is.
I feel that not washing quilt fabrics before cutting them is like having unprotected (consensual) sex - most of the time there will be no physical problems/issues - sometimes there are - and it is a lot easier to prevent/avoid them than to try to fix/repair/cure/undo them.
(Let's see how long this comment stays on here!)
I "tag" fabrics that have a flaw with a small safety pin on the selvage near where the problem is.
I feel that not washing quilt fabrics before cutting them is like having unprotected (consensual) sex - most of the time there will be no physical problems/issues - sometimes there are - and it is a lot easier to prevent/avoid them than to try to fix/repair/cure/undo them.
(Let's see how long this comment stays on here!)
06-12-2010, 04:36 PM
#79
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern , Virginia
Posts: 1,518
I don't wash my fabric but I do put a Color Catcher sheet. sold at any grocery or WM store when I do the first wash. Ihave not had any problem what so ever on any of my quilts. I also put another sheet in a baggie with the quilt washing instructions for the recipient.
06-12-2010, 10:30 PM
#80
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 2,045
Well, if you are doing a One Block Wonder, she says not to prewash because the fabric will tend to stick to itself instead of falling straight so you can cut it into identical strips. But other than that, I prewash everything.
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