washing fabric
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 959
Wash all fabrics before using them in a quilt. They have excess dyes and chemicals. Each fabric shrinks differently when washed. Its best to preshrink all fabrics so this does not effect the quilt when it is washed for the first time.
#22
Originally Posted by Fancy Nancy
i have noticed from the threads on "how neat are you" that many prewash and iron new fabric before using. the only fabrics i have done this with are ones that i am afraid will run like black, red, purple etc. is it really necessary? what if 1/2 of fabric in quilt is prewashed and other pieces are not. will it "shrink" unevenly? I am just curious b/c I have been told both ways - wash and not wash.
#24
I WASh EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF ALLERGIES
Jellyrolls - Bought my first one last week. Leave as purchased with tie on.I washed it by soaking in the sink with soap for a couple of hours. Because there is such a mass of material I wanted it all to get wet. As it was soaking bubbles came up from the center,much like a potted plant does when very dry then watered. Took out of water and rolled to squeeze water out. Repeated with double rinsing. Then I left in sink on a strainer so it was a little higher then sink, till most of moisture dripped out. I dried by laying strips flat on table outside. Very little raggy. Don't know if that is right word, but only way to describe. No distortion of color. I did use hot water.
I think it was a little time consuming but it is what I need to do. I did this in bathroom sink, so everytime I went in I did next step. I usually cut my own strips. There was a lot of little pieces in the sink, mostly points from pinking.
Hope this helps others.
Jellyrolls - Bought my first one last week. Leave as purchased with tie on.I washed it by soaking in the sink with soap for a couple of hours. Because there is such a mass of material I wanted it all to get wet. As it was soaking bubbles came up from the center,much like a potted plant does when very dry then watered. Took out of water and rolled to squeeze water out. Repeated with double rinsing. Then I left in sink on a strainer so it was a little higher then sink, till most of moisture dripped out. I dried by laying strips flat on table outside. Very little raggy. Don't know if that is right word, but only way to describe. No distortion of color. I did use hot water.
I think it was a little time consuming but it is what I need to do. I did this in bathroom sink, so everytime I went in I did next step. I usually cut my own strips. There was a lot of little pieces in the sink, mostly points from pinking.
Hope this helps others.
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 3,369
Washing first will set the color, get rid of the icky "new" smell, pre-shrink, and allow you to know exactly what you're putting into your quilt. It doesn't take long to press and starch it, and I think it's really worth it since you're going to put an awful lot of time and effort into the rest of the quilt.
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,351
I wash all fabrics before I take them to my sewing area, but I don't iron anything until I'm ready to use it. I figure that it's just going to get fold lines from being in my fabric cabinet while it's waiting to be "chosen"!
sue
sue
#29
I found that it is not all the dark colors that bleed. I have had pale blues, yellows, as well as some patterned fabrics have bled. So now I wash every thing in HOT soapy water. Yes hot---if it is going to bleed it will then. Not every one washes in cool water and by doing it in hot I can make sure that once in a quilt I will not have any problems once made up. I add vinegar and salt to the water and let it cool that way it sets the dye. I starch and iron it before putting it away. I usually store unwashed in a container until I have enough fabric to wash.
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Raleigh,NC
Posts: 1,962
It is one lesson I learned, I didn't pre wash some fabric and what I sewed came to pieces! I had to re do what I was doing and washed, pressed then sewed again! so all fabric I get will be pre washed and pressed before I do anything! and yes some of the fabric smells cause its been alid up for so long! need to work with clean fabric.
Mary
Mary
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