Wow - fabric shrinkage.
#51
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington state
Posts: 4,303
Originally Posted by dunster
I always pre-wash. I still get the puckery look, because the batting shrinks. I have never understood this argument about not pre-washing to get the puckery look. Almost all old quilts were made from fabric scraps that were prevously parts of clothing. Of course it had been pre-washed! My theory is that quilts that do not have the puckery look either have never been washed or were made with polyester batting, which doesn't shrink.
#52
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Round Rock,Texas
Posts: 6,135
I always prewash my fabrics, due to allergies and asthma
I don't want my carefully pieced blocks to shrink weirdly.
All the chemicals that are used to process the finished fabrics can't be good for us to be breathing.
I don't want my carefully pieced blocks to shrink weirdly.
All the chemicals that are used to process the finished fabrics can't be good for us to be breathing.
#53
Originally Posted by Lilrain
I DO NOT LIKE the puckery look at all. I even prewash my cotton or cotton/poly batting to avoid that. I like my quilts to look as much like they did when first made as possible after washing.
#54
That's why I prewash also. So if you don't and one piece shrinks 3" and one piece doesn't - what a sad looking quilt! I know the ironing is a real pain, so is sandwiching it all together. Unless it's an art quilt that will hang on the wall, I always do wash.
#55
OTOH, I've begun my quilting journey with a couple of kits (because of fear of color selection), and the instructions for those definitely say DO NOT PRE-WASH, as the fabric pieces are cut either specifically to size, or the amounts provided would not be sufficient if they shrank. So, I accept that I will have shrinkage, and fortunately I like that puckery look. However, since the fabrics in the top are not pre-washed, I feel that I shouldn't pre-wash the backing fabrics either. Or the batting. Does that sound right to you experienced quilters?
#56
Originally Posted by quilter1943
That's why I prewash also. So if you don't and one piece shrinks 3" and one piece doesn't - what a sad looking quilt! I know the ironing is a real pain, so is sandwiching it all together. Unless it's an art quilt that will hang on the wall, I always do wash.
#57
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,918
I have never pre washed fabric. My quilts just get puckered after washing once quilt is done. I have never had a problem with it shrinking too much and making it wonky. 99% of the ladies I quilt with don't pre wash.
#58
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,281
Originally Posted by cheryl rearick
I went back and started wshing all fabic I had... however do you wash FQ's.... What a mess. So many tangles.... I wonder if pinking shears would help. :)
#59
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Originally Posted by patmas57
OTOH, I've begun my quilting journey with a couple of kits (because of fear of color selection), and the instructions for those definitely say DO NOT PRE-WASH, as the fabric pieces are cut either specifically to size, or the amounts provided would not be sufficient if they shrank. So, I accept that I will have shrinkage, and fortunately I like that puckery look. However, since the fabrics in the top are not pre-washed, I feel that I shouldn't pre-wash the backing fabrics either. Or the batting. Does that sound right to you experienced quilters?
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