MASSIVE shrinkage - beware
#41
Yes! We'll start our own organization, and have meetings! (At the laundromat.)
@ hopflower: A more complete explanation is posted earlier in this thread, but basically it is to ensure that any fabric changes possible (especially shrinkage and color loss) show up before you make the quilt. Unless you keep all of the quilts you make you can never be entirely sure of how they will be treated in their new homes, so if you pre-abuse your fabric the future owners will not have to deal with unpleasant surprises down the road.
I've never had a huge shrinkage problem before, but I have had fabrics unexpectedly bleed in the prewash - fabric that was not even dark or batik. And once I had a fabric actually SHRED in the wash. It was a deeply discounted clearance cotton fabric, so I wasn't out much cash, but it was truly startling to open the washer and see strips instead of yardage! (I suspect it had been exposed to sunlight.)
Alison
PS I really didn't mean to reopen the wash/not-wash can'o'worms.
I've never had a huge shrinkage problem before, but I have had fabrics unexpectedly bleed in the prewash - fabric that was not even dark or batik. And once I had a fabric actually SHRED in the wash. It was a deeply discounted clearance cotton fabric, so I wasn't out much cash, but it was truly startling to open the washer and see strips instead of yardage! (I suspect it had been exposed to sunlight.)
Alison
PS I really didn't mean to reopen the wash/not-wash can'o'worms.
#43
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,827
Proportionately, that's the same as a shrinkage of 42" to 39-1/2" ... not really abnormal.
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 538
low temp dry by blowing gently across the fabric with slightly puckered lips on a warm summer day
It only shrank because you puckered too much. Guess you'll only do THAT once...note to self: no practicing for Valentine's day while prepping quilt fabric.
LOL- Alison, you're a gem. Washing & drying in hot/abusing the fabric up front makes perfect sense since you don't know what kind of abuse it will get on the other end. Better to get it all cleared up beforehand than have a paying customer accuse you of shoddy workmanship.
On the laundramat comment...that, too, makes sense since my own washing machine- while "XL" capacity, doesn't like being overloaded, so I'd be inclined to take a quilt to a commercial washer/dryer for just that reason.
It only shrank because you puckered too much. Guess you'll only do THAT once...note to self: no practicing for Valentine's day while prepping quilt fabric.
LOL- Alison, you're a gem. Washing & drying in hot/abusing the fabric up front makes perfect sense since you don't know what kind of abuse it will get on the other end. Better to get it all cleared up beforehand than have a paying customer accuse you of shoddy workmanship.
On the laundramat comment...that, too, makes sense since my own washing machine- while "XL" capacity, doesn't like being overloaded, so I'd be inclined to take a quilt to a commercial washer/dryer for just that reason.
#45
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 100
All good points, allisonquilts. Even though you give care instructions, it doesn't necessarily mean that the recipient will follow them. I like your "kamikaze approach" to save headaches and heartaches in the future.
#47
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,827
......... where things jump into the washer at the wrong time ... hot water instead of cold or whites in with denim.
Surely this has happened to some others!
#49
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
Posts: 1,669
I see on fabric.com they recommend this fabric be washed in COLD water. Now I don't know about anyone else but my quilts get washed just like the rest of my laundry. I don't think I would use a fabric that could only be washed in cold in any of my quilts. That is just a ridiculous idea for a fabric manufacturer of QUILTING fabric to make fabrics that could only be washed in cold water. Sounds like they already know there is an issue with shrinkage. Sorry this happened to you.
#50
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Hamburg,Western New York State
Posts: 4,856
Alison...Now is your chance to test your creativity. I always put something that complements the front of the quilt when I am making the back. I cut the backing in half lenghtwise and insert some that uses some of the fabric from the front. It lends a lot of interest to the quilt. Let us know how you make out....
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