magnolia

When I washed my fabric I noticed some of it unraveled a little and became a tangled mess. Some of the pieces were small, only an eight of a yard. Do you think it would help to put each separate piece into a lingerie bag? Would this help them from wrapping around each other and making a big knotted mess? Thanks.

Milly's Mom

I bought about 20 different 1/4 yard cuts of fabric recently and proceded to serge or zig-zag the cut sides. I then washed all the fabric and yes I had a tangled mess even after doing it in the hand wash mode. I just untangled, machine dried and ironed. You might try the bag method or just hand wash each piece. I have had large pieces tangle including my bed sheets. :?

magnolia

thanks for all the tips.

littlehud

I think that sounds like a great idea.

barnbum

After years of trying different ways to wash, I finally do this every time: I let the washer fill to the right level, then stop it and agitate by hand. Then I let it spin, and fill again to rinse--but agitate by hand again. Then spin. No unraveling. :D

tlrnhi

anything smaller than a fat quarter goes into the dishpan in the sink for washing.
I can't fill my washer and hand agitate it....I have a front loader

butterflywing

anything little i wash in liquid dishwash fluid and rinse carefully. then i put it in a pot and bring to a boil. then i let it cool. whatever shrinkage is going to happen, happens. to tell the truth, i hardly ever buy anything smaller than 1/4 because of the shrinkage.

anything over 1/4 i sew the cut edges together with a zigzag stitch and wash on delicate-hot. then i dry on regular. the cut edges seem to keep each other from fraying.

MadQuilter

I sometimes wash my smaller pieces in the sink with hot water. Then I lay them on a thick bath towel and roll them to get the water out. I let them sit out to dry or I iron the moisture out. Works well for me.

Moonpi

I use mesh bags I get at the dollar store.

Missi

I used the mesh bags when I washed a jelly roll and I still had a tangled mess. I just got a new front loader washing machine and have notice that I have less raveling and tangled up messes than I did with my top loader.