Quilt in a Day Forums

Should fabrics be washed before cutting out the pattern pieces? I never did when I make simple around the world quilts years ago but with all the new cotton fabrics,etc.,I just wondered what you experiences quilter might please suggest. Thank you

Some wash and some do not, I am a washer. Dark colors, espically reds will sometimes bleed. I wash all my fabrics, but that comes from garment construction, if they are going to shrink I want them to do it before I make a garment.

Debbie

I never used to wash fabric .... then had a problem with uneven shrinkage ..... so now I wash everything before cutting and piecing.

SueSwan

I wash all my fabric. First fabrics do shrink at different rates. Second is color fastness. Third is the chemicals! I cannot stand the odor of the chemicals when I am ironing. I want to wash it out. Then I use fabric sizing to make the fabric stiffer when I am cutting and sewing. It works very well!

I wash, it gets rid of that stiff feel and any shrinkage.... But I don't wash charms or jelly rolls...

Chriss

I wash yardage and use the Shout color catcher sheets.
Do NOT wash charms, layer cakes, jelly rolls.
Nancy

Me too! I wash all my fabric.

I wash for all the reasons already stated, and because I feel the grain gets pulled when the fabric is put on bolts. I wash, dry and trim the selveges off before ironing. I save the selveges with the fabric info on them in case I need to purchase more.

Good luck, and have fun.
Sandy

I commented on another post: I don't prewash any of my fabric. That's how I learned (5 years ago). I was very happy to hear that I didn't have to prewash and so I took the quilt teacher's word for it. I wash my completed quilts with Retayne and have never had any problems-even with bright colors. I also tried the color catchers with a red/pink/white table runner & that worked well too.

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate this information.