Washing Fabric

[Chrissy1]

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

[dforseth]

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

[SueSwan]

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

SueSwan

[Quilter7]

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!

[Marilynsgrammy]

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

Chriss

[mamaw]

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

[quiltwithmom]

Me too! I wash all my fabric.

[sunsup]

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

[sadiedaisy1]

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.

[Chrissy1]

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate this information.