Washing Fat Quarters

[dforseth]

Thanks for all the GREAT information. I went to my local Dollar Tree and got zippered mesh bags, 3 in a bag, I put two fat quarters in each bag and tossed them in the washer and dryer.

I am a "washer" and I have ten fat quarters that I need to wash. What is the best way? I have thought about swishing them in warm soapy water then rinsing the same way but how would I dry them?

Thanks for all your help.
Debbie

[mic-pa]

Well you can put them in a mesh bag to wash them in the washer, however if you do it by hand and swish them around, after ringing them out by hand, take a large bath towel and roll them up in it. That takes a lot of the moisture out of them and you can iron them damp. I have done it both ways. Marge

[knitnoid]

I used to be a die hard 'washer' as well. Everything got washed. Then I washed some FQs for a Yellow Brick Road. The FQs had shrunk (part of why I washed) and there wasn't enough fabric for the YBR. YBR uses every bit of that 18 x 22 piece of fabric -- which of course even if you don't wash it may not be 18 x 22. Needless to say if it's a FQ pattern I no longer wash my FQs unless I've made the pattern before -- or I buy a couple extra to throw into the mix to compensate for shrinkage and/or bad cutting.

But I don't do anything special -- just toss them in the washer.

[Geneva2]

In a post in this same section purrfect-lady asked "Do you have a favorite tip to share? One response to that question was to use a salad spinner to wash fat quarters. I don't have any fat quarters to wash right now but I am sure going to try it the next time I do. If you try the salad spinner please let me know how it works out.

I usually use my surger or sewint machine to run a stitch over raw edges and put it in the washing machine. I use only a very little bit of soap. I put them in the dryer until they are just a little damp and then iron.
Geneva

[astitchintime]

I too am one of those hard core fabric washers. I usually take my pinking shears and recut the edges of large pieces but with FQs I recently tried using my serger to edge one before washing. It worked fine for my purposes but I think for a FQ to be used for YBR I would probably use a straight stitch along each edge to save as much fabric as possible. I was at a LQS today and spoke with a lady who uses "liquid stitches" for all her applique and prior to washing her fabrics. Sounds interesting..... has anyone else heard of this or done it? Debi

[Marilynsgrammy]

I wash too... I don't worry about colors bleeding.... I get home with fabric throw it in the wash with laundry soap only... no fabric softner in the dryer then I iron and fold.... I haven't had a problem yet... I am a little more cautious with reds and only wash those together...

[Stargatefan]

I also had a problem with shrinking fat quarters because I washed them - and I also think they were incorrectly cut. I still wash them so that there aren't any problems with the quilt later. Usually on perm press, easy. I now measure my fat quarters before buying them - just to be safe.

[sewbug]

I'm not a washer unless the sample of the fabric bleeds in a cup of hot water. Then I don't use it in a quilt washed or not. I'll use it for table runners, pot holders, pincushions, etc.

[jennyB]

What a lot of abbreviations Please remember not every one understands these

[dforseth]

FQ-fat quarter---18x22 cut of fabric
YBR--quilt pattern http://www.carriagehousequiltshop.com/i ... tem_id=594
LQS--Local Quilt Shop