Quilt in a Day Forums

Does anyone do this? Pros and Cons?

I started out ALWAYS washing the fabric first, because the people teaching me told me to. I still do the majority of the time because I worry about shrinkage and color coming out onto the other fabrics. I don't wash small pieces though, like 5 inch squares. Those are that size usually for a pattern, and if I washed them they might not be any more. Crazy I know, but that's what I do.
Joan

I always pre-wash my fabric. Even if it's just swishing little pieces in the sink for a bit. I've found I'm sensitive to the sizing so I need to wash it out. Plus I want to make sure there's no fading, bleeding, or shrinking. Since all my stash is washed, I want any new fabrics I might use in a project to be the same. But I think it's a matter of personal choice.

I agree with Joan - I'll pre-wash anything going into a quilt, no matter the size or use. However, if I'm making a tote, or anything or than a quilt, typically I don't pre-wash.

Susan

Thank You, I think I will start prewashing, if you have several yards of one fabric. Do you think it would be better to cut it into yard pieces?

For me, it depends on the grade of fabric I am using. I used to wash every fabric before use but Eleanor told me that she never washes her fabrics first. Now unless a fabric is of questionable quality, I do not wash my fabrics.

I'm not sure why you would want to cut your larger fabrics into yard pieces. You could be incurring a lot of waste doing that. I ALWAYS keep my fabric pieces intact until I need them, and if I have matching scraps, I fold them into the larger piece so it's all together.

Thank You! Qiad-Linda, I will be taking yours and Eleanors advice.

I never wash my fabric I just don't have the time. I do however usually wash the red fabric just so it doesn't run. I just used a red moda fabric and it didn't run at all. I also wash my flannel fabrics they shrink about 3" sometimes I use them for the backing.

I'm a washer. No fabric goes back to my sewing hole until it's washed. I recently inherited some bolts of fabric. I cut (tore) these into 4 or 5 yd. pieces. I use Color Catchers when I wash the fabrics and the Color Catcher never comes out white. Something always bleeds a bit, and I only buy $12 - $14/yd. fabrics. This doesn't happen so much with pastels but I wash them anyway just because I don't want to be handling all the dyes and chemicals. I iron my fabrics just before cutting and I use Mary Ellen's Best Press which gives the fabric some body.