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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Do you wash your quilting fabric?  |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 15 2012 : 4:33:12 PM
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I am making a simple quilt for my stepdaughter and (only time I've ever done this) purchased all the fabric for it brand new. So I have a question for you experienced quilters - should I wash and iron it all before I cut it out, or just go ahead and cut and piece it? Pros and cons? I want all the info I can get:)
Thanks in advance!!
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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Penny Wise
True Blue Farmgirl
1903 Posts
Margo
Elyria
OH
USA
1903 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2012 : 5:11:50 PM
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any sewing that i have ever done, i was taught to prewash the fabric.
Farmgirl # 2139
proud member of the Farmgirls of the Southwest Henhouse
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2012 : 5:14:35 PM
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If it is for a child I always wash as it might see the washer a couple times a week or maybe just when ever. Wall hangings or quilts for adults I will dry clean or suggest to dry clean, and table runners or place mats I wash before.I also sew with a smaller stitch lenght for kids or quilts to be used more. I also check color fastness when using dark's and reds that might run.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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grammytammy
True Blue Farmgirl
585 Posts
Tamara
Binghamton
ny
USA
585 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2012 : 6:32:10 PM
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I always prewash. It is ok not to, if all the other fabrics have not been prewashed.
FarmGirl 2495
God loved us so much He gave His only son to die in our stead. |
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2012 : 6:46:17 PM
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When I made my first quilt, the teacher of that class said that the fabric sold in quilt shops is of such high quality that it should never bleed. I don't buy it. I always prewash, dry and press. Always. For baby quilts, I even do my jelly roll strips and charm patches. I'm just paranoid that way, and love a good challenge. :) So, bottom line: wash and dry and press!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 kiddos, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker) and Twitter (@sphomemaker)
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22angel
True Blue Farmgirl
498 Posts
Pam
Manitoba
Canada
498 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2012 : 8:15:31 PM
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Yes, I was taught when making anything, if you buy fabric, you wash it, dry it in the dryer on the highest heat setting (so that if it does shrink, it does it beforehand, and not after it's all together & shrinks all differently), then iron it. Now, if I buy fabric, I wash it multiple times (b/c sometimes it takes awhile for me to get to that specific project) and dry it too. Never had any problems with colours bleeding or anything. Good luck!
Life isn't about finding yourself. It's about creating yourself.
"When I grow up, I want to be dirt." seen on a box through construction in Wyoming 2010 |
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tangledthreads
True Blue Farmgirl
185 Posts
Michelle
Middle Tennessee
USA
185 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2012 : 06:48:49 AM
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I was taught to always prewash, my fabrics are washed and pressed before they hit my stash but I have recently read quilting articles that say not pre-washing fabrics (other than reds/blacks)is ok. I do know that the time I didn't pre-wash my fabrics, after it was machine quilted when I washed it "crinkled" up more to that cozy hand quilted look then with fabrics that were pre-washed. Some reds I prewash twice and with a color catcher.
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´Michelle Farmgirl #85
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Ghandi
Well behaved women rarely make history.
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lwm
True Blue Farmgirl
123 Posts
Loralie
Duncan
AZ
USA
123 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2012 : 09:56:02 AM
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| I guess I'm lazy. I rarely prewash. About the only times I do is when I have a piece of older fabric that might tend to shrink or if the fabric is a red that I'm concerned about bleeding. |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2012 : 07:24:39 AM
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I was taught to wash my fabrics, especially if I'm going to use it for apparel or something that will get washed regularly. Washing removes the warp sizing that is applied during manufacturing and allow the grain of the fabric to lay the way it will lay once it is washed so that it won't distort after washing, in case the grain is a little off. Maybe the new quilt fabric manufacturers are using less sizing than they used do.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/StrawHouseDesigns |
Edited by - StrawHouseRanch on Jan 17 2012 07:25:40 AM |
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2012 : 09:34:52 AM
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I used to always prewash and dry. Now unless I know it is a fabric prone to shrinkage, like linen, I don't take the time to prewash. If I am concerned I wash in cold water and dry on low. So far, no problems. And I don't prewash quilt fabric. So far I've only done wall hangings so I don't think it is a concern.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13625 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13625 Posts |
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pinkroses
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Sheila
Virginia
USA
2350 Posts |
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Bonnie Ellis
True Blue Farmgirl
2474 Posts
Bonnie
Minneapolis
Minnesota
USA
2474 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2012 : 9:18:48 PM
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I always pre-wash my cotton fabrics. I have had very few bleed, but when one does I am really happy I washed it. I always use my serger on the raw edges of the fabric before I wash. It saves a lot of string cutting.
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Do you wash your quilting fabric? |
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Do you wash your quilting fabric?
