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Question of the Week

Question for the week of November 3, 1997:

Our question this week comes from Kay Johnson

My first teacher told us not to wash our fabrics before we quilt, but, all the magazines say to wash first. What do you suggest?

JONNA KIRKWOOD :
I was told the same thing when I started,but have learned over the years that it is better to wash the fabric to prevent die leakage and shrinking.

Jane and Janet :
One particular fabric that we don't wash are those that are reproductions of the 30's. They give the appearance of being older after you make them into a quilt and then washed.
Louise Murphy :
After having colors run on three different quilts, I would not consider not washing fabrics.
SUZQLTR@aol.com Suzanne Adler :
Generally I don't wash my fabric either. I hate to iron it too. This is also what my quilting teacher has told me. I do wash deep colors that I think might run -- just in TIDE and old water - I also will wash fabric that I know will be for a baby quilt as I know that it will be washed many times in the future.
San Diego Shirley :
Wash, wash, wash... it softens the fabric and insures colors won't run.
Darlene Blackwell :
Cotton Fabric Wash First without exception - Learn what the Fabric will do before you do anything to it.
Another thing I FINALLY remembered from my Jr.High sewing class - That I have found helps me manage the fabric better - Stretch the fabric on the bias. Our teacher showed us how to grab the fabric at diagonal corners and gently pull the fabric, then do the same on the opposite corners. I have found that this little tidbit I learned 43 years ago helps. With yardage of 1 yard and more you may need some help so enlist a husband or friend - but don't make it a tug-of-war, smaller pieces you can probably do by yourself
Roberta Spohn :
Some say don't wash but then after all the workS you might find out the fabric shrints uneven or one fabric has a color that runs and would ruin a quilt if it was sewn on before washing.
Kay Johnson :
Thanks to all the wonderful answers. I decided to wash my stash. It's not large yet cause I jsut started quilting. My dryer is broke. I wish you could have seen the looks I got at the laundry !!!! Kay :-)
Suzanna Keller :
I was told the exact same thing - don't wash. In my experience I get a much more accurate cut if the fabric has been pre-washed. I find it easier to fold the fabric and cut it once the sizing has been taken out. When I used to cut it withput pre-washing I had difficulty lining it up properly and often cut fabric strips that looked more like zigzags than straight strips.
Carol Chappell :
I think anything that will truly be washed such aa baby quilt, quillow etc. must be washed, but if you are going to make a wall hanging why bother. I used to wash everything before it went into my stash (black hole), but now I don't. I recently made a quilt for my college daughter and prewashed all those fabrics together. Testing to see how they would wash as a quilt. That is enough. One advantage to not washing is that you keep the sizing in the fabric which sometimes prevents distortion.
Laura Winckel :
I always wash my fabric, not just for
shrinking but so I don't have any problems
with dyes running. There is nothing worse
than working hard on a quilt then washing
it and having one of your fabrics run, now
your quilt is ruined!! I don't want to take
that chance!!!!!!
SUGAR :
If you are machine quilting, it is better not to wash fabric.
The sizing on the fabric gives you better control.I took a class from a famous machine quilting teacher and this is what I was told.
If I am using a deep red, green or a fabric I think might bleed, I pin the fabric to a white piece of fabric and either throw it in the washing machine or place it in a jar and shake it up. If the color comes off on the white fabric, then I wash the whole piece.
So far I havn't had any problems. I use a lot of homespun fabrics and if you wash them first, they really fray. I like washing them after the quilt is done to give it that old look.
The Honey Bee Quilter :
I almost always prewash my fabrics. It is easier if you just wash everything when you bring it home. Then you can use anything from your stash when inspiration strikes. Last week, I washed a lot of fabric. My DH walked through the laundry room just as I was putting a load in the dryer. He looked at the twisted, stringy mess ans asked what I was doing. "Prewashing my quilting fabric" I replied. He looked at the fabric again and then asked, "But why did you tie it in knots first?" :) I guess I need to try the clipping the corners first method!
Jackie Robinson :
Pretreating or not is strictly a personal choice. As a shopowner, I ALWAYS tell my customers about pretreating, so if a fabric bleeds they understand. But, as an individual quilter......well, there's not a single piece of fabric in my stash that I've pretreated. Shrinkage really isn't a problem with quality fabrics. Only the possible bleeding. And, if that happens, well, it just looks more "quilty".
Jana :
I wash first. Sometimes brights or blacks run. If all colors are similar or fabric is from the same time period (new) I'll take a chance and not wash. I have also experienced uneven shrinkage.
Shelia Gilbert :
I would suggest that you wash every piece of fabric you buy the minute you get it home. Not only does this reduce the risk of bleeding onto your new quilt, but it also gives you a fresh supply of stash fabric-- ready to use at anytime(especially at 3am when you just can't sleep thinking about that new quilt you can't wait to get started on!)
June :
I typically prewash everything before it goes into my stash.
Unless, a project requires a color intensity that washing may destroy.
That is very rare. Most fabric I buy without knowing exactly what I will use it for.
(don't we all...) My initial response would be - prewash it all.
Marion Kerr :
I always wash my fabrics as soon as I bring them home. All fabrics do not respond the same way to washing, and I want to get that "response" out of the way before they "get together" with other fabrics. You can also find the culprits that will bleed onto others and weed them out before they have a chance. I also find fabrics easier to work with if they have the sizing removed. Their true nature becomes apparent. Better to know in advance if you have a "renegade" on your hands!
Barbara McGinnis :
When in doubt take a steam iron and lightly press the fabric, if it shrinks at all you'll know you need to prewash
JoAn Drake :
The many reasons I wash my fabric before assembling a quilt are as follows:
1) To make sure that the fabrics are colorfast. I wouldn't want to find out the hard way and ruin my quilt by washing it for the first time as a finished item.
2) To make sure that all the shrinkage has been taken out so that when you do wash the quilt, you will have a quilt that will not shrink.
3) To get the sizing out...makes it a lot easier to quilt.

By the way, something that I have read on one of the quilt bulletin boards says that when you wash fabric, to eliminate the fraying of the fabric, cut your corners. I tried this for the first time this weekend, and it works. I couldn't believe it. What I usually get is a machine load full of tangles and twisted fabrics. This time it was like pulling a bed sheet from the washer/dryer. So easy...and what a help. I was hand washing and line drying my fabric because I hated all those snarls. Never again.

Joyce Twining :
I have always washed all my material first regardless what project I am going to be using it for. I find it very useful to serge the sides that are cut off the bolt of material, this prevents raveling when in the wash. I wash new material as soon as I bring it home this way I know everything in my sewing room is ready for usage.
Kathy Card :
Wash fabrics then gently press (not stretch) with an iron. Good luck
Nancy Z :
If you aren't concerned about the finished size of your quilt then you don't need to prewash, or if you want that old fashioned puckered look. But if the finished is is important then you should at least test it for shrinkage. I have had expensive fabric shrink 4 inches, which definitely would have made a difference in my king size quilt. I usually pre-wash and if you want you can use a spray starch to give it some body.
Anita Keaton :
I personally so prewash my fabrics so that stiff sizing is removed. I wash it in cold water without soap and then dry it in the dryer to damp and then press it dry. Then I feel that the fabric is now ready to use. I really don't like the wrinkled look when you don't wash before construction and then wash it and it shrinks up after washing. I also have had bleeding reds and greens and I had heard of an occasional brown. I don't bother soaking the fabric if it does run to make it stop -- out it goes so that it won't accidently end up in another project only to ruin that one too.
Mira O :
When I use my fabric for wearable quilted art, I wash my fabric. When strictly quilting, I do not. Unless the fabric is red. I always wash red. I like the old fashion look that the quilts get after the first wash.
jul :
I didn't always prewash, but do now. When you want to use HEAT 'N BOND to do quick applique, it's nice to know that whatever fabric you pick from your stash - it's ready to be used. Now when I come home from the fabric store, the bag goes directly in to the laundry room and the fabric gets washed. I also prefer the "feel" of washed fabric.
anthony :
There is no hard and fast rule. Different teachers/quilters will tell you different things. Use your judgement. If it's a wall hanging or an art piece that will not be washed, it probably is best not to wash the fabric. That way you keep all the brighteners and sizing added at the mill. If it's a piece for yourself, you might decide it's going to be dry cleaned, so why prewash? Personally, I love the puffy soft touchy texture that washing brings out of a quilt. I also do a lot of stippling which is enhanced by the slight shrinkage that washing causes. Plus, most of my work goes to other people and you don't know how they're going to care for it. So I prefer to pre-wash fabrics in hot water, with detergent, and dry completely in a hot dryer, trying to subject the fabric to as much abuse as the quilt will ever see. But sometimes, I just don't have time. I need to use it right now. I've mixed unwashed and washed pieces in the same quilt and have had few problems. I think bleeding is more of a concern than shrinkage. Reds are known to bleed, but I find all colors do, even black. If the quilt has a lot of white in it, I test my fabrics by rubbing them with a piece of muslin wet by a little soapy water. If color rubs off, wash it or save the fabric for another quilt. If the piece doesn't have a lot of white in it, I usually don't worry so much.
jbr :
I prewash EVERYTHING now because of a couple of sad stories. One the fabric shrunk a whole lot more than I anticipated, leaving me with a garment that would fit a Barbie doll (not me). The other is the bleeding factor. If you bought fabric specifically for a wall hanging or something that would NEVER be washed, I wouldn't bother - the sizing helps with handquilting. It's a matter of personal preference sometimes.

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