Prewashing Fabric

[Renata L.]

Just wondering whether anybody is prewashing their fabric? I'm going to be getting my fabric as I go, so wondered if I needed to prewash. Mine will probably end up as a wall hanging. I'm obviously sort of new with the block of the month lessons. Thanks. Linda

[Sharon E.]

I do prewash my fabrics, BUT I also starch it after coming out of the dryer. You will need that little stiffness for piecing, it really helps, so when and if you wash your quilt the starch will wash out and your colors won't run. Have fun making the BOM.

Sharon in warm Colorado

[Terri A.]

I don't usually prewash either but I had watched a video by Leah Day on The Free Motion Quilting Project and followed what she does. She cuts her yardage into 1 yard lengths and I did that. Washed and dried it on delicate. Then on the front of the fabric, sprayed it with starch and then crumbled it up to get the starch to saturate the fabric. Pressed it on the wrong side and it was very easy to work with. Liked having the fabric a bit stiff. You may want to try this method.

[Anne B.]

Years ago, I learned the hard way, that know matter what....I ALWAYS prewash my fabric, colors running & shrinking are a nightmare!! I wash my fabric as soon as I bring it home so it is ready to go. I do starch my fabric before I cut, it just makes life easier.

[Anne B.]

Hi Linda,
When I bring my fabric home I always pre wash it in hot water and synthrapol then into a hot dryer to shrink my fabric.
I just fold the fabric to minimize any wrinkles and put away with the rest of my stash, this way when I come to make a quilt I don't get any nasty surprises.
After watching a Sharon Schamber video I now always heavily starch fabric to be used for a particular project prior to cutting, this makes handling, cutting and sewing the fabric so much easier.

[Anne B.]

My shop owner says not to prewash and be sure to wash the first time with color catchers. Does anyone do this? Does anyone recommend this or nix it?

[Anne B.]

Hi Eyestitch,
Synthrapol is a commercial grade detergent that is a color catcher so any loose dye in the water is attracted to the detergent and not the material.
Synthrapol appears expensive but it is very concentrated, I usually only use 20mls per washing machine load so it is cost effective and it does the job for me.
I haven't had a problem with color bleeding or cross contamination of other colored fabric even from red fabric since I started using Synthrapol years ago.
I hope this helps, everyone you talk to will have their own way of handling fabric all I can suggest is that you try different ways until you find a method that works for your set of circumstances.

[Rose O.]

I've been using color catchers in my wash prior to blocking finished quilts for several years now without any bleeding. If your red is as intense as the example
there is some risk with this.
I am not prewashing my fabrics, so not all of us making this quilt are on the must prewash bandwagon.

[Sharon E.]

I must clarify that I NOW prewash my fabrics, due to a horrible experience from a non-prewashed quilt fabric. I even did the Vicky Welsh method of trying to fix it and it kinda helped. I can definitely see both sides, but now...

Sharon, in slicker than snot on a doorknob, Colorado

[Sharon E.]

Sharon, in slicker than snot on a doorknob, Colorado

That has to be the most amazing weather description I have ever heard!

[Sharon E.]

Rosemary, you get the prize for replying about my phrase. Its an old time term, for EXTREMELY slick roads, as you figured out. Here in Colorado we do snow just fine, but ice not so much, and it was black ice, which is much worse. Just in the town and county we live, 4 people died yesterday from terrible car crashes. But it is a funny phrase.

Sharon

[Anne B.]

Sharon, in slicker than snot on a doorknob, Colorado
That makes me laugh!! I think that will be my new saying!
I'm in southern Arizona, and when the monsoons start in July the roads are slicker than snot on a doorknob!!