Prewashing the 2021 BOM fabric

[Linda H.]

I usually do not prewash fabric. If anyone has already done the prewashing for the 2021 BOM quilt did you have any problem with bleeding and if so which colors.

[Barbara B.]

I usually do not prewash fabric. If anyone has already done the prewashing for the 2021 BOM quilt did you have any problem with bleeding and if so which colors.

I used a Shout Color Catcher with each load, separated by light and dark colors. No problems.

If you haven’t watched the video about how minimize raveling when washing fabric, please do before you wash.

[Carole M.]

Do you keep rewashing your fabric if the Shout Sheets continue to have color on them?

[Helen W.]

Do you keep rewashing your fabric if the Shout Sheets continue to have color on them?

cmeader,
It might take a lot of washings if you are not doing any thing to set the excess dye. I always use Synthropol. Lots of people also use Retayne. They are designed to remove or set
excess dye. I consider them a "must" for batiks. HelenW
Otherwise I would keep washing them. Depends how much dye you are getting on the Shout sheets.

[smardl]

Do you keep rewashing your fabric if the Shout Sheets continue to have color on them?

Yes I keep rewashing until the shout color catcher has almost no color on it. Usually one wash is sufficient. I had one batch of red batiks that took three washes with the shout color catcher.

[smardl]

Barbara, I cannot find the video on pre-wahing fabric that discusses minimizing raveling
Joan Joy

[Karen]

Is it essential to pre wash fabric? Do the majority of quilters pre wash and why would you pre wash?

[Barbara B.]

Is it essential to pre wash fabric? Do the majority of quilters pre wash and why would you pre wash?

Great question, I hope lots of people chime in.

I pre-wash fabrics likely to bleed: dark batiks, red/purple/navy/dark green cottons, etc. I also pre-wash the Kits we sell at The Quilt Show so I can see what our customers may encounter.

Some pre-wash to remove finishing/sizing applied during manufacturing, especially if they have severe allergies.

How about the rest of you—why do you pre-wash?

[Helen W.]

Is it essential to pre wash fabric? Do the majority of quilters pre wash and why would you pre wash?

Great question, I hope lots of people chime in.

I pre-wash fabrics likely to bleed: dark batiks, red/purple/navy/dark green cottons, etc. I also pre-wash the Kits we sell at The Quilt Show so I can see what our customers may encounter.

Some pre-wash to remove finishing/sizing applied during manufacturing, especially if they have severe allergies.

How about the rest of you—why do you pre-wash?

Sometimes a picture is worth a 1000 words. But read Barbara's words. That are all very, very important. I always wash my fabrics when I buy them.
Cotton fabric shrinks which can distort the look of blocks if it happens after the quilt has been made. Also, even if wall hangings are not planned to be washed
sometimes things happen that our out of our control. How about smoke damage, like all the wildfires in Calif. or a house fire. And you had to wash your wall hanging.
I would rather be safe than sorry.
HelenW

[Karen]

Thank you for the visuals. I'm now a believer in pre-washing.

[Diane R.]

I've always pre-washed fabrics. I have experienced bleeding with saturated reds, dark blues, and dark greens. Interestingly, I see the bleeding in the sink, with the block or a swatch of fabric. In the washer, it's less noticeable. Sometimes, one wash is not enough. Now I keep washing until the Color-Catcher isn't stained.

[Sheila P.]

OMG! I’m not in the habit of pre washing unless the fabric is hand dyed. But I took the advice and cut the 4 corners off, washed in Hot, lights - darks. I still got a very tangled mess, and also the fabric is very very wrinkled. I’m pressing with steam to try and get wrinkles out, very concerned I’m misshaping the fabric with the steam. Very time consuming and I’m sure I lost at least an inch. Hopefully I have plenty of fabric, I bought the kit. A new experience for sure. Sheila

[Nancy R.]

OMG! I’m not in the habit of pre washing unless the fabric is hand dyed. But I took the advice and cut the 4 corners off, washed in Hot, lights - darks. I still got a very tangled mess, and also the fabric is very very wrinkled. I’m pressing with steam to try and get wrinkles out, very concerned I’m misshaping the fabric with the steam. Very time consuming and I’m sure I lost at least an inch. Hopefully I have plenty of fabric, I bought the kit. A new experience for sure. Sheila

I prewash all of my fabric when it comes in the house. I've found that if I set the dryer on medium instead of hot and take the fabric out before it is fully dry and iron it right away, it tends to be less wrinkled and easier to deal with. Also, the more fabric you wash together, the more the pieces will tangle. To save some ironing time, I would try putting one of the fabrics in the washer on rinse just to get it wet since it was already washed, then dry it on medium and see if that takes the major wrinkles out and gives you an easier piece of fabric to deal with.

[KatjaBraun]

Okay guys, I am in Germany and have a European style washing machine . I habe a huge variety oft programs and temperatures to select from. What do you suggest. I thought of the silk/wool program.
Do you put your Reds for instance in one round and the lights in another and so on and each time with colour catchers?

[Helen W.]

Okay guys, I am in Germany and have a European style washing machine . I habe a huge variety oft programs and temperatures to select from. What do you suggest. I thought of the silk/wool program.
Do you put your Reds for instance in one round and the lights in another and so on and each time with colour catchers?

KatjaBraun, Do you have Synthrpol or Retayne? They work really well, better than color catchers. I always put my fabrics in a laundry tub; hot hot water with Synthrapol
red, oranges together, blue, purples together, when doing batiks. They bleed a lot of color. If you have commercial quilt cottons most don't bleed much and you can do
lights and darks. I soak for 20 to 30 minutes then run them thru the washing machine on rinse and spin. Then throw them in the dryer. Barbara Black has lots of good
suggestions, just go back and read the posts. What fabric do you have? Name and type. HelenW