Prewashing fabric

[Judy L.]

Alex said on the show that she personally washes her fabric. How does one wash without the lot becoming one big tangle of twisted fabric and threads?

[Judy L.]

I USE PINKING SHEARS ON MY MATERIAL. IT DOES HELP THE FRAYING A LOT. AND I READ THAT SOME PEOPLE STAY STITCH . BUT DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU.

[Frances L.]

It depends on the size of the fabric. If the fabric is 1/2 yard or bigger, I snip a corner off and it helps decrease the fraying. If it is a fat quarter, I wash them by hand in the sink and dry them with the iron. If I have a lot of them, I wash them in lingerie bags.
Frances in Austin where "summer" = "hot"

[Frances L.]

I've read tha some members use the serger and serge their finds. Something to think about. Hmmm....

[Diane O.]

When I did wash my fabric before using it, I always used my serger to sew any raw edges, wether it was yardage or fat quarter. It worked great, and there wasn't a lot of waste when you trimmed the serged part off.

I have stopped washing my fabric first, because I don't like the extra work envolved, and I don't mind if it shrinks a bit after making my quilt. The only fabrics I would wash would be ones I'm not certain would run or not.

Diane in Colorado Springs

[Cheryl F.]

I put my fabric on gentle cycle and use something like woolite in cool water. You do get some tangle but not too bad and yes it is more work but it irons out just fine. I agree with the fabric that runs sometimes your not sure and boy can it ruin your work if it does. Cher

[Judy M.]

I use my pinking blade rotary cutter on the raw edges and it really helps. Judy in Torrance

[Cheryl F.]

You know Judy I bought one of those blades and never used it. I think I am gonna try it on the fabric before I wash it next time. Thanks for reminding me :?

[Cheryl F.]

I agree with Judy, a pinking blade used before washing fabric helps take care of most of those tangles.

JoAnne

[Cheryl F.]

I don't usually prewash, however a customer who provided her own fabric had it prewashed. And as I made an oops I had to go to walmart before they removed the fabric, and rebuy the yardage that I cut the wrong way. Note to self, I don't like directional fabrics for clothing construction. Anyways, I serged the ends prewashed the yardage and really enjoyed no tangles! I might just become a prewasher now...

[Cheryl F.]

Hi Ladies,
I pre-wash everything, unless of course it one of those pre-cut sets (jelly roll, charm pack, etc). If I'm washing yardage, I typically overcast the cut ends of everything. Then, I just toss in in the washing machine, most of the time in a laundry bag to avoid the twisted mess. Oftentimes I toss this in with my regular laundry, assuming I trust it won't run. I then take the material out of the laundry bag and put it in the dryer. I don't let it dry all the way, but I get most of the heavy wetness out of it. Then, I iron it the rest of the way dry.

For fat quarters, I usually do what was suggested earlier... I toss them in a sink of water and wash them by hand, squeeze them out as best I can and iron them dry.

I wash before hand because I don't like dealing with the shrinkage. Material typically shrinks 3% to 5%. That's not much on a piece of fabric that is an inch or two big. But, if for example you were making a queen size quilt, your outer boarder could be 100 inches long. 3% shrinkage would mean that piece could shrink 3 inches. At 5%, it could shrink 5 inches. I just think that's alot..

I hope everyone has a wonder and safe 4th of July!

Sharon

[Judy M.]

I've heard, too, that you can wash small pieces in a salad spinner. I haven't tried it, but it might work. I wouldn't use it for salad anymore, though, because of the chemicals washing out of the fabric. Judy in Torrance

[Judy M.]

I wash my material in a mesh laundry bag. If it is yardage I open it up before I put it in the bag and I do the same with fat quarters. It comes out really nice. I take it out of the mesh bag to dry it in the dryer if it is yardage. If it is fat quarters I leave it in the bag. I just wash it on a light cycle with regular laundry detergent on warm setting. If it looks like it might run I add a colorcatcher by Shout to the wash. I get very little fraying.

[Judy M.]

I started out prewashing all of my fabrics. I heard from someone that if you cut the corners diagonally, that would cut down on the fraying. I have to say, that works most of the time. Sometimes you just get a fabric that is going to fray, no matter what! Lately, I haven't been washing my fabrics. I got out of the habit & probably should go back to prewashing. I've been a baaad girl!

[Judy M.]

this is what Pamo65 said in another topic that works really well for yardage. I tried it and there was very little fraying.


I wash fabrics on a hand wash or delicate cycle with a quick or light soil setting. If it is yardage, I open the fold and fan fold the fabric at one selvedge. I safety pin it and it washes without getting into a twisted mess.
I only lightly damp dry the fabric. Yes, I iron it dry. Fold and store.