Prewashing fabric

[Judy B.]

I once took a class from Harriet Hargrave where she pointed out that unwashed fabric is more valuable than washed fabric. Of course you do have the situation of people being allergic to the chemical fumes from unwashed fabric. Joan Wolfram does not wash her fabrics (says you're washing off the fabric finish you paid for), but she does mostly wall-hangings. I always check a swatch to make sure it's color-fast, but don't necessarily wash the fabrics -- unless I'm doing a baby quilt.

[Judy B.]

I always prewash everything. I'm not trying to knock out a lot of dirt -- just the processing chemicals and excess dye. As such, I never wash fabric on the regular cycle -- I use the delicate cycle. It minimizes the tangles that happen in the washing machine. When I put it in the dryer, there are still tangles, but I don't put it in the dryer until it is completely dry - I put it in there just long enough to get it to "barely damp" and then I remove it and let it air dry. For an evening, my house looks like an old-fashioned laundry with fat quarters and yardage hanging over the backs of chairs, across the floor, etc. In the morning, it all gets folded and put away, ready to use!

[Betty J.]

I prewash everything on the "hand wash" cycle and then dry it in the dryer. That way, I'm sure the color won't run and the fabric won't shrink. Even if I am doing a wall art quilt, I usually wash it just before I bind it or embellish it with beads or special threads or some such, so as to get all the marks and dirt that may have accumulated during the construction process and to block it. That way, it squares up and lays flat so nicely after binding. If you really want to wash the fabric, but still want that nice crisp feel, you can use spray starch when you iron it and it is all set to go.

[Betty J.]

I prewash everything but I do it as simply as possible. I literally toss it in the washing machine on the same setting that I would wash it after it's complete. So far I haven't had an issue. Plus, most of my quilts are glorified "huggies" for my kids. Even when they start off as something I'm doing as a fancy piece, one kid or another falls in love with it and it's destiny has been determined. I guess it could be worse... :mrgreen: