To wash or not to wash!
The age old question that has had quilters on opposite sides of the spectrum for years. I personally like to prewash my fabric. I recently came upon this blog post from my local quilt shop that explains it from a fabric shop owners perspective. So take a look and see what you think.
Should I prewash my fabric?
So where do you stand? Do you prewash your quilting fabric?
5 comments:
I prewash every piece of fabric before it enters the sewing room. And, reds and dark fabrics are soaked in a white bucket before washing until they stop releasing color. (and sometimes it's a day). Even then, over 20 years, I have had 3 projects that had bleeding on them and had to replace parts since twice the bleeding happened prequilting. One I dumped water on, one bled after simply starching the blocks and leaving them a bit damp--both reds and dark pinks. And, one completed project bled where I had used batiks, and I had to overlay a piece to cover it on a gift. Occasionally a fabric will not stop releasing color when pre-soaking. Those I treat with Retayne before they go into the sewing room.
I always pre-wash. The one time I didn't pre-wash the minkee backing, it bled onto the baby quilt. Unfortunately, that quilt was for a boy, and pink didn't work, so I had to make another one. I'd never had minkee bleed before then. I've had most of my fabrics bleed, so, I buy several bottles of Retayne at a time. Worth every penny.
I always prewash every scrap of fabric. Of course some bleed but they are often filthy dirty and full of chemicals. My daughter who works in logistics was not prepared to tell me what chemicals etc are put into the containers for transport only 'Make sure you wash all your new fabrics'.
I prewash occasionally. I have regretted not prewashing only a couple of times, so not prewashing hasn't been a huge issue for me overall.
I always pre-wash, and have been amazed at how much they can bleed. I'm saving this article - I'd love to get some Retayne. Thanks Jocelyn!
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