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Do you?

Why? Why not?

Do pinking shears *really* help cut down on the fray?

I wash my fabrics ONLY when they are going into a project/swap/etc. Someone once told me the fabrics would age better if you left the manufacturer's "coating" on the fabric...have no idea if that has anything to do with anything but it stuck with me.

I do wash with color catchers - particularly with the batiks so I get a sense of bleeding issues - some may need to be washed more than once.

This topic comes up every so often - so many ways to handle it -

I do NOT have an issue with fraying and do not take the time to pink the edges regardless of the size of the piece. I have a front loader so it doesn't get quite the "ride" that could be had in a top loader but the machine prior to this one was a top loader and I didn't have any problems with that one either.

My suggestion: try it both ways and do what works for you.

I fall on the side of washing everything before its used. I prefer to have the washed fabric on the shelf ready to use but sometimes I have to specially wash a piece.

I've been washing some of my stash lately and can't emphasize enough to wash batiks with color catchers, particularly dark colors, before using them.

Oh, and I don't do anything to the edges. If they fray, then I just trim them off when I start to iron them. Not an issue for me.

Nora: like everything in quilting you have at least two sides.

It is recommended that all fabrics be washed when you bring them home because the manufacturers' finish will attract silverfish to the fabric.

It is also recommended that before you start a project, if you haven't washed your fabric you do so because then the fabric will already be shrunken and it won't shrink once it it sewn. That's a yes/no situation. Depends on the fabric's cotton content.

If you don't wash the fabric and complete a quilt, most quilters wash the quilt before presenting it to whomever, it will shrink. Since fabrics shrink at different percentages, you may have some distored blocks.

Some quilters like the 'used' look of quilts where the fabrics haven't been pre-washed prior to making it. You can iron the finished quilts but you can't press as nicely as when you are working with the blocks or pieces. You'll flatten the batting.

Many quilters like working with the unwashed fabric because it handles better. You can starch the washed fabric but it just doesn't feel the same to work with. Doesn't have the same body.

Everyone does according to what they know or feel.

The only thing I know for certain is I pre-wash my batting, especially cotton or cotton blend. When it shrinks in a project, let me tell you it is a very sad sight!!!!

You'll decide which you like as you go along.

Paus has good advice, and may I add that I always think about whether or not what I'm making is going to get washed. If my stash piece is unwashed and it's going into a quilt, then I wash first. If it's going into a little wallet or something like that, then I probably won't wash. Potholder or apron or casserole carrier, wash first. Christmas ornament or bookmark, no.

I don't use pinking shears to stop fraying. On larger pieces, I zig-zag the edges. I could serge them, but my sewing machine is set up 99% of the time, not the serger. Sometimes while I'm zigging, I let the edge roll up onto itself a little, almost making a rolled hem. Yes, I lose a little fabric that way, but you have to straighten the fabric anyway, and I always buy more fabric than I think I need. I love scraps & leftovers!

Little pieces of fabric, I pre-wash by hand in the sink & take right to the ironing board to iron dry. Skipping the dryer doesn't seem to make any difference later.

I've had bad luck lately with all dark-colored fabrics wanting to bleed. Used to be I didn't trust red, but now green & brown & blue have been trouble, too. And even orange & hot pink! I blot on white paper towels so I can check.

I agree with washing cotton batting first. I soak it in the tub, gently squish it, rinse it well, push the water out, wrap it in a big towel, and put both wet things in the dryer.

Off-white batting can sometimes run, too. The water in the tub after soaking looks like weak tea! I would not want that on my finished quilt.

None of the ladies at my local quilt shop wash a thing before they use it. they want to get sewing immediately and say they have never had a problem.

I wash it as it comes into the house - for some reason, don't know if it's the chemicals or what, but I break out if the fabric isn't washed when i'm using it. FQs go into those mesh bags - about 6 pcs per bag. Anything bigger gets washed as is. Always use a color catcher.

Just recently tried preshrinking my batting - put in washer and let soak for 10 - 15 mins (DO NOT AGITATE), run thru spin cycle and then dry on low in dryer. It seemed to relax the "crinkly" look after washing the quilts.

Just my two cents

Color Catchers are something I have not found here in Canada... yet..... So, I will just know they are something I need to buy when they do get here!!

And yes, I wash. I just do not like the smell of my sewing room if I don't. I do not iron, I just wash, fold nicely then iron when I need it.

Since I do not get many projects to the finish stage - : - (but this is going to be a new habit for this year and all the years after....) I am going to be pr-washing my batting now I guess!! But reading the above, it makes sense to me. And anything to help keep things go nice and smoothly in the crazy room, I mean, ahem, sewing room, is a good thing.

So, batting now needs a bath to then!! Good to know. Good to know. Thank-you! Them more we know, the more ideas we get, the better it is because it might not always be the solution for todays issue, but it might be just the answer for tomorrows question. So, this is good to know. ove this site! And Happy New Year!! Here is to a great year of projects being done right the first time and many completed things to show for it!!!

I wash solids and dark and batik/hand dyed but prints in my experience doesn't bleed so I don't wash unless it looks like it may have a lot of extra dye in it.

quote:

the manufacturers' finish will attract silverfish to the fabric.

Huh?????????

I do wash incoming fabric of all sizes. Mostly because I prefer the smell of washed fabric.

Oops. Missed the pinking shears part of the question. For wof cuts I usually serge or sometimes overcast. FQs or smaller I wash by hand as they are.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bozie,

New fabric goes to the laundry area when I bring it in the house. I don't like the feel or smell of the mfr. finish. Wash in hot water, dry, fold, and iron as I need it. I don't finish the ends, and save the thread trimmings in a jar to stuff pin cushions.

I only wash finished projects and dirty items! Laundry when I need to! I don't have a problem with the reactions some of the other women have mentioned and haven't had silverfish with store fabric (I know starch attracts them). I only use cotton batting for table runners, candle mats, etc. I don't like it for used quilts so I don't wash that either.

I don't have that much time available to wash, dry and iron all that fabric. Haven't had a running dye problem either.

I almost always prewash before I take fabric to my sewing room. Partly for reasons already given but mostly because I find prewashed fabric easier to handquilt. I don't pink or serge the edges, just trim off the worst of the ravelings as I fold.

I've never washed batting - hadn't even thought about the need to. Guess that's something I should think about.

L.L. -- look with the detergents and you may find that the color catcher are actually on the shelves. You can easily overlook them.

I've never heard of washing batting before.

Thanks Bozie and QW. It is the starch that could attract silverfish.

Always good words here.

..... you 'washers' may all be right - but I don't like washed fabric ... if it's obviously a shrinker or a bleeder, well than I do of course but I LIKE brand new stuff .. and I like working with it - and I like the quilts I gift to LOOK like I just finished them, not dragged them out of the laundry. and if I'm all wrong it's okay - I have no fear of the quilt police ... they don't want to mess with me, either.
As in all rules there are exceptions - swaps and other projects where things are to be pre-washed I do play fair, and pre-wash, dry, re-spray finish and iron.
I always enjoy the subjects like this - always learn something interesting or helpful.

You all had me laughing. I have to agree to disagree with most. I do love the feel of new and most of the time I will make something my quilts fresh off the shelf. I do wash for swaps but, I hate that feeling after.

While I love the look and feel of from the store fabrics, I wash as who knows how and where it has been before and what chemicals are on it and I want any excess dyes out. I tried something new after Keepsake's tent sale where I tend to score big. I filled up the sink and swished like colors with a bit of detergent then rinsed. Tossed in the washer just to spin out the water and into the dryer. Much less time and frayed edges too.

piney

Lots of food for thought!

Thank you, ladies!