May 14, 2004

Pre-Washing New Fabrics and/or Die Cut Fabrics or Not?

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    Table of Contents

Introduction:

     Making a quilt can not only be very relaxing, but it can also be rewarding and provide many years of warmth and comfort that can be passed on to future generations.  However, it can become a disaster if fabric color bleeds the first time you wash the quilt or the fabrics in the quilt shrink unevenly and distort the quilt.  

     These guidelines are not intended to be all-inclusive, nor are they intended to be used for every quilt.  These guidelines should, however, serve to help you determine whether or not fabrics should be pre-washed.

     Above all, remember that each fabric is different and should be treated as such! 

Pre-Washing Advantages/Disadvantages:

     These guidelines are not specific to any type or brand name of fabric. 

     First, choose fabric carefully.  The amount of time and energy that you put into a quilt deserves the best and should not be wasted by using non-quality fabric.  So, what is non-quality fabric?  Fabric that is too thin, fabric that is not 100% cotton (although there can be exceptions), and fabric that does not stop bleeding all contribute to "non-quality" fabric.

     Second, make the decision as whether to pre-wash or not.  Factors to consider include:

  • Does the fabric bleed when placed under running water?

  • Does the fabric have a lot of shrinkage when washed and dried?

  • Do you want to be absolutely positive that there is no bleeding after the quilt is finished?

  • Do you want to be absolutely positive that there is no uneven shrinkage after the quilt is finished?

     If the answer to either of those four questions is "yes", then I would recommend pre-washing.

     What is the best way to pre-wash?  There is no "best way", however here are some tips for effectively pre-washing fabrics:

  • Wash in warm, sudsy water.  This can be done in either the sink or in a washer, set on a delicate setting.  If washing in a machine, be sure to use pinking shears to cut the edges to stop excessive fraying or snip a small triangle off of one corner to help stop fraying.

  • Unfold the fabric to a single layer.  This holds true for both hand and machine washing.

  • Never wash more than five or six yards of like fabric at a time.  

  • Rinse the fabric after washing until the water runs clear.  If the water continues to cause the fabric to bleed, then count the fabric a loss and do not use it in your quilting project.

  • After washing, either lay flat to dry or tumble dry on a medium setting.  If drying in a dryer, do not put more than five yards of fabric in at a time.  Tumble dry until almost dry, then check the fabric to see if it is wrinkling.  If it is, then remove and iron.  If it isn't wrinkling, then continue in the dryer until dry.

  • Press the fabric before using.  If you like a "crisp" fabric, then use spray starch to press.  Tip:  To keep from getting the flaky white pieces of starch, spray, then let it seep into the fabric for approximately 60 seconds.

     What if you do not want to pre-wash all of your fabric (because it is a lot of work if you are a fabricaholic!)?  Then, you can simply snip of pieces of each fabric and test them for bleeding and shrinkage.

     I always pre-wash batiks and hand-dyed fabrics.  I very rarely pre-wash other types of fabrics, unless they are bright colors that might be prone to bleeding (like red or hot pink, for example).  Personally, I prefer not to pre-wash if I do not have to because the quilt should get the same amount of shrinkage after it is laundered and I like the antique, "puckered" look.

     To pre-wash or not?  It is totally up to you, but I hope that these guidelines have been useful and help you to make an informed decision!

Washing Fabrics With Metallic Highlights

  • If fabrics have metallic highlights, wash and dry as described above.  Be careful to NOT use any laundry products that contain brighteners.

Washing Die Cut Fabrics

     First, what are die cut fabrics?  These are pieces of fabric that have been pre-cut using a die cutting machine into various shapes.

     To wash die cut fabrics:

  • Separate die cut fabrics into groups of the same color.

  • Soak the fabrics in warm water to preshrink them.  If the color bleeds, repeat until the water runs clear in the rinse.

  • After washing, place the pieces on a flat surface to dry.

  • Do not place die cut fabrics in the washing machine.

  • Do not place die cut fabrics in a dryer, as this causes them to unravel and/or fray.

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