Fat Quarters and smaller pieces, I pre-wash by hand in a bowl, little soat and hot water, then I let them air dry a bit, and iron them dry. I know it is a bit more work, but I have been happy with my results, since I have been doing this. I say "To everyone they own Choice"

Margarita in Auburn, CA (Frances' mom) Hi Frances

I used to prewash everything that came in the house, except fat quarters. Then I got too lazy to prewash the fat quarters (the washing/drying is easy, it is the folding that got me down!) The pre-wash advocates will tell you that the chemicals used in the fabrics can cause respiratory problems when you are working with the fabric, especially when ironing. I know there are some people that are very sensitive to this, so I respect their decisions.

I will prewash a batik or a hand-dyed, or a bright red, as I don't want them to violate their neighbor fabrics. I also pre-wash fabrics that have gotten terrible creased, like the wide backing fabrics.

As I am using some reds in my 2009 BOM, I will pre-wash the whole kit-and-kaboodle. I probably will be using a light spray starch or sizing when I am ironing them out, as I do like the crispness. And that is my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

I am so confused. When I started quilting my Mom said wash all, so I did. Started going to the local guild an so many of those women said don't waste your time. So half my stuff is washed and the new stuff isn't. Is that going to be a problem when I wash a finished quilt that has fabrics in it that some are washed and some were not? Will it pucker up strange? LOL I Guess I will find out someday. Sandi in FL

Usually I never prewash until I got a quilt kit this last summer and the instrucitons said to do that - and my fat quarters shrunk so much that I had to go back to the Quilt Store and show them and get more fabric - I plan to use this quilt on my bed, but I have so many small scraps that pre-washing probably will not make them very happy - so I will probably use a sweater bag and try a very gentle cycle and pre-wash - BUT most the time I never pre-wash, especially if its wall art.
Sally

I've quit pre-washing because I just couldn't keep track of it all. My theory is that with color absorbing washing sheets, it's ok. If I ever get burned - (uh-oh) I might change my mind.

My fabrics are all sitting here ready to go! And I'm just finishing my December BOM so maybe I'll actually be ready!

Lynn

Like Margarita (hi mom) I had a bad experience with one of my first quilts when I didn't prewash my fabric so now I always prewash it. I am trying to get into the habit to wash fabric as it comes into the house so it's ready to go when I want to start something.

I wash all my fabric before I ever put it away so when I get ready to use it, I don't have to stop and wash.

I usually don't pre-wash my fabrics because I like the "puckery" look of old quilts and can get some of that by not pre-washing fabrics, using cotton battings and washing after the quilt is finished.
I do always make an effort to test any questionable fabrics for bleeding, and either wash them until they don't bleed, or choose another fabric.

However, I can tell you that in her directions for the 2009 BOM Sue strongly recommends that you DO pre-wash all of your fabrics, so I did for this project. Sue also does NOT recommend using starch, but I like working with crisp fabrics, so I did starch my fabrics.

I know that after it's quilted (by machine) I will be washing it so all the starch will be removed, but I don't think I will get as much "puckery" effect as I usually do.

So.....wash or not? It's up to you!

I always pre-wash. Had a bad experience once, a long time ago It was not fun. It all worked out OK in the end, Had to replace some white background, and some light pieces.

A while back I had a great fabric, pre-washed it. It ran like crazy, finally used a different fabric. the "great" fabric was never used and I do not even know what happened to it. Now I would used it for some kind of a bag, Shopping, etc.

I have all my BOM-2009 fabric sitting in my guest room waiting for the washer.

Margarita in Auburn, CA

I never pre-wash. (And I sew over pins!) :shock:

I've been shopping in my closet for Civil War repros for my 2009 BOM. I own a sinful amount of fabric and this is a great quilt in which to use some of it.

So, the BIG question--are you planning to prewash your fabric or not? I usually do prewash BUT--I must have pulled 100 fabrics from the closet and don't want to wash it all. Perhaps I'll choose month by month which to use and wash then. But I know I'd rather have the stash sitting there all ready to go each month.

Any comments?

Barbara