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From: StitchInTime
Date: 07-18-2005, 02:01 PM (1 of 28)
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Do you always prewash fabric before cutting it? Just curious... 
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's sewing machine.
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User: StitchInTime
Member since: 06-17-2005 Total posts: 30 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 07-18-2005, 02:24 PM (2 of 28)
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Yes I always pre wash my fabrics. I would be very upset if after I finished my project and it shrunk and looked terrible. I normally do not use knits, but when I do I was those too. One thing I feel and this is just my thoughts here, is formaldehyde is use in fabrics to preserve it. I don't want to be sewing with that in it, getting into my sewing machines. I also don't want to be handling it with my hands any more than I need too. These are just my thoughts, I know other people have their own. Summer Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: Magot
Date: 07-18-2005, 02:26 PM (3 of 28)
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I never used to until the good people here seemed scadalised by not washing it. I don't bother for quilts but now do for garment sewing. Unless I am so desperate to sew that I rush back from the shops and start cutting like a mad woman.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: esrun3
Date: 07-18-2005, 03:24 PM (4 of 28)
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I always wash first-better safe than sorry-gets things shrunk and I can also tell if the fabric is going to bleed. Only time I don't is if I'm making a quilt that I want that "old" feel too.
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 07-18-2005, 05:56 PM (5 of 28)
I do not pre wash any fabric made by Cranston Print Works, and this includes their VIP fabrics; also Hoffman fabrics; neither of these have ever shrunk or bled for me and I have used yards and yards of them, especially the VIP 's .. That is my favorite of all fabrics..I'm in the process of testing Springs fabrics but I haven't done enough testing yet for a definite opinion.. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: StitchInTime
Date: 07-18-2005, 10:48 PM (6 of 28)
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Thanks ladies!
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's sewing machine.
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User: StitchInTime
Member since: 06-17-2005 Total posts: 30 |
From: mbar03
Date: 07-19-2005, 03:01 PM (7 of 28)
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I never used to, but I do now after I washed some fabric that shrank so much. However, I was reading something on this on somewhere else, and they said if you prewash the fabric, you should prewash the batting, esp. Warm and Natural. Which, of course, I never do. Any opinions? Libby, I'd loved to know what you find out about Springs fabric. Michelle
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User: mbar03
Member since: 07-11-2005 Total posts: 15 |
From: calia
Date: 07-20-2005, 08:09 PM (8 of 28)
| I always prewash my fabrics. You can always use starch if you need stiffer fabric. I agree better to wash the fabric than have all your hard work shrink up after your all done. |
User: calia
Member since: 07-18-2005 Total posts: 1 |
From: MaryW
Date: 07-21-2005, 08:18 AM (9 of 28)
Hi Calia and welcome to Sew Whats New. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: natred2
Date: 07-21-2005, 05:38 PM (10 of 28)
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I always wash and press regardless of the sewing project. Old habits die hard, my mother drilled it into me to do so.
Don't be so open minded your brains fall out.
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User: natred2
Member since: 04-09-2005 Total posts: 81 
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From: Jayne
Date: 08-18-2005, 09:11 AM (11 of 28)
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That is a very touchy subject here where I live. Some insist that you must wash and others never do and wonder why you would ever want to. Each side gives you very good reasons why they do or don't. I still don't know what should be done. They only thing that everyone agrees on is: if you wash one piece of fabric in a quilt you must wash all of the fabric, otherwise don't wash any of it. My problem is as my stash is getting bigger I am having a hard time remembering what fabric I have washed and which I have not. |
User: Jayne
Member since: 05-19-2005 Total posts: 1 |
From: mamahoogie
Date: 08-18-2005, 07:38 PM (12 of 28)
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I wash everything as soon as it gets in the door - well hubby does as laundry is his thing to do. That way, I know it's not going to bleed thru our shrink or fade. Once burnt, twice shy! Violet I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: esrun3
Date: 08-18-2005, 08:41 PM (13 of 28)
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I wash everything as soon as it gets in the door - well hubby does as laundry is his thing to do. That way, I know it's not going to bleed thru our shrink or fade. Once burnt, twice shy! Violet me too! Everything gets washed before it goes into my sewing room. Even fabric I've "inherited" gets washed as I don't know if it was washed before or not. That way I know anything in my sewing room is good to go when I'm ready to use it. Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: LauraM62
Date: 08-19-2005, 10:16 AM (14 of 28)
I wash it once when it comes into the house, then I was it 2 more times before I cut into it. Once bitten twice shy! I sew allot for a plus size dd, there is nothing worse then spending time designing a garment (drafting, cutting, sewing) only to have the fabric shrink after the first washing. Since I make the majority of her clothing I really want them to last as long as possible, so I want all the shrink out before I cut & sew  me too! Everything gets washed before it goes into my sewing room. Even fabric I've "inherited" gets washed as I don't know if it was washed before or not. That way I know anything in my sewing room is good to go when I'm ready to use it. LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246 
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 08-19-2005, 10:31 AM (15 of 28)
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Hi Jayne, Welcome to Sew Whats New, We have lots of interesting discussions on these boards. I hope you will join in more of them. I have to agree with you in your statement about washing all or nothing. Even tho I wash all my fabrics, I know quilters who say they don't. The tell me if you buy good quality cottons, when you do wash the quilt it will all shrink at the same rate and gives the quilt a worn look. Since quilting is not something I do often and it takes me forever , I am not going to take that chance. I hear many people talking over their methods and to wash or not is one of the topics of discussion. Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: LadySloPokes
Date: 08-22-2005, 07:21 AM (16 of 28)
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I've read the posts here, and I guess I better start washing my fabric, regardless of what I'm going to be making with it. However, I'd like to know what type of detergent I should use. I'm not too keen on the idea of using dish washing soap, but I do have some laundry soap for baby clothes-the really gentle stuff in a liquid. Would that be an acceptable alternative, using it in a cold water wash/rinse? I only buy fabrics that are machine washable, some are warm water and some are cool water; all can be machine dried on low or meduim. I'll say thank you now in advance for any answers or suggestions! 
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198 
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From: esrun3
Date: 08-22-2005, 09:15 AM (17 of 28)
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I prewash my fabric just as I would wash & dry it when it's finished. In fact, if it looks like something that won't run I often just throw it in with a regular load of laundry.
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 08-22-2005, 11:46 AM (18 of 28)
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If I buy a lot of fabric, I usually do a load of lights together and darks together, etc. If I think a fabric might run, I will wash it separately. I wash with warm water and always dry in the dryer as I want it to shrink before I make the quilt - not afterwards as I usually plan on giving the quilt away and I don't know how it will be washed. I usually use my regular laundry soap but I usually make sure it has colour guard. So that's what I do. But a quilting book that I have says to wash with warm water gentle detergent and a gentle cycle. They recommend drying in the dryer at medium setting if that is how you plan to dry the quilt afterwards. Good luck with whatever method you choose. TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 08-22-2005, 07:48 PM (19 of 28)
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Friends, If you live close to a "Dollar Tree", go there and buy their cold water wash .. It is a copy of Woolite.. NO, I take that back. Its better than woolite.. Best liquid laundry soap I have ever used.. I use it for all my pre-washing fabrics.. My son was very label conscious (sp) and he even says its better than woolite.. He won't use anything else on his Polo Shirts, now..The dollar tree soap is so economical, and I love saving money.. (Child of the depression, you know)...Try it..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: Quiltgranny
Date: 08-23-2005, 06:01 PM (20 of 28)
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Hello all, I'm Quiltgranny, new to your forum just today. I've been reading the thread on whether to wash new fabrics or not; but haven't seen anything mentioned regarding the resulting raveling that occurs after washing - or am I the only one with that problem? LOL I doubt it. Would anyone please assist me with this dilemma? I thought I'd heard something about cutting off a bit of one corner of each piece of fabric to stop the raveling, but haven't had much luck with that technique. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks a bunch. Quiltgranny |
User: Quiltgranny
Member since: 08-23-2005 Total posts: 6 
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 08-23-2005, 08:05 PM (21 of 28)
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Hi Quiltgranny, Welcome to Sew Whats New. Glad you have come to join us. Look around the boards, we have many interesting subjects here. Maybe you would like to become involved in one of our swaps or challenges. I don't know the answer to your quetion, I just put up with the ravels. I have heard the same thing about snipping a corner but have never tried it. I have thought about buying pinking roller blade for my rotary cutter and doing the ends in that, but it seems one more thing to do before I can get started sewing, so I never have done it. Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: esrun3
Date: 08-23-2005, 10:37 PM (22 of 28)
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Welcome Quiltgranny! I've tried the cutting the corners and you still get ravels, just sometimes not as many. Like Summer, I just put up with the ravels and snip them off when I'm ironing the fabric. I did find that if I'm washing fat quarters, if I leave them loosely folded and put them in a zippered lingerie bag to throw in the washer they don't ravel as much. I usually open them up before putting them in the dryer so they don't dry with the creases in them. I'm sure you'll enjoy our board. Looking forward to hearing more from you. Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: Sailorliz
Date: 08-24-2005, 08:02 AM (23 of 28)
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I have an overlock serger, so I serge all of the ends of my material before washing. No raveling! This also helps me in knowing the material that I have washed and what I haven't washed in my stash.
Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386 
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From: Hogmami
Date: 08-24-2005, 11:38 AM (24 of 28)
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I put a dry towel in the dryer with the fabric and that seems to help. But I like Liz's idea. I can never remember what I have pre-washed.
Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800 
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From: Magot
Date: 08-24-2005, 05:06 PM (25 of 28)
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I think I heard of other ladies who serge their fabric before washing - you could just zig zag for lack of a serger.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 08-24-2005, 07:32 PM (26 of 28)
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I serge before I toss fabric in the washer & dryer.. Before I got a serger, I zigzagged if I thought it would ravel a lot..(seldom).. I usually pinked my cottons, tho.. I have lefty pinking shears..They are ancient, now..but still work..Mostly they sit in the drawer..ever since I bought my serger..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: beachgirl
Date: 08-25-2005, 03:16 PM (27 of 28)
| I serge my fabric before washing mostly as it's quicker. I have found that if the cotton material is of good quality you can pink before washing. If it's a cheaper cotton then with pinking it will still ravel some but not as much as not doing anything to the cut edges. I have also zig zaged the cut edges & that works if you do it a close zig zag. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: Quiltgranny
Date: 08-27-2005, 11:57 AM (28 of 28)
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Thank you to all the ladies for your responses to my raveling question. Guess I overlooked the obvious on this one, LOL! I'd long since forgotten about my pinking shears (they're Lefties, too). Since I don't have as much strength in my hands as I used to, think I'll go with the zigzag stitch. Maybe one of these years Santa will bring me a serger, LOL. I like the idea about the lingerie bag for fat quarters, too. Nice to know I'm not alone with this problem. Thank you too, for all your warm welcomes. I look forward to getting to know you all better as time goes on, and hopefully to learn a lot more about quilting as I'm just a beginner. You all have a blessed day. Quiltgranny P.S. Sorry for the delay in my getting back to you, we were enjoying a wonderful visit from one of our sons and his family after 5 long years! They are in WA and neither of us get the chance to travel much. Thank goodness for email and telephone! |
User: Quiltgranny
Member since: 08-23-2005 Total posts: 6
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