Comments on: Should I Start Prewashing My Fabric?

By: Pamela Beni

Pamela Beni — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:45:05 +0000

I am a senior who used to quilt. I always prewashed my fabrics . Now, as the receiver of placemats,which I love, I find that almost no one prewashes. Therefore after using my placemats they all shrink. Now they are only good for tea and cookies or my dog’s meal.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 01:08:00 +0000

In reply to Marie Zimmerly. Thank you!

By: Doris

Doris — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:35:19 +0000

In reply to Rose. I always prewash in hot water and never had a problem I do not like the chemicals on new fabrics. Washing eliminates that problem. In new fabric, washing makes it soft and easy to sew,.

By: MaryAnn Bonny

MaryAnn Bonny — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 02:17:19 +0000

I also sew clothing, and would not sew any fabric without preshrinking it. Washing and drying, steam pressing or sending it out to the dry cleaners. It helps to eliminate any potential problems.

By: Lee Masciarelli

Lee Masciarelli — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 01:50:05 +0000

I prewash my pieces. Especially when making a baby quilt. Fabric can sit around and be handled by many different people and I also like to see how it’s going to behave once it’s all finished. When in doubt, I do as was advised by Ashley and put a little piece in hot water to see if it will run.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 01:34:31 +0000

pre-washing strips and small pieces has worked for me by placing them in a lingerie bag to wash.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:10:09 +0000

I do not pre-wash because I love the “well-loved” look of old quilts and so I make my quilts and then wash and dry on “hot.” The result is a quilt that looks well-loved. I will never pre-wash. I don’t care who else may have “touched” the fabric as from the time they touched it and the time I bought it, germs are no longer alive.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 13:32:31 +0000

In reply to Deborah Devine. That is the reason that I prewash. You don't know where the fabric has been!

By: Betsy McNair

Betsy McNair — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 14:36:17 +0000

If you do prewash and there is a dark fabric in the colors, it is alright to use a Color Catcher in the wash cycle?

By: Deborah Devine

Deborah Devine — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 12:20:30 +0000

I prewash for sanitary reasons. I have worked in fabric stores and see what customers will do to fabric on the bolt. I have seen people wipe their nose on their hand and then wipe the hand on the fabric. I have seen people with open oozing sores handling the bolts. I have seen people put babies down on a bolt and use it as a diaper changing station. I have found food, food wrappers, half finished sodas, and dirty tissues hidden inside bolts of fabric. People cough and sneeze without turning their head or covering their mouth. We even had one old man who came in with his wife and spit chewing tobacco juice in the store. I would never sew with fabric from the bolt without prewashing it.