Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Fabric Fundamentals - Episode 5 - Washing Your Fabric - or Not!

Hi everyone:


I know that this video is a day late, but that's because it was a holiday yesterday here in Alberta, so I took the day off. My husband and I were hard at work doing some filming in the extra few days that we had this week-end, so expect the next series of quilting videos to be available in a few weeks' time. 


This is the last video in the Fabric Fundamentals video series and it's all about that controversial subject of whether or not to wash your fabric before you piece it into your quilt. Watch my video to learn all about your options so you can decide for yourself.






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I'd love to hear whether or not you pre-wash your quilting fabric and your reasons for doing so - or not!

7 comments:

Colleen said...

Hi Kim,

I wash all my fabric. I started doing it because I was concerned about shrinkage and bleeding. I often find that there is quite a lot of colour released into the water, so I am glad that I do wash.

However, the reasons that I wash now are firstly, that I don't like the smell of new fabric when I iron it. It has a chemical smell that is unpleasant to me. Secondly, I like to iron the fabric. That may sound strange, but when I iron the fabric, I notice the texture and fine details of the design that I had missed before. I get acquainted with the fabric. And, I really enjoy ironing.

Diane McGregor said...

Great advice Kim. I don't wash my fabric since they are used in small wall hanging and I like the crispness. A washed piece of fabric is too soft. I also like my quilts to shrink lots to show off the quilting.

Chatterbox Quilts said...

Thanks for commenting, ladies. It's certainly true that there are times when washing is the thing to do and other times when it probably isn't the right choice. Maybe I need to make smaller projects so I can save myself some work, er washing :)

Chatterbox Quilts said...

Hi Colleen:
Thanks for your insight. I agree with you about the bleeding that can occur, especially with those darker fabrics and while the smell doesn't bother me, sometimes the fabric is so stiff prior to washing that it almost seems more like cardboard - not easy to work with! I do enjoy ironing too - only fabric though, I'm not much of a clothes ironer.

Chatterbox Quilts said...

I agree, Diane, and need to start making smaller projects so I can save on the washing part. Yes, the washing afterwards does make that quilting shine!

Cathy (Corbin) Keevill said...

Kim
I never ever prewash my fabrics. I'm much too lazy for that.
But when I wash a quilt for the first time, I use a color catcher sheet in the washer. This sheet picks up all the stray dye in the water and keeps the quilt run free. Also, never leave a damp quilt sit in the washer, that is when most of your dye running happens.
Loved the video! Can't wait for the next one.

Chatterbox Quilts said...

Good advice, Cathy! Yes, that wet quilt sitting in the washer is a recipe for disaster. Look for another quilting series soon!