| To tell you the truth, I had not really | | | | |
| thought much about the question prior to last | | | | 3) The color bleeds out of some fabric; and |
| week. Long ago, I took a quilting class, and | | | | may deposit itself into other fabric. Reds, |
| the teacher told us to arrive at class with | | | | blues, yellows and purples are famous for |
| our fabric already washed and ready to cut. | | | | sharing their beauty with whites, muslins, |
| | | | and tans. Translation - the beautiful, |
| When we arrived for the class, she explained | | | | bright white in your quilt may end up with a |
| that quilters always pre-wash their fabric - | | | | pink, blue, yellow or lavender haze, if the |
| for many reasons: | | | | excess color is not removed from the colored |
| | | | fabric. |
| 1) To remove all of the sizing (chemicals) | | | | |
| the manufacturers add to the fabric to make | | | | I wasn't surprised when the beginning quilter |
| look more attractive, prevent wrinkles, and | | | | asked the question in an on-line quilt |
| make it come off the bolt easier in the | | | | discussion group about whether to pre-wash |
| store. Although it makes the fabric easier | | | | the fabric, and I wasn't surprised to see |
| for them to handle, sizing makes the fabric a | | | | that several quilters answered with all of |
| little stiffer and more difficult for | | | | the above reasons. I was surprised, however, |
| quilters to handle; plus it may leave a | | | | at the quilter who responded that she never |
| residue on your needles and thread as you are | | | | pre-washed her fabrics because she liked the |
| sewing. | | | | puckered look. |
| | | | |
| 2) Fabric with a high cotton content will | | | | I understand completely liking the puckered |
| shrink - even if it says it is pre-shrunk. | | | | look; I love it! It makes a quilt look |
| (We all know about the pre-shrunk jeans that | | | | well-loved and handmade. And I am always |
| don't fit any more after one washing! Eeek!) | | | | happy when my quilts develop that look, |
| Since not all cottons are born 'equal,' they | | | | whether it is the first time they are washed |
| don't shrink 'equal' either. That means that | | | | or after several years. I would do almost |
| some cotton fabric will shrink 1%, other | | | | anything to make sure that my quilts |
| cotton fabric will shrink 3% or possibly | | | | (although maybe not my wallhangings) could |
| more. The result is that once your quilt is | | | | have that look of love. I just wish I could |
| washed, the fabrics will exert their own | | | | figure out a way to get the sizing and excess |
| shrinking personality, and you will have a | | | | color out of the fabric without washing it |
| quilt that has puckers - and some patches | | | | before I sew. |
| will pucker more than others. | | | | |