QUESTION: Do you wash all fabric before making up. If so do you wash it as soon as you buy it or wait until you need to sew a proctect like I tend to do? Shirley

I did do it for a bit years ago. I don't anymore. I don't seem to have a problem with anything I've made. I live in an apartment now so that is also costly and can't always get the machine when you want it.

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by shirley124 12 Jun 2012

I can see your point, living in an apartment you would not have the convenience of the washing machine etc. that we have. Thanks for your answer. Shirley

I was taught to wash it as soon as I got it home - now with all the news about bugs - I would just go bugging without washing it before I put it away. I don't have much fabric - as some of the others have.

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by shirley124 12 Jun 2012

Yes I was always told to wash when getting home, but have gotten lazy over the years, Hugs Shirley

Wow , lots of responses! When I used to sew a lot before embroidery, I always washed the fabric before I ever cut anything out. If it did not wash well , I didn't bother to make any thing out of it.

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by shirley124 12 Jun 2012

Thanks for your comment. Shirley

I usually wash all my fabrics before I put them away or use them. I even tell my 4-Hers to prewash their project fabrics because of the sizing and shrinkage issues. By the way, sizing can cause a machine to skip stitches while sewing. Some fabrics are very heavy with the stuff! That's my take on it.

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by shirley124 12 Jun 2012

Interesting. Thanks for your reply. Shirley

Yes I do. As soon as get home I put the fabric by the washing machine - that way I don't put it aside and forget to wash it. I treat the fabric the way I'm going to treat it when used in a project. Also I heard some years ago that warehouses are often inhabited by rodents, and whether they are or not that's put me off using or storing unwashed fabric ever since.
I've never bought a jelly roll but that would be the one time that I didn't wash the fabric first.
AlmaG.

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by shirley124 12 Jun 2012

After your answer Alma I think I will follow suit and wash before putting away. Thanks Shirley

Many thanks for all the answers to my question. They are rather a mixed bunch, but very interesting. Flowers to all. Shirley

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by shirlener88 11 Jun 2012

Yes, always.

nope! only flannel as it shrinks differently then cotton

I do wash and put them in the drye I always wait till I am ready to do a project

I'm another pre-washer simply because of the fabrics I tend to use (flannel, denim, baby knits, t-shirt knits, etc) and because a few years ago I had a fabric continue to bleed colour no matter how many times I washed it (giraffe print flannel .. that experience really sucked). I've just gotten into the habit of walking in the back door and dumping new fabric into the washer so it's washed & ready to go when I want to use it (which is as soon as I've brought it home lol). :) xXx

Wash it as soon as possible so its ready to use when I need it,just my luck for it to be raining when I want to use it.Years ago I bought some embroidered cheese cloth that had a mark on it,so I washed it,it went from 45" wide to 36" wide.Now everything gets washed first except nylon lycra

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by danababes 11 Jun 2012

Wow that's wicked shrinkage!

by shirley124 11 Jun 2012

Well that it a good lesson. Shirley

I do a lot of dressmaking and I always wash my material as soon as I buy, then put it away. I once made a beautiful shirt with fabric I had not washed. It shrunk so much I had to give it away. When I embroider on t shirts or towels I do not wash as I like them to look as new as possible, especially if they are gifts. Sarah.

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by shirley124 11 Jun 2012

Many thanks for your answer.

I prewash towels and shirts. I prewash fabric I will use in an applique (if that item will be washed in the future). Otherwise I don't pre-wash. I try to do the towels and shirts when I buy them so they are ready to go when I am able to do the embroidery.

I dont prewasy my fabric. So far it has been OK as I always try to buy good quality fabrics. Hugs Joyce

Most of my denim material that I used for wuilts an so on I prewash it about four to five times. Hugs Marie

I was told that if you buy nice fabrics you don't need to prewash. I never do and so far have never had a problem. Now if you're going to sell soemthing if it's washed it looks used, sooooooo. Also when making quilts don't prewash then make your quilt then wash and the tiny amount of shrinkage adds to the 'quit' look.

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by shirley124 11 Jun 2012

Many Thanks for your reply.

by momhome 11 Jun 2012

I was told not to wash if making a quilt, but to wash it when it is made so that it all shrinks together at the same time.

I pre wash & then dry in the dryer. Don't really know why, I've just always done it that way. Touch wood I've never had anyhting shrink. xx

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by shirley124 11 Jun 2012

If it works well why not. Thanks Shirley

One thing I always wash is towels. I wash them when I buy them, that way when I get the urge to embroider a towel, it's ready.

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by shirley124 11 Jun 2012

Thanks

I wait until I have some idea of what I want to make. I have a walk-in closet full of material & very little of it is washed. Charla

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by shirley124 11 Jun 2012

That makes me feel better. Thanks Sirley

I always wash, dry, starch and iron the fabric after I bring it home. I think pre-washing is a personal choice. If you ask 20 quilters if they pre-wash, half will be yes and other half no.I like my fabric to be ready when I want to start a new project. I usually iron while something is embroidering. Hugs..Carol

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by shirley124 10 Jun 2012

Many thanks for your help. Hugs Shirley

Unwashed fabric definitively sews better with all the starches and finishes that the manufactures put in and some of this can flake off in your machine. I buy bargain fabrics and serge the ends and use hot water toss in the dryer and if needed iron. If needed firmer I use starch. How disappointing to spend an hour or so on embroidering something and the first time washed it shrinks and puckers. Sometimes I prewash towels but not always. It depends on who I'm making the towel for and how expensive the towel was. These are all variables so just use common sense as to how the items is going to be used.

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by shirley124 10 Jun 2012

Many thanks for your reply. Shirley

Sorry meant to 'say sew a project' I wish I had leant to type at school. But i always seemed to have a problem with my little fingers. lol Shirley

I wash mine before is it goes to the sewing room. EXCEPT for quilting, and I've been told by many quilters not to wash before use. What do I know??? Hahaha! Judy

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by shirley124 10 Jun 2012

It says on the Jelly Rolls not to wash. So I presume if you addded other fabrics into quilt you would not need to wash that either. I have been told to wash all fabric first. It is rather confusing. Thanks for your answer. Shirley

by caroldann 10 Jun 2012

Treat it all the same. If you're not going to wash the jelly rolls then don't wash the other fabric you will be using with it. Some hand wash their jelly rolls. Hugs..Carol

by nhsmith55 10 Jun 2012

That is the one time I don't wash mine. The fabric gets nice and puffy after it's quilted if you don't pre-wash it.

If the finished item is to be laundered, then yes, I prewash all of the fabrics. And dry them was I will after it's finished.

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by nhsmith55 10 Jun 2012

I also pre-wash fabrics used in appliques. I really don't want them to shrink from the stitching.

by shirley124 10 Jun 2012

Thanks for you reply. Shirley

As soon as I bring it home, it goes into the washer then dryer, folded and place according to color and type into my stash. I have an order coming in this week and cannot wait to see it and place it in its pile, I hated having to wait for it to wash when I decided to use it,
hugs
Michelle

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by shirley124 10 Jun 2012

Thanks for your answer. I think I'm going to have to get into the habit of doing that as well. Hugs Shirley