Soooooo.....it's tidbit Tuesday!!
One of the questions new quilters ask, and sometimes experienced quilters is...Do you pre-wash your fabrics?
This is a really difficult question because I think it's a personal decision on what works best for you.
Personally, I do not wash my fabrics. I don't for two reasons.
1. My favourite part of a quilt is how it scrunches up after you wash it for the first time. If you pre-wash your fabrics, this is not as prevalent. It's less smooshed up.
2. I buy all my fabric from quilt shoppes, whether it be a brick and mortar or an on line shoppe, so I know it's a really good quality fabric. I've never had an issue with bleeding. That doesn't mean I won't, but I'm confident enough not to worry about it.
I guess you could say I am a fabric snob. I used to (a looooong time ago) buy fabric from JoAnn Fabrics or Hobby Lobby, but after bad experiences, I just can't bring myself to use it anymore. Unless it's Kona. They do sell that which makes me happy! :)
I also do not wash OR soak my batting. My favourite is Warm and Natural, which I do get at JoAnn's. I prefer it as it is easy to quilt with and it doesn't leave much lint.
I guess I kind of got away from my tip..lol!
If you do happen to wash your fabric first, to help prevent the fabric from fraying horribly in the wash, take a pinking scissors or a rotary cutter with a pinking blade in it, and trim your edges, selvage to selvage. Works great!
In addition, add a DRY towel to the dryer with your fabric when drying. This will help prevent all the twisting and scrunching which causes wrinkles. Yuk!
*****
In other news...I'm starting to get my blocks in the mail for the Fresh Modern Bee that I am in!! Sooooo excited here!! I asked the ladies, and gent (Hi Charlie!) to make me a 16" finished block using only half square triangles (or the like) and lookie what I've gotten already!
This fabulous block is from AllieKatMom! Thanks Amy!!! Love this block sooo much!
Melissa sent this block to me! Isn't it fabulous!!?? I surely think so!! Thanks Melissa!!!
This one came from BlueElephantStitches! Look at all those geese!!!! Love Love! Thanks Jolene!!!
Speaking of Jolene at Happy Modern Quilts, she posted a quilt on her blog yesterday. I want it. I want it like I want chocolate ice cream. That means really bad! LOL! Of course I can't have that one...but I DO want to make my own!! She made it when she was 19!! Holy Smokes Charlie Brown! Isn't it a beauty!? I've asked her if she had a pattern but if she doens't, I can be sure that I will make one of my own! :D Stay tuned....
I can't stop looking at it! :)
Remember, if you have a tip, email it to me! I'm gonna need some help here soon....LOL!
Much Love!!!
I love those blocks for your Fresh Modern Bee! Wow, those are going to be so much fun to work with! I'm with you regarding fabric principals. Quality, don't prewash, like the scrunchy look. I quilted a quilt for someone once and they had used fabric from xxx, the color of the fabric was actually coming off on my machine as I quilted it!
ReplyDeleteThat last quilt on your post is fabulous!
I do find, like you, that most modern fabrics don't run. But because I do so many scrappy quilts, and with donated fabric, I have to be careful about some older fabrics that aren't as colorfast as modern fabrics. I have found that a product called Color Catcher, made by Shout, works really well in catching most or all of any bleed that occurs. I usually throw two or three in with a quilt that has mixed fabrics in it, and it works great. If you do get some bleed, Oxyclean is amazing!
ReplyDeleteit is a stunning quilt... and at 19!
ReplyDeleteAnd your blocks are going to be awesome.
And I don't pre-wash either. :)
And I was waiting for your "Tuesday Tidbit"... wondering where you were.
And I'm posting one of your xmas blocks on my blog tomorrow... if you don't mind. :)
Love the blocks and quilt!
ReplyDeleteYAY, so glad you like my block. It was actually the first block I ever designed so I am pretty proud of the way it turned out. I will probably make one of my own one day. :)
ReplyDeleteThe blocks are absolutely lovely. I am still a beginning quilter and am enjoying browsing all the quilting sites I've found. Enjoyed my visit.
ReplyDeleteColor Catcher is my best friend when I am washing a quilt for the first time.
ReplyDeleteAlways love your tips and as always these were great!! I don't pre-wash either, I like the sizing in the good fabrics, makes it easier to cut, etc.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your post. I to have found that this topic can really set quilters over the edge and get a bit crazy! I've never prewashed anything-instead use the shout color catcher sheets. And, I love the blocks!!!
ReplyDeleteI know it's not Tuesday and I'm late catching these tid bits but it sure is fun catching up!
ReplyDeleteI prewash nothing unless I'm ask to.
I love your quilt. How did you do it? Is there a pattern available?
ReplyDeleteKarrie, I used the towel in the dryer thing...and one of my fabric pieces was 2+ yards...and absolutely NO tangling. I didn't pink the edges but always clip the corners. I am so grateful to you for this tip. Thanks bunches :o)))
ReplyDelete