Monday 8 July 2013

To wash or not to wash???

There are those who passionately believe you should always prewash fabric to remove chemicals, dyes and shrinkage.  Then there are those with their foot firmly in the do not prewash camp.  I have always been in the second category.  I like the feel of unwashed fabric and I think it is easier to handle, cut and piece.

But everything changed the other day when I succumbed to Swoon madness.  After seeing pictures all over the net of such beautiful Swoon quilts with incredible colour combinations I wanted in on the action.

There I was happily piecing my first block.  I marked my white fabric with a blue soluble pen to make half square triangles.  I have always used a blue pen for this process.  When it comes to ironing the pieces I give them a quick spritz of water to remove the blue and away I go. This time though I happened to be joining a white square with a red patterned square and when I pressed the red pattern was transferred to the white fabric.  NOT HAPPY JAN.  After careful soaking I have managed to remove most of the red transfer but some of it is still faintly visible.

This led me to the conclusion that I had to wash all of my red fabric to remove the dye so this does not happen again.  Then I read that batik's also have a tendency to run, so I washed all of those to. Hmmm, what about indigo, dark green and purple?  You can see where I am going with this can't you?

Three days later I am still washing fabric.  I decided to wash every single piece that I own.  Every scrap, every fat qtr, all yardage....everything.  That way I won't have a mix of washed and unwashed fabric that will shrink at different rates in a finished quilt.

So washing fabric is my WIP this week. It is a long and arduous process.  My back and shoulders are killing me from all of the bending, snapping and folding fabric and my next power bill is going to be HUGE because my washing machine and dryer have been running non stop for 3 days!  But I am determined to get it done before I do any more sewing.

Here is the block that started the washing madness.


I absolutely love the red fabric but the irony is that after everything I won't be able to use this block in the final quilt.  I used a new 1/4 inch foot that turned out to be highly inaccurate.  Of course I didn't realise this until after I finished the block.  It measures nearly 13 inch square instead of 12.5 inch.  (I am making my blocks smaller than the pattern).
I tell ya, that red fabric was cursed from the start!  I guess I can use it on the back of the quilt.

After ditching the foot and marking a scant 1/4" on my machine bed, I quickly pieced one more block.


This one finishes at exactly 12.5".  Phew, finally something went right.

So before I can do any more sewing I'm off to put in another load of fabric into the washer.

37 comments:

  1. I have had a similar dilemma - my first quilting tutor told me to pre-wash all fabrics but advice over the internet and by many top quilters these days is that fabrics are now colourfast and shrinkage is minimal and unwashed fabric is, as you say, so much nicer/easier to work with. I recently made a quilt with a top that was heavily white while the backing included Kona Solid Tangerine - when the quilt was finished I lightly sprayed water on it to iron it and the tangerine quickly spread throughout the white - total nightmare. I've not experienced this with any other Kona Solid but it's made me rethink prewashing fabric again. :)

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    1. All the advice out there is so conflicting and confusing but it is heartbreaking to have dye run after all of the work you put into a quilt. I am so glad I caught before I put the block into a quilt.

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  2. I have had some major disasters with some colour runs and since have been washing all my fabric before using it. The hassle of trying to get the dye out afterwards is just not worth it. I used a product from the Supermarket (here in Australia) called "Dylon Colour Run Remover". That worked fine and got a blue dye out of a white background. This was a fairly harsh chemical treatment though and it was only a table runner that I used it on.

    BTW, thanks for your nice comment on my feathers today. Not sure whether you are aware of it, but you come up on my blog as a no-reply blogger.

    Greetings from SA

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    1. Thanks Karin, I will look for the Dylon Colour Run Remover next time I shop.
      I have been told a few times I am a non reply blogger but I am not particularly tech savy. I have tried many times to find the setting to change it and even googled how to but no luck. I am sure it is simple but I cannot get my head around it. Any suggestions?

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    2. You can always tell if your setting is right by looking at your blogger profile. If you don't see a link to "email user" under your icon, you're a no reply blogger. You can fix this with a privacy setting. Go to your blogger profile, click the edit button, find and check the setting to "Show my Email address". If you have trouble, email me. I can try to help.

      (FYI - if you ever switch to google+ and find yourself a no-reply blogger again, you set your account back to blogger, check the email button, then go back to g+ again. It's a bit awkward, I know)

      (FYI2 - Be sure to check me out at theboredzombie.com. I try to offer techie tips from time to time as well as craft projects. Might find something useful!)

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  3. OH my! I am a non washer as well but this has me terrified :( When I'm in the States this fall I plan on stocking up on Color Catchers to use when I wash quilts for the first time.

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    1. Leigh-Anne, if I had a do-over I probably wouldn't wash everything. Colour catchers have always worked for my finished quilts so far so it is possibly a pointless exercise in the end. (insert sad face here)!

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  4. oh no!! that just gives me a sick feeling to know that you put all of that work in, and then the colors ran. I'm not a prewasher (I use color catcher sheets instead), but I just might consider changing my mind after reading this.

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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    1. Kelly, consider long and hard. My stash is relatively small and I have been washing/drying for 4 days and still not done. It is arduous and painstaking. Almost wish I hadn't started!

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  5. I'm a non-washer too, but I do use color catchers(several)when I wash the quilt. They work pretty awesome. I have used on quilts with a lot of red too.

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    1. I also use colour catcher sheets when I wash a finished quilt so now I am starting to question why I am putting myself through the drudgery of washing everything! Hmmm....to late for that - got to finish it now.

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  6. I HATE washing because of the ironing, but I recently started trying to make clothes and am finding it necessary. I'm considering scrapping the whole clothes-making plan jus tto avoid the washing :)

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    1. Because I always iron and starch my fabric whenever I start a new project I decided not to iron after washing. I smooth and fold carefully when it comes out the dryer which seems to be working out fine.

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  7. yep that is why i wash my fabric...sorry to hear your tale

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    1. It's been a blessing in disguise I guess. You learn from the trials and errors so I am looking on the bright side.

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  8. I don't wash fabric - except for denim. I have discovered colour catchers and their awesomeness. I love your Swoon blocks, I too joined the Swoon journey and have posted about it my last two WIP's :)

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    1. Yep, colour catchers are awesomeness as are the Swoon blocks everyone is making.

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  9. So sorry for all of these misfortunes!!! what a nightmare...that is why i always wash, after I buy every single piece of fabric...except precuts of course.

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    1. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger!! It will be an easy exercise to wash fabric after I buy it. It has just been a bit tedious getting through the existing stash, but I am on the home stretch now.

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  10. The blocks are gorgous!
    I have no opinion on this subject! I definately prewash strong reds and dark blues, but not pastels and lighter colors... AND I definitely do not wash precuts. Washed a charmpack once and I had a hard time getting them out of the machine for they were all crinckled up and fuzzy :-( So I go by my intuition!
    Giving you credit on washing all your stash! Tough work!

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    1. I do have lots of squares and strips I have cut up from scraps but I am not washing any of those for the reason you stated. I will have to keep my fingers crossed when it comes to using them in a project!

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  11. I mostly prewash the only exceptions are light colors. Nice blocks! It seems the whole blogosphere is swooning, lol.

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    1. I agree Vera, swooning craze has hit the blogosphere. I had to get on board. Can't wait to do some more blocks (once the fabric washing is finished)!!

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  12. I don't pre-wash unless I'm sewing a garment. I stick with color catchers in the wash, and I'll was a new quilt by itself for the first few times. Your mini Swoon blocks look great :)

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    1. Yep I was the same until the red transfer debacle. It has been a long process and I have questioned my decision to wash everything a few times along the way.

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  13. I too only pre wash when I sew clothing. I love your Swoon blocks; they are so happy and colorful. I am planning on making a Swoon, too. I have had the pattern sitting for too long.

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    1. Thanks for the kind comment Gina. Get going on those Swoon block. Beware though, they are quite addictive - once you start you may not be able to stop!

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  14. I couldn't believe it when I realized that a quarter-inch foot I have is actually a little less ... and so my blocks were coming out too big! I feel your pain.

    As for pre-washing or not, after a couple heartbreaks, I became a pre-washer. You can always press the washed fabrics with some spray sizing, to achieve the crispness of un-washed fabric, but you cannot always fix a quilt in which a single fabric bleeds and ruins everything. Besides possible bleeding, there's also a possibility of developing a sensitivity to some of the chemicals used to produce fabrics and keep them fresh. Why take a chance with your quilts or your health?

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    1. That qtr inch seam is a pesky little thing. Another lesson learned - test a new foot before making a whole block!
      I agree with your comments and always iron and starch my fabric as I start a new project anyway so the pre-washing isn't really creating any more work in that regard.

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  15. I'm not a pre-washer. I like how things shrink a little. I use color catchers in the wash, and an air-erasible pen (it disappears after a couple of days on its own as long as you don't iron over it, but usually it's the in the seam allowance so I don't really care that much if I do accidentally iron it.)

    No wetness, no running, and the color catchers have worked so far!

    But, to each her own - so good on you for making a decision and sticking to it - it's a big process in the beginning, but you probably found some treasures and have resorted the fabric in a way that makes sense. :)

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    1. You know what Carla, as you say I have come across a few pieces of fabric that I absolutely love and had completely forgotten about and I have re-sorted everything so that alone has been worth it.

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  16. I'm a new quilter and wasn't aware of this debate until recently, however I have been washing my fabrics for fear of shrinkage, possible bleeding etc. I was thinking that if I didn't need to I would stop as it's such a hassle, now I think I'm going to stick with it! I love your swoon blocks by the way :)

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    1. It really is a personal thing. If you have started and are used to the tedium of washing and ironing then l would suggest you keep going with it. Good Luck.

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  17. Glad your got another block that worked....I am working on my Swoon now too....I never prewash my fabric

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    1. I tell ya it was a relief that the second block worked after all the hassle with the first one. I was going to give up after the first block but I am glad I stuck with it.
      I would love to see pictures of your Swoon blocks.

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  18. I love your swoon blocks, I'm hoping to make one when I get the chance ...

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  19. I had to stop by for a visit when I noticed your fun avatar in someone's comments. I, too, want to make the swoon block because everyone else's are so beautiful. So little time, but it's on the list!

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