Question:  Should I prewash my charms and jelly rolls?

Answer:  Thanks in big part to all the pre-cut fabric bundles that are available on the market
today, I get this question nearly every day!  Now, although I've prewashed every last bit of my
own personal stash, when working on shop projects I take fabrics right off the shelves.  
Admittedly, I've always felt that I was taking a bit of a chance.  Then one day the old light bulb
appeared over my noggin and I came up with the idea of washing and drying one of the shop
samples so I can provide a visual example of what may happen if you don't prewash your own
fabrics.  The results are below.  I've given as many details as I could think of, but I can't be
responsible for anything that may happen to your own particular project.  Please take this
info with a grain of salt and remember that it's just an example of what you might experience
under your own circumstances.  Note - all fabrics are quilt-shop quality, and not discount
store stuff.

Holly Jolly Table Runner
Completed size:  17.5” x 35”
  • Made from fabrics and batting straight from the charm pack or bolt – no prewashing
  • Pieced with Holly Jolly Charm Pack, using Table Attire pattern from Heart to Heart
  • Quilting was both done on an Elna 6003 domestic sewing machine, using a walking foot
    and 50-wt Star cotton thread.
  • Warm & Natural 100% cotton batting is inside.  Using the pattern photo as a guide, I
    copied the quilting that was done to the original sample, so some areas are loosely
    quilted, while others are more done more closely.
  • The binding and backing are from the Apples & Ginger fabric line by South Seas Imports.




















Holly Jolly Table Runner
Size:  17.25” x 33.5”
  • Here’s the table runner straight out of the dryer.  It was washed in a regular load of
    laundry using All detergent on the permanent press cycle in warm water wash, cold rinse.
  • Dried with that same load of laundry (after inspecting to make sure there was no color
    bleed) in the permanent press cycle.  Approximate drying time was 40 minutes.  A
    Snuggle dryer fabric sheet was used.
  • Color loss was minimal to none, depending on the color area.  Reds seem to have faded,
    but did not run.
  • The fabrics are definitely crinkled up, and the runner has lost a quarter inch in width and
    1.5 inches in length.
















 


Holly Jolly Table Runner
Size:  17.25” x 33.5”
Here’s the runner immediately after being steam-ironed.
Conclusion – the shrinkage was about average for quilt shop quality fabric at about 3-4%.  
Most of the crinkling can, I believe, be attributed to the shrinking of the batting, since areas
on the ornaments that are more loosely quilted actually have enough slack in the fabric that it
can easily be pinched.  My personal preference is for tight quilting with a slightly crinkled
appearance, so overall, I'm satisfied with the results. I know that some quilters prefer the
final project to be smooth, so you'll have to decide for yourself.
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Chester County Quilting
CHESTER COUNTY QUILTING
206 Village at Eland, Route 113, Phoenixville, PA  19460
Phone - 610.917.2527
Fax - 610.917.0141
Contact - ChesterCountyQuilting@verizon.net