Should you Pre-wash Cotton Fabric with Rob Appell

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There are many things to consider when you decide if you should pre-wash your cotton fabrics or not. Rob Appell helps walk you through some of the common variables to help you make that choice.
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Stitchin' Heaven
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[@snoolge]

I wash ALL fabric for not only to reduce shrinkage but to remove the chemicals such as formaldehyde in the sizing

[@scrappyquilter8741]

Me too. I have asthma and don’t need the extra stress on my lungs. I also throw in a color catcher to absorb any floating dyes.

[@Karen-ru4tv]

For me, it's not just shrinkage, I want to work with clean, fresh fabric.

[@nadiabardack6613]

YES, please do a video about preventing bleeding of colors when washed. Thank you so much. LOVE YOUR TUTORIALS!

[@Carol_Sews]

I always prewash, including fat quarters (I serge all raw edges first). I don’t use smaller precuts, but if I did, I’d either starch them or find a way to prewash them. I usually use Synthrapol and color catchers, which almost always come out of the washer showing that they have picked up color. I only use quilt shop fabric. I find that all batiks release a lot of color. I prewash because I want shrinkage and excess dye and manufacturing chemicals removed, and I don’t want bleeding later.I believe in pressing fabric before cutting. A pet peeve is quilting “experts” on KZbin who cut from wrinkled yardage.

[@carolbolton7917]

Yes, a video of prewashing/bleeding colors would be great! Thanks! Love your videos.

[@carlsass4500]

Awwwww the test was cut off at the end of video. Thank you Rob for the great tutorial. Me personally I love a crunchy quilt! Thanks for another great video!

[@susyk6839]

I started quilting 35 years ago and everyone prewashed back then. I still prewash only because I like to use my existing stash and am afraid to mix prewashed and unwashed fabrics in the same quilt. Thank you for sharing.

[@MonaDidWhat]

I wash fabric that’s in yardage but never wash precuts. Anything that’s for clothing or babies, I always wash to remove chemicals.

[@lindamiffleton3158]

Loved this video but it cut off before you tested the fiber content of the fabric. 😢

[@patricklee5578]

Please a tutorial on color fastness and color bleeding

[@coreekirkum7917]

Thank you for video. Very helpful.

[@jo-annevandermey2704]

Hi Rob. I watched your video to see what you had to say on prewashing. I am a prewasher. There are several reasons. I want to know what my fabric is going to do and I want the manufacturer's stiffeners, chemicals and dirt out of my fabric. I want to know if my fabric is going to shrink and if it is going to bleed. I also want to know that the recipient of my quilt can use it and wash it easily with out lengthy instructions. I have had "known quilt manufacturers quilting cotton bleed" a lot. The science tells me it depends on the dye that is used at the manufacturer's. I have not been able to find yet a manufacturer's that has that information on there web site. Synthropol is a die soap. The soap will suspend the loose dye molecules in the watch. If you get colour when washing you use soap until you see no more dye molecules in the water. Retayne claims to fix dye molecules into commercially dyed fabrics. Colour catchers collect dye until the saturation point of dye is reached in the cloth. That doesn't mean there is no dye left. One way to see if there's dye left is to damping your fabric and iron between a paper towel to see if there is colour. I know it is more work to prewash. I prewash the fabric usually with a neutral detergent. Don't use soap with optical brightness or with stain busting products. A lot hand dyers use plain old blue dawn. After it is washed I put it on a normal setting in the dryer till damp dye. I then take the fabric to a table . Line up the edges and the salvaged and light smooth out. I put no hard folds in and let fully dry. Then I fold up to store. When I am going to use them I lighty starch or use best press. (All unscented) Them I happily sew until the top is done and quilted. I always wash before it goes out of the home to know all is A ok. I am not a perfectionist but I have only once had a quilt fabric run on my quilt after my washing care. Fabric is expensive these days. I don't want a wasted mess for all my work. And for precuts ...if I used them I would spritz them with water then hot iron them. Itvis a fascinating subject. I wonder what kind of ink digital printing fabric uses. Hummm another rabbit hole to go in...

[@tanglezest7601]

We never finished the burn test at the end. I would like to see it please. I remember my Grandmother doing that, but it was years ago.

[@StitchinHeaven]

Oh no, so sorry! I see the video is cut. I will upload the burn test as a stand alone video asap.

[@michellebusta3507]

I didn't get the last part of your video showing the tweezers and fabric test.

[@phoozchic]

I have been sewing and quilting for decades. I always gently prewash fabrics as soon as I bring them home. I want my materials to do everything they are going to do before I invest time in making quilts, garments or decorative work. I don’t like the feel of chemically treated cloth (dyes/sizing) and I don’t want my quilt to shrink up to 5% when it’s finished. Iron and spray starch can stabilize the fabric after washing or soaking. After washing is a good time to check the grain of the fabric as well.

[@jenihansen7201]

HELLO ROB, THIS IS ALL CAPS JENI. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. I WAS JUST NOTIFIED THAT THE GUMBALL QUILT KITS I ORDERED ARE ON THEIR WAY. I AM SO PLEASED THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE. THANK YOU ROB AND TO ALL AT STITCHIN' CREW. GREAT PRODUCTS YOU HAVE.

[@hillfamilyfarms1962]

Best explanation I have ever heard. Thank you !!

[@conniesoares157]

I ordered the Getting to know Hue block of the month from Stitchin Heaven this morning! Can hardly wait to start making it!

[@LindaMickelson-i6e]

Yes. Another video abo I t color bleeding

[@helenedesmarais8697]

Why put it in the washing machine ? To my knowledge, as long as it is fully soaked deep in the fibers and dryed in the drier with heat, all the shrinkage that could happen, happened. Also If you have an ironing station ( with continual steam ) lucky you, you could do the same; steam it really well, then iron it to dry. It will shrink without disturbing to much the raw edges.

[@zandyjordan8965]

Do you wash 10in cotton squares? If so, what is best method?

[@constanceklagge]

What type of thread do you use for piecing and quilting?

[@debbierice4208]

When writing on quilt labels using pigma or fabric gel pens-- do at least rinse off the sizing first, preferably prewash the label fabric.

[@sandygardner6060]

I call the post quilt shrink - crinckeling!

[@phyllisdippert2216]

Its not just shrinkage but also bleeding

[@marinaabad4995]

More exact language needs to be used. He's talking about laundering fabrics. I don't launder my fabrics. I wash my fabrics in cold water, no detergent or softener and with a color catcher. Then dry in a dryer so it's slightly damp, then I hang to dry it. If I'm using the fabric soon I iron it, if not, I just fold it when dry.

[@lindawhitver4740]

Reds get pre washed. Otherwise no. Today’s fabric don’t shrink or bleed like they used to.