Quilts for Gifts

[shawn]

I was just wondering....when you make a quilt for someone as agift (piecing and long arm quilted), do you wash the quilt before you give it to them. I do not prewash my fabric and was just wondering what you do.

[Sheri Butler]

I DO.

It makes it sooo much softer, and if it does need to shrink up a bit, the receiver won't FREAK out about it! LOL!

[IBQLTN2]

Shawn

I usually do wash them before I give them as gifts and will let them know it is okay to wash them and how to do it. I don't want any surprises for them once they are washed. I put in a dye catcher if I think any of the fabrics are apt to bleed and check before I dry it to make sure it didnt. Also if I had to use any markings on the quilt I want to be sure to soak it in clear, cool water, NO SOAP, and then wash as usual.

[meg_marsh]

I also wash prior to giving - sometimes I will also include a sheet about the batting (especially if wool batting) so they can be comfortable about caring for their quilt.

[ffq-lar]

Hi Shawn,

This would be your choice, of course.

If you do wash a gift quilt with unwashed fabric in it, do a gentle machine wash and air dry it if you can. Unless of course you are going for that vintage crumply look! Then the dryer will snug up the batting and fabric for you.

And unless it is a wallhanging that will get special treatment and little washing, include the washing instructions on a separate label attached to a back corner--just like garments and bedding. If you include the washing instructions in a gift card, they will immediately lose it and have no clue how to launder the quilt! Ask me how I know this!!

[shawn]

Thanks for your help. I wanted to wash the quilt first because I like that look but was not sure if I should or not.

It is a gift for my bosses daughter for her wedding.

[kimmiequilts]

I do, I love the way the threads sink into the fabric after it's washed and it smells so nice and fresh.

[quiltmonkey]

For baby gifts, I always wash my baby quilts and in the wash water, I add softener to make it smell nice and fresh.

Sometimes I wash my other quilts (depends) but I don't wash every quilt I give away but I do tell the recipient that they can't fold this up in a dark closet and save it, and that I made this quilt to use and abuse and that it will get softer the more you wash it.

For my own quilts, I wash in the machine and then hang over the bannister to dry. I don't usually toss in the dryer.

[hollyc]

I always wash the baby quilts, usually not the large quilts unless there are markings to get rid of.

[seakitten]

I always wash & machine dry baby quilts, and sometimes bed quilts (I do like that crinkly look). I do not wash wall hangings. In other words, treat them like you expect the recipient to treat them.

[jmcclannan]

I almost never wash quilts I give away. I just like the way they look before laundering. :cool: I do tell the recipients how to wash.

[Cheri-Artzgirl]

I always wash baby quilts. I wash larger ones if I finish them in time! lol I've been known to still be whipping down a binding 2 hours before the party! lol but I don't wash wall hangings.

[Quilting Heidi]

I wash everything. Of course customers have to wash their own!

[Terri S.]

I love the puckered look, so I always wash them first. Wouldn't want any surprises.

Terri S.

[witha'K'quilting]

I always wash first too. I don't want anyone to freak out when the quilt shrinks up and puckers. So I wash it in warm and dry in the dryer.

Wall hangings...I really don't make them...so don't know if I would wash/dry them or not.

[kennan100]

I don't always pre wash my fabrics. I do depending on whatever it's for if I'm concerned about bleeding. When I prewash, I wash in whatever temperature I think it will get washed in in the future, and add white vinegar to the rinse cycle to set the dies. I've been doing this sinc e before any of the current products came out and it's alway worked for me. Then I might soak the batting in the same temp water, spin it out and both get dried at the temp I think. Will be used in the future. When I was hand quilting I always washed and dried when it was done, again, at the same temp I thought might be used in the future. ( Sometimes that might be hot). As much as I love my quilting I understand that the quilt is not going to treated as I would treat it even if I put a hundred labels on it. So I prepare the quilt for future abuse by preabusing it. Then it will never look any different than the day they received it until it fades away to nothing!