nineva Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I have my quilt ready to give as a gift in about 9 hours. Do you wash your quilts before giving them? I never have, but someone brought up that they wash the sizing, etc out before they give a gift. No, I did not prewash the fabric. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Personally, I only wash baby quilts if I am giving them as gifts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisae Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I am a washer...because I love the way the quilt looks after washing. That is the finishing touch for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue E. Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I never used to wash quilts before i gave them away but I did tell the recipients that when they washed it, it would shrink and "crinkle" up a bit. I do wash all baby quilts before giving them and now I'm thinking of washing all quilts except for wall hanging ones. Several of the quilts I gave away have never been washed because the people I gave them to are afraid they will change too much. I think I'll give them washed quilts so they will know it is okay to wash them and what they will look like. I did put washing instructions on the quilt labels! I do wash all QOVs I give away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stagecl Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I never wash quilts when given as a gift or when they are for me. I wash after using them. My friend washes all of her quilts because she likes them to get that puckered look. Oh, I don't pre-wash my fabrics either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I too am a washer. I LOVE the smell of a fresh laundered quilt!!! And the feel of it too. It makes it not so stiffy feeling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Nancy Jo, I don't know if I would call what I do "washing". I set my washer to the gentlest cycle, and put in a half a capful of Woolite. Let the washer fill, (cold water) and submerge the quilt into the water. Let it agitate for the least amount of time. Spin out, and then I put the wet quilt in a pre-heated dryer at the lowest temp. setting for about 20 mins. and they lay it flat someplace to dry. PS. Edit: I forgot to mention "Color Catcher" sheets must be in the washer too! 3-or 4 of them! Then I press it with the iron at the lowest setting, and shake, shake fluff the quilt. I think they look really nice when I finish this process. I know whoever I give them to is probably not going to do it this way, but I do include a "wash cold, wash gentle, dry low temp" label in hopes they will follow those instructions. If they do anything to the quilt after that---it's their's, not mine. I always like to freshen (wash) quilts I give away because I know the edges have dragged on the floor, over the cutting table, been held with my hands and fingers over a period of time of piecing, picture taking, quilting, on the surface of the frame, under the sewing machine for binding, handled multiple times everywhere in my house and sewing space....They must have collect dust, lint and and who knows what else in the process---- I've also gone back to washing most of my dark fabrics and batiks for sure before cutting---I had a bad experience with a Quilt of Valor recently that the topper had not pre washed the fabric. It made me rethink how important pre washing fabrics can be. I had sort of gotten away from washing just purchased fabrics. Of course I'm not buying fabrics for my stash like I used to either, so pre washing does not take much effort nowadays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nineva Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 This all makes sense. Hmmm...now what to do. I love the way the finished quilt looks all crisp and clean so you can really see the design. But this is for a male that does his own laundry so will he take the care to cold wash and low dry to set the colors?????? Maybe I will give the gift unwashed then take it home and wash it before giving it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I wash all my quilts in warm water...and dry in the dryer. No extra care than that. They always turn out beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 All of my fabrics are washed before they're added to the stash (with the exception of jellyrolls and other precuts). I also usually wash the quilt when finished. I too, like the crinkled look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I do as Kristina....I wash in the hottest water it can stand and same for dryer. Yes I loose maybe a few inches, but after that there will never be any further shrinkage. I do this for Two reasons: 1) I want it to be the softest possible and as antiqued and to smell good when they get it. 2) now with all the shrink out of it...should whomever gets it and doesn't wash as I said, cool wash cool dryer or air dry, they won't have to feel guilty about shrinkage and worry about telling me they did something bad. Actually three...3) I wash also to make sure they dont fall apart in the wash and to get the ton of spray starch out of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nineva Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 It is in the washer and going in the dryer. He won't take the time to lay it out. Two cats, a grown daughter and a 4 yr old grandaughter. They are lucky the laundry even gets done. I try to be realistic when my quilts go to a new home. Here are the final pics of the finished product (before washing:):)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nineva Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Close up. Used signature thread, Drop in Paisley panto by Anne Bright. Freehand center block by Brenda!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nineva Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Last one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Beautiful quilting Nancy. He is gonna love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyforpurple Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I always was and dry my quilts, it makes a difference to me in the presentation. That quilt is beautiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Beautiful Quilt Nancy Jo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connieb Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoseCity Quilter Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Very nice! I never pre-wash and I never wash when I finish a quilt either. I like the look of fabric best before washing. I personally think time enough to wash it when it's dirty....just my way.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nineva Posted February 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Ardelle, until today I was right there with you. But, when I gave this gift, the receiver was blo"wn away. Completely speechless. And when I mentioned that I had already washed and dried it the comment was, ohhhhhh, I love it that way. It has so much texture." So, I guess now I have options. I do admit, I don't curl up on the couch with one of the crispy ones!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltermidwife Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 When I first started out I used to pre wash all my fabrics and it was a great relief not to feel I had to do this and so for years have not pre washed or washed quilts prior to them leaving me. I think the unwashed quilt can look good all crisp and new however I have to agree that a washed quilt has a 'cuddlability' factor about it. For that reason I think I will consider washing some quilts before they leave me. I don't think I would go back to pre washing though unless I was concerned about colour run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 YAY Nancy! All turned out for the BEST!!! P.S. BEAUTIFUL quilt girl!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Originally posted by Ardelle Kerr Very nice! I never pre-wash and I never wash when I finish a quilt either. I like the look of fabric best before washing. I personally think time enough to wash it when it's dirty....just my way.... I also guess I think they are pretty dirty when I get done with them. I don't prewash but actually add tons of spray starch. Then on top of that my hands are all over it. Sometimes it hits the floor while piecing and ironing. The dust around house gets on them and maybe even the cat or pup tried it out before I got it finished or they help while I'm piecing. When done it doesn't look dirty, but it's very stiff and not snuggly. And the clincher for me was years ago I washed one and the water was flithy. Fabric is already dirty when we buy it. Yes it's wrapped in plastics when shipped but it's dirty at the factory. It can't help but be all those machines and fabric lint galore So added these reasons to why I wash before gifting or personal use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 I wash them. Love the way the quilting looks after washing and drying. I also use dye catchers to get anything out that might run, if the new owner doesn't use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieBrewer Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Never pre or post wash anything. If the quilt gets dirty/spots I will wash but that hasn't happened yet. I like the crisp, ironed look of them because they look new. I did wash an underground railroad (Burns) and it definitely did crinkle. Wanted it to look old-worked for me. I can't imagine washing all the fabric I buy. Might be an incentive to quit buying though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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