Wash before or after binding?

I have always sewn on both sides of the binding and then washed my quilts to get some puckering. A couple of my quilting friends are washing their quilts before they attach the binding at all. (My fabric and backing are already prewashed, but not the batting.)

I am curious what you all do.

Reply to
BarbQuilts
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I do the same as you, Barb, and cannot imagine taking the chance that the edges of the sandwich would come out of the wash all gnarly. I'm assuming that your friends are not trimming the edges until they are washed and dried, but what could be their reasoning for this? Perhaps to avoid a puckered binding? Having recently watched demonstrations on TV of chenille and rag quilt techniques, I'd be weary of putting a raw edge in the wash.

Reply to
KCK

Reply to
C. Mathews

I sometimes wash my quilts before I bind them. I trim the edges, zigzag stitch all around (I'd serge if I had a serger, but I don't) and then wash in the washing machine. My washing method to wash quilts in the washer, then dry in the dryer. Don't have a heart attack. I've never had a problem. And even if I did, I'd just make another one to replace it! (Of course I only machine piece, machine quilt, and intend my quilts to be used and loved and eventually worn out).

Reply to
Tracey

Oh, I'm all for washing simplicity. I wash my quilts in a machine and put them in a fairly hot dryer before I give them away, so the recipients can be assured that there won't be any surprises.

I'm more curious *why* someone would want to wash the quilt prior to binding it. Is there an advantage I'm not thinking of? Won't the quilt get washed at some other time following the binding anyway?

Reply to
KCK

Reply to
Martha in IN

I usually wash after binding but feel it is a personal choice. To the subject line however, I recently washed my Spring Sue quilt and found that the calico backing and background has wrinkled unbelieveably. Even after ironing it is still very wrinkly. Is this a common thing or do I just have a dodgy batch? It was fine before washing.

Reply to
Sharon Harper

Sharon,

All the newly made quilts we see in those pattern magazines and at quilt shows are pristine, have perfectly flat bindings, and give us the impression that our quilts are supposed to look like that too. We spend all that time on our quilt tops, pressing along the way, making sure that every seam is flat, the whole time, falling in love with this "unnaturally" flat creation. We put the sandwich together, quilt it, and then apply the binding (oh, how lovely the binding looks, like a perfect satin ribbon surrounding our treasure), but all of a sudden, following a baptism in the washing machine, it's all wrinkly, crinkly, puckery, or whatever.

I think what we're seeing out of the wash is the way it's SUPPOSED to look! It's a quilt! We don't expect the seams on our denim jeans (do you call them jeans over there?) to remain as flat as the day we bought them once they've come out of the wash.

Nuff said....however, I'm still not convinced that I'm doing it correctly.

Reply to
KCK

Hi

Some creations you see in magazines use unwashed fabrics and battings. I think the reason for this is that if you make a quilt then wash it and it goes crumply it doesn't photograph well. If many of the quilts in the magazine look crumpled they will be less appealing to the potential maker therefore selling less magazines.

A quilt made before any washing (top, batting or backing) makes for a wonderfully smooth quilt that photographs beautifully.

The crinkling is due to cotton shrinkage. Average about 5% in the first wash. So if you want minimal shrinkage crinkle, wash before you sew and the includes the batting.

...Fran...

PS. I don't wash before for magazine projects, but always for personal things.

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Reply to
Dumpling

I have no worries about washing any of the quilts I have made: I have a front loading washer with an excellent wool program. That, a good quality washing powder combined with an excellent spot pre treating spray, and an extra spin for getting the excess water out, and it will be fine. Not sure I'd tumble dry... Have to think about that one!

Reply to
Kate Dicey

All cotton will wrinkle a bit, but some are worse than others. What was it like when you prewashed? Or didn't you? Is this my chance to say "I told you so"?? Some cheaper cottons are given lots of sizing so they look nice and smooth on the bolt, but when the sizing washes out, they don't have enough body (what we've been calling a nice hand) to remain reasonably flat. Roberta in D

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

If you did it right, it won't fall apart in the washing machine or dryer. At least not for many years. I do mine at 40 C (lukewarm), tumble dry until damp, pull gently to straighten if necessary, and finish drying over the top of the 6-line clothesline. Use gentle detergent (for wool, or Orvus, or Ivory flakes) and throw in a dye magnet just in case. Roberta in D

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

I can't imagine washing BEFORE binding.

Sairey (who also prewashes the fabric (every bit of it), but not the batt> I have always sewn on both sides of the binding and then washed my quilts to

Reply to
Sarah Curry

Depends on the quilt, of course.

Mine are all cotton (including the batt, which I don't pre-wash), stitched with cotton thread, usually (but not always) have "invisible" quilting thread on the top.

I USED to be a bit of a "purist" about it all, with the Orvus soap, the laying the quilt out on the grass (sheet underneath, sheet on top), and all that.

Now, I just toss the quilt in the washing machine, COLD water (just never tried the other temps, for a quilt ... but can't see why "warm" wouldn't work, too). And I dry them in the DRYER (they come out PERFECTLY "puckered" ... I like the look).

Grins,

Sairey (no l> In this same vein, I was wondering how to wash my quilt. Can it be put in

Reply to
Sarah Curry

I prewash all my fabric, but not batting, before I use it. I also wash all my quilts after binding. I often use Crayola washable markers for marking, so I need to wash to remove the markings. I also want to wash out any oil that my hands left on the quilt or other soiling that may have occurred while I was working on the quilt. I would hesitate to wash before binding before binding unless the edges are securely finished with a zigzag or serger. I wash in the machine with regular detergent and dry in the dryer.

Julia in MN

Reply to
Julia in MN

LOL, thanks Kevin, I needed that!

Reply to
Sharon Harper

But, but, mine hasn't actually shrunk - it looks like one of those wrinkle puppies (Shar Pei's??), the calico has GROWED!!

Reply to
Sharon Harper

Aaaaah! 'splains what a nice hand is!

Reply to
Sharon Harper

Reply to
Dumpling

You do that? Oops! Never mind, I quite like the wrinkled look. Anyways wouldnt' the batting fall apart?

Reply to
Sharon Harper

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