best way to prepare fat quarters for washing

I know you all will think I'm a dunce here, and I guess that's okay, but I have never bought fat quarters before, and I am wondering if it's okay to zigzag the edges of them before washing them or if that is not recommended because it will distort the edges and put it out of square or something and it might be better to use Fray Chek or nail polish or something instead.

Yes, I'm obsessing-compulsing over doing this perfectly.

No, I don't have a serger.

Yes, the fabric is lovely and feels like it's good quality and I'm delighted to know that. The lady who was selling it had a four-figure rating on Ebay and a 100% satisfaction percentage so I'm not surprised. It came with a sticker on it saying, "Thank you! Happy sewing!" which I thought was really sweet, and there was NO propaganda trying to encourage me to buy from them again, which is a plus in my book -- the worst case I got of that type of thing was being notified by the seller after the auction that now that I had bought something from them, I was being put on their mailing list that will highlight all their latest auctions, etc. Needless to say, I did not think kindly of that seller for doing that.

Anyway, I'd be grateful for any ideas. I'm going to wash these babies twice if I see any inkling of bleeding from any of them, because I don't want the colors bleeding onto each other.

And does anybody know where is a place to buy reasonably-priced but good-quality black fabric for the black part of the quilt? Fabric.com doesn't have it.

Thanks tons for any info

Rather than a full machine-wash-and-dry, I would be inclined to soak in very hot water, then air dry. Do it a couple of time if you really see a lot of bleeding. If you really want to run them through a washing machine, why not pink the edges? Any machine stitching will be a problem later IMNSHO.

I'm not sure exactly waht you're looking for. They have this:

Content: 100% cotton Width: 45'' $2.75/yd.

and

wide (108") at $6.95/yd.

Check TSWLTH flat-folds, *and* use a coupon?

" $4.49/yd? " $6.99/yd? " $4.49/yd?

NAYY,

Will soaking in hot water and air drying take care of shrinkage as well? If it will, that will be fine with me. I have a very nice clothesline I could drape them over.

*chuckle* I think I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for, either. It's for the primary quilt top fabric that the other fabrics are either patched into or paper-pieced onto -- I'm sure this is probably not the correct way to say it, but I hope that explains it.

Hey, I didn't know they send swatches. This is a great price if it's a decent fabric.

I haven't been terribly impressed with the quality of their fabric, and my eyes glaze over when I go in a store.

But the 60-inch Kona cotton would probably work -- good quality, reasonable price for a Kaufman fabric. And I've bookmarked that web site for further perusing.

Thanks bunches!

My mother-the-quilter takes the fat quarters of similar colour and washes them in a small net bag I made. Each one is ironed before using. Same is done with lengths of fabric prior to any sewing or quilting; we made net bags of different sizes.

Don't see why you shouldn't zigzag the edges and then wash them Melinda

- after all its how we all deal with yardage for other projects.

If you use fray check or nail polish the edges will be hard & horrible and have to be cut off anyhow.

The thing is to be accurate and on-grain with your cutting, and zigzaging the edges may distort the fabric a little, but you can always rip it out after and give the FQ's a good press to return them to normal.

BTW - I really like your proposed quilt - comes of me being an ex-librarian and a confirmed bookworm! And such a nice idea to do it for your daughter at Uni.

One thing to think about is how your daughter is going to be able to use, look after and launder the quilt. Remembering back to my student days - stuff has to be bomb proof because anything and everything will happen to it, and Uni washing machines and dryers are the industrial type!

I'm not a quilter myself but did go through a couple of years at the end of Uni when I did a lot of hand sewn patchwork using papers.

HTH, Sarah

Hey, I have a few of those. I could group them by color.

Oh, she already has a bedspread. This is just going to be something to remind her that somebody at home loves her. I made one years ago for my

13YODS's Kindergarten Sunday School teacher for her high school graduation and used a thin layer of Warm and Natural for the batting, and the whole quilt fit into a shoebox. Boy, was she surprised when she opened it and found what was inside! (It was tons of fun.)

Test a couple? Takes *one* you don't like, cut in half, measure carefully, give one piece a *very* *hot* *water* soak and air dry. Zig-zag the edges of the other half and put it through a regular washer-dryer cycle, and compare the end results. Et, voila! ;-)

For something with as much effort in it as a quilt, I'd be inclined to splurge a little on the materials. But that's just me, the mother who purchased $99/yd lace for DD's wedding gown...

It is indeed. I don't know anything about them or that fabric, but it might be worth getting several swatches at $.50 each and paying the $1.50 S&H to be sure you liked the quality.

My local store isn't too bad, but the fabric selection is poor. I usually go there for interfacing and notions on the 40% off coupon.

Fabric Depot is local to me. Love 'em! ;-)

You're welcome, good luck with the quilt.

Melinda, the dunce is the one who doesn't ask the question :-) I just throw mine in the washing machine as is, although I do have a front loader so the wash is less destructive

chris :-)