The wash/don't wash question again

If any of them shrink, it will be a problem.

As long as they are all good-quality LQS cottons for patchwork, it will probably be OK. 70% probablility or so, the odds are in your favor. Roberta in D, a natural optimist, but I wash everything anyway

"Jan" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:MQ2yh.3672$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net...

I haven't had a problem with it so far.

Mary

Jan, I have used washed and unwashed fabrics in several of my quilts. I didn't have any problems. YMMV

Pati, > Because the quilt I'm starting has so many different fabrics in it I prefer

OK, First, I prewash everything, usually before it gets stored (other than in the bag I brought it home in!).

That said, this is what I think:

If you have two little pieces of fabric stitched together (say the seam is 2" long) and one shrinks 10% and the other does not, the difference in size _after_ the shrinkage will be less than 1/4" (ok, that is a fair bit). I don't know that this would be very visible - and in any case good quality LQS cottons don't seem to shrink 10%??

But: If you are going to have long strips (sashing or borders), I would prewash that fabric if the top is a mixture of washed/non-washed.

I haven't tested the above, so all at your own risk :-)

Hanne in London

A collective thank you to all who replied to my original post. I decided to just grit my teeth and start washing and ironing -- probably good insurance against any future disasters. Thanks again!

In my experience, (my sister sends me prewashed fabric) and I do not wash) it has made no difference in the finished quilt. Now mind you others will say they will not shrink or wear at the same pace, but three of the quilts that I kept (gave many scrap quilts away) the three my children used, and are washed weekly are only 6 or 7 years old, no uneven shrinking and no uneven wear. I do quilt well, like

Christina