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Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cott

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cott - 2007-08-08 14:40:23-04
  I am so pleased this topic came up just now - very timely. Yesterday I bought fabrics to make my new grandchild who is due next month a cot quilt. A couple of them were brightish coloured homespuns and I thought about this topic and decided to prewash. One of the homespuns did run a bit. It wasnt heaps of colour but there was a definite purplish tinge to the water. As this quilt will definitely need to be regularly washed I am relieved to know that there should now be no mishaps.
  So thank you PJ and all who have commented, for saving me!!!
  

Re:Picture of Tumbling out of Control

• Re:Picture of Tumbling out of Control - 2007-08-08 10:45:24-04
  Here are the completed 12 mini calender quilts. Lets see if I can get some posted. If not please be patient with me.
  

Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cott

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cott - 2007-08-07 21:41:41-04
  I only used the washing machine once to pre wash and it frayed a lot.I read somewhere to cut a bit off the corners to stop that, but haven't tried it yet. If I have a small load I use the kitchen sink, large loads go in a bathtub of HOT water,when its cold rinse and wring, then on the line. We washed sheets that way when I was a kid and we first moved to OZ. (I don't use the washboard now though)
  
  Joy
  

Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons - 2007-08-07 13:15:17-04
  I always prewash my cottons, due to fear of colour running. If the piece is not too big, i just do it in the sink with a touch of soap, then rinse about 3 times with clear lukewarm water, then put in dryer until almost dry then press.
  If it is a large piece like a quilt back (I prefer one piece backs) then I soak it in the washer for an hour then do a spin and rinse and spin then dry the same and press. I had one red that ran until washed 5 times. I'm very glad I prewashed!. Pat
  

Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons - 2007-08-07 13:15:05-04
  I always prewash my cottons, due to fear of colour running. If the piece is not too big, i just do it in the sink with a touch of soap, then rinse about 3 times with clear lukewarm water, then put in dryer until almost dry then press.
  If it is a large piece like a quilt back (I prefer one piece backs) then I soak it in the washer for an hour then do a spin and rinse and spin then dry the same and press. I had one red that ran until washed 5 times. I'm very glad I prewashed!. Pat
  

Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons - 2007-08-07 07:51:06-04
  P.J.
  As a newcomer to the quilting world, the information re prewashing quilting fabrics sure has made me see the light. My first tries were unwashed. From now on, all my fabrics will be prewashed. Thank you
  Helena
  

Re:Number of Squares from a Fat Quarter

• Re:Number of Squares from a Fat Quarter - 2007-08-07 07:48:10-04
  P.J.
  Thank you for this information. It sure helps this newby quilter.
  Helena
  

Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons - 2007-08-06 17:38:16-04
  I will have to try that Marilyn. Sounds better than the washing machine. Thanks for that.
  Cheers Jean
  

Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons - 2007-08-06 13:51:42-04
  I dont prewash my fabrics in the washing machine. I was taught to run a bucket/tub of hottest water from HW system, add mild soap/detergent eg wool wash, and let stand until water goes cold. Then rinse. If no dye comes out, then rinse one more time with some vinegar to be sure. If dye does come out, repeat until it stops running. Then mine dries on line as I dont have a dryer either. When it is just damp I press, as the heat of the iron will also help set. That way there is virtually no fraying, and the fabric does not pull out of shape. This probably works better for me as I would be using cold water in the washing machine and I think hot water is needed for the dyes and shrinking.
  Marilyn
  

Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons - 2007-08-06 13:24:05-04
  As you know I don't pre wash, guess I have been lucky so far. I do wash quilts though before I give them to anyone. I like the look it gives the quilts sort of used a little. I dread the day something like that happens to me, but as the stash is getting bigger I may risk it a little longer, I have washed my Noodle fabrics though, under sufference. Struth, what did you wash your noodles in my sewing room pleasantly scented from your noodles. A lovely surprise when I opened the parce. Joyce
  

Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons - 2007-08-06 12:52:05-04
  AMEN PJ!
  
  I had a quilt block bleed on a quilt and it is embarrassing! I was hurrying and cut corners when I ran out of fabric. Boo Bad!
  
  Until that has happened, you may not believe it but BELIEVE IT! Everything she says is true, true, true!
  BJ the Sunshine Quilter
  

Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons - 2007-08-06 12:19:28-04
  Joy, I have a dryer that I use mostly for fluffing things. But I do use it to preshrink anything I make that will be laundered, as most people I give it to will dryer dry in the future. As a matter of fact, I have 2 lines outside and 3 short lines in my basement that I use when our woodstove it on. I like the savings on our electric bill but I like the smell of line dried cloths even more.
  When my granddaughter who is 16 now was one, I took her camping. I washed her diapers in a big tub, then poured boiling water over them to rinse. We have very cute pictures of her and I hanging them up on a line strung between two large pine trees. It was a lovely summer. But some people thought I was wacky!
  Lines rock!
  Anna
  

Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons

• Re:Pros and Cons for Prewashing Your Quilting Cottons - 2007-08-06 09:29:22-04
  Thank you PJ for information on prewashing fabric.I have never washed mine but next time i will have ago.Sue
  

Re:Number of Squares from a Fat Quarter

• Re:Number of Squares from a Fat Quarter - 2007-08-06 03:38:46-04
  Great info P J are you doing this on your own or did you find this in a book or on a website???? I am a teacher and I could use this kind of stuff for my classes. I am already looking forward to the next post I see it is information I am in the process of needing right now. I have only taken two classes in my 20 or so years of quilting and they did not teach me things like this. I think these are essential things that we should all have access to so we can make our quilts unique to us. I have never been a pattern follower, so I love to make a block mine, not like the pattern calls for. Thanks for the information.
  

Re:Fabric Calculator

• Re:Fabric Calculator - 2007-08-05 16:54:40-04
  Great site! Already put in my favorites. A million thanks. Suzyq
  

Re:Strips per Yard

• Re:Strips per Yard - 2007-08-05 16:52:28-04
  Great sheet of info. Thanks for posting all of them for us in 1 location. Suzyq
  

Re:Number of Squares from a Fat Quarter

• Re:Number of Squares from a Fat Quarter - 2007-08-05 16:49:51-04
  Another great info sheet! Thanks Suzyq
  

Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern

• Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern - 2007-08-05 16:46:11-04
  Great info! thank you. Suzyq
  

Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern

• Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern - 2007-08-05 15:55:51-04
  Glad everyone could use it, nice to pass along information so everyone isn't searching the wide web looking for useful items.
  

Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern

• Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern - 2007-08-05 11:10:29-04
  PJ, Thank you for all the useful info. charts. As others have said, saves lots of trying to work out. I will print off some of them too.
  Marilyn
  

Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern

• Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern - 2007-08-04 21:12:38-04
  I printed it as well. You are a great person to have around PJ, you are so knowledgeable. Along with a lot more of you ladies, I don't think I will ever get to your level of quilting.
  Cheers Jean
  

Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern

• Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern - 2007-08-04 19:59:04-04
  I printed this off. I know I will use it alot. Way easier than trying to figure it out each and every time. Thanks,
  Anna
  

Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern

• Re:Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern - 2007-08-04 17:42:45-04
  
  

Yardage Chart

• Yardage Chart - 2007-08-04 17:37:33-04
  
  

Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern

• Enlarging or Reducing a Pattern - 2007-08-04 17:41:16-04
  
  

Number of Squares from a Fat Quarter

• Number of Squares from a Fat Quarter - 2007-08-04 17:40:13-04
  
  

Strips per Yard

• Strips per Yard - 2007-08-04 17:38:37-04
  
  

Yardage Chart

• Yardage Chart - 2007-08-04 17:35:07-04