To wash or not to wash?
That is the question…
At least that’s the question that I would like to pose to all the quilting experts out there…and please feel free to contribute even if you (like me) don’t consider yourself an expert!
I’m getting near to the end of the machine quilting on Martinique – maybe today will even be the day that it’s all done (in which case I will breathe a very big sigh of relief!). Now in my general perusal of quilting blogs there seems to be a divergence of opinion. Do you wash newly finished quilts or don’t you?
Up till now I’ve never belonged to the washer brigade. To be honest I’ve always been to scared that colours will run and I’ll ruin my masterpiece. But I must say that I’m quite taken by the descriptions of the blissful feeling of taking a newly washed and tumbled quilt out of the tumble dryer. I rather like the look of used quilts that have lost their flat sheen and just look, well…cosy and crinkled up.
I’m actually prepared to take the chance with Martinique. Should I or shouldn’t I? And is there anything that I should watch out for? Should I put one of those paper sheets that soaks up excess colour in too?
What would you do?
I need your help!
Helen
January 14th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Helen, I almost always wash my quilts as soon as I finish putting the binding on though sometimes I wait until I’ve shown it at guild (I feel the quilting shows up better that way)
I’ve never had color run on my own quilts and yes they come out of the dryer so cuddly its hard to resist. I also like to wash quilts before I gift them just to make sure that all is well with it before it leaves me.
The only time I’ve had a color run problem/which was actually a customers quilt and she was having problems with color run from the start. It was a panel with red and white and not in my opinion a better quality fabric.
The Moda fabrics that you use should be just fine, but if you are still concerned it wouldn’t hurt to put a colour catcher into the wash.
I can’t wait to see it!
January 14th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Hi Helen, congratulations on getting it done!!!!! If you decide to wash I would use a colour catcher – better save than sorry. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished quilt. Enjoy your weekend.
January 14th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
I NEVER wash a quilt unless it gets dirty. And I certainly don’t wash them when they’re new. Sometimes, if I have marked quilting lines with a water soluble marker, I’ll spray the whole thing down with water and hang it to dry–just to be sure all the markings are out.
If you do wash it, advice about using a color catcher is a good one. Those things do work.
January 14th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
I like to wash my quilts after they’re finished. Just love the soft, comfy feel. I always use one of the color catcher sheets. They work!
January 14th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Typically I do wash a new quilt. I always use a couple of color catcher sheets in the wash though, and have not had any issues with colors running. I love the quilty, puckery, soft feel of a new quilt right out of the dryer.
January 17th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
We have just seen your post and whilst we aren’t experts on quilting we think it’s a great use of Colour Catcher sheets to save all your hard work getting ruined by colours running in the wash.
Follow us on Twitter and let us know how it goes!
The DYLON Colour Catcher team