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[docsgirl]

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@pattypeep wrote:

@docsgirl  I was confused, too, so I asked someone in two different fabric shops here in town and they both said do not wash the flannel before making the quilt. They both said they would wash other fabrics, but not flannel. I did not wash mine and am now just in the snipping stage. I will post after I'm done and let you know if I made the wrong decision. LOL

Edited to add: One of the women in the shop makes a lot of rag guilts and has several hanging in the shop for sale, so I trusted her advice.

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Hi twopeas,

I just watched her video again but she did not address pre-washing.  In the comments section, someone asked a question about pre-washing and she said she does NOT pre-wash any fabric other than flannel because flannel tends to shrink a bit more than other fabrics.  Her response is the exact opposite of what your fabric shop ladies said so now I'm really confused.  I will NOT pre-wash my flannel and will wash the entire quilt upon completion.  I'll be off to JoAnn's tomorrow as they have 60% off flannel and I can use my 15% teacher discount to save even more money.  On my way home from school today, I stopped at Michael's and used a 50% coupon to purchase the Fiskars Spring Action Micro-Tip snipping scissors. The snipping scissors are supposed to make the snipping easier on the hands. I'm so excited to get started.  Thanks for sharing the information you received.  Happy Quilting!   docsgirl

[docsgirl]

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@151949 wrote:

With a rag quilt you MUST wait until it is finished to wash it as that is how you make it fringe up.

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151949,

Thanks for your advice.  As I said to twopeas, I will wait until my rag quilt is finished and then wash it. These rag quilts are so lovely and I'm excited to get started.  docsgirl

[docsgirl]

Hi Everybody,

It's me again...the confused quilter.  The plot thickens.  This morning I was in JoAnn's Fabrics and met a woman who is an avid quilter. She invited me to join her quilting group but they meet during the day and I work.  She was telling me that she and her friends get together and make a lot of quilts to donate.  She helped me select the ideal color combinations and they will sew up beautifully.  I asked her if she pre-washes any of her farbrics and she said she ALWAYS pre-washes every fabric because they all have a tendency to shrink.  I was telling her about the controversy and she said that everyone in her quilting circle always pre-wash all their fabrics.  The shrinking part makes sense so now I'm more confused than ever.  I have my gorgeous fabric, all supplies, and am ready to get started but to wash or not to wash, that is the ?????  I think I will NOT pre-wash and see what happens.  Happy Quilting to all.  docsgirl

[pattypeep]

@docsgirl  Oh gosh, you poor thing. I don't know, but I'm so far into my first one that I'm just going for it. I just put it in the washing machine and I will update you when it's dry. I did find as I was working with it that the flannel really begins shredding just from handling. I can't imagine what it would do when washed prior to "building it'. It seems it would be a big hairy mess. LOL

[riley1]

@docsgirl - The prewash/don't wash has been a huge debate for many years. Even fabric designers debate this subject. I've been quilting for many years. Started out washing (the fabrics back then weren't what they are today) and haven't washed a fabric in many years. Today's fabrics don't shrink all that much, we have Color Catchers so they don't bleed over all fabrics. 

In my quilt circle, no one washes fabric. Everyone is too excited to start their quilt rather than wasting time washing/drying it, lol.

[pattypeep]

@riley1  On behalf of all of us, thank you for your expertise. I agree with you about the fabrics. Back in "the day" I used to make all of my clothes as well as my children's and the fabrics needed to be preshrunk. I'm happy to know that it is no longer necessary.

[pattypeep]

@docsgirl Done. Washed two times. I would say it shrunk about 3" each way, but it's a blanket so, no problem. I guess if one wanted it to be an exact size, just add a few more squares. The little label on the left says "made with love by Gramma". I'm cutting a second one out. OMG, I'm possessed.

[mousiegirl]

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@151949 wrote:

I just saw this post for the first time.In the future when you want someone to see a post you would want to put # and their name so they are notified it is there.I don't really have anything to add to the others here. I enjoyed making mine but the snipping was awful.I did not buy the special scissors - but someone loaned me hers. It is a very easy project.

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@151949@  You may want to change the # to an @.

[docsgirl]

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@pattypeep wrote:

@docsgirl Done. Washed two times. I would say it shrunk about 3" each way, but it's a blanket so, no problem. I guess if one wanted it to be an exact size, just add a few more squares. The little label on the left says "made with love by Gramma". I'm cutting a second one out. OMG, I'm possessed.

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@pattypeep It's beyond stunning!  I have tears in my eyes at the beauty of this heirloom that will be handed down, with each recipient knowing the love with which it was made.

My quilt will be made out of flannel but I forgot to get flannel for the inside.  I don't want to use batting so tomorrow I have to go back to JoAnn's.  Fortunately, it's still on sale. 

Thank you for sharing your gorgeous creation.    docsgirl

[pattypeep]

@docsgirl  Thank you so much. You are very kind.