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[pattypeep]

@IlliniGirl88  Thank you for your words of encouragement. I have been sewing for over 50 years, but never really got into quilts. I am probably 3/4 of the way done and will definitely heed your advice when I wash it. Will definitely post a picture. I'm so pumped up that I already bought the fabric to do one for my "grand-dog". LOL

[IlliniGirl88]

@pattypeep  -  Forgot to mention when I wash my quilt for the first time, I use a few of the Color Catcher sheets in the wash.  Depending on the size of the quilt and how intense/dark the colors, I will use quite a few sheets.  I've never had a problem with the dyes bleeding.  The quilt shop I go to gave me that great piece of advice when I first began quilting. 

[pattypeep]

@IlliniGirl88 Wow, thank you for passing along the info. I will look for them where I shop.

[riley1]

@pattypeep - I, too, am a long-time quilter. I make a lot of quilts as gifts. If I don't wash them before I gift them, I take a ziploc bag and include washing/drying instructions, a Color Catcher and some pieces of left-over fabric from the quilt. So down the road, if a repair is needed they have the same fabric that was originally used. Happy Quilting!!!

[pattypeep]

@riley1  Excellent idea. Thank you.

[docsgirl]

OK, ladies!!!  You made me catch the rag quilting bug.  I've just gone back to sewing after being away from it for many years but now I want to make a flannel rag quilt for someone in a nursing home. I've watched several videos and am a bit confused.  Some of the instructors say to wash the fabric before you begin and others say NOT to wash the fabric until after the quilt is finished.  I do not know which is correct.  I'm planning to purchase my fabric this weekend and am anxious to get started.  Any and all information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much.  docsgirl

[docsgirl]

My dilemma was answered after viewing one of the videos again.  The instructor said she does not pre-wash her fabrics EXCEPT for flannel which tends to shrink a bit more than other fabrics.  Since I'll be using flannel, I will pre-wash.  Thank you, anyway, and I'm apologize for bothering you.  Happy Quilting!!   docsgirl

[151949]

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

[pattypeep]

@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.

[CelticCrafter]

I only use cotton calico type fabrics for my quilts and I never pre-wash it.

I did it once and was sorry I did, it was a tangled, wrinkled, frayed mess when it came out of the machine and I didn't like the feel of it because all the sizing had been washed out.  It got donated to the paint drop cloth box.

When I'm all finished I will wash it with a Color Catcher and dry it in the dryer. I've never had a problem with bleeding or color running with the Color Catcher.