Some quilters pre-wash their fabric before sewing, others don’t. It becomes a personal decision on what is best for you.
If you decide to pre-wash fabric in the washing machine, use a lingerie bag to corral the small or older vintage pieces to protect them and minimize fraying at the edges. You can use a zigzag stitch or overlock stitch around the cut edges of your larger pieces of fabric to prevent the threads from raveling.
This tip comes from Fast, Fun & Easy Scrapbook Quilts by Sue Astroth.
Happy Washing,
The Tech Editors
This article is part of the Quilting Tips from the Tech Editors tutorial series. Recent tutorials include:
- Quilting Tips: Stitching in the Ditch
- Quilting Tips: Printing Images on Fabric
- Quilting Tips: Building a Fabric Stash
- Quilting Tips: Finishing the Quilt: Tying
3 Comments
I have pre-washed my fabric ever since I started quilting 25 years ago. I find that if I clip the corner edges I have minimal or no fraying. It’s the easiest way I’ve found.
I have pre-washed my fabrics since high school when I made a beautiful graduation dress from a lovely white calico fabric with tiny flowers. I forgot to pre-wash and the first time I washed the dress it was ruined. Yes, I cried.
Using a pinking rotary cutter on the fabric edge will also greatly reduce fraying in the wash.
I would cry too Anita, what a shame! Thanks so much for the additional pre-washing tips ladies – really good ideas!