There are so many kinds out today. I'm making a wallhanging. The top and back are 100% cotton. Should I pre-shrink the fabric and the batting before I quilt it? Any special tips if you pre-shrink both?
2007-11-17 05:43:16 · 5 answers · asked by Gimmemore 3 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
The battings do not have to be pre shrunk. Since it is cotton, I would have hoped you had pre washed your fabrics to make sure they do not bleed (run). Some of the brighter colors are not colorfast any more due to environmental issues.
As this is to be a wall hanging, you could send the whole thing to be dry cleaned after finishing and/or when it needs to be cleaned.
I use the polyester fiber battings. The ones that say they do not beard! They have a special finish that prevents them from following the needle back through the top or bottom.
Depending on the look you want you can wash the top and back if you wish. Some quilted things look better if the top and back do shrink after finishing.
Cotton will shrink with washing just a little bit. about 2% but this can make a huge difference in the finish look.
Does this answer your question?
2007-11-17 05:58:30 · answer #1 · answered by Nana Lamb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there is any chance that the fabric will ever become wet, you should pre-shrink. It's not just a matter of shrinking, but also of having colors bleed when wet. Imagine a roof leak or flood or smoke setting off sprinklers at a public display. Some folk are also concerned about rinsing out processing chemicals from new fabrics.
I don't worry about cotton or polyester batting and shrinkage. Polyester batting is less fussy than cotton, but 100% cotton (fabric + thread + batting) is a goal for some folk.
Um, pre-shrink is *before*. I like to do this to fabric first thing after getting them home, before shelving them. Corner-clipping is helpful for smaller pieces ... they can also be confined in lingerie bags for minimizing wear in the rinsing process. On yardage, I baste or chain-stitch (blessings on the chain-stitch attachment for my Singer) the cut edges together so the fabric won't twist in the washer.
2007-11-17 16:30:36 · answer #2 · answered by h_brida 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should pre-shrink if there is a chance you will want to wash and dry the wall hanging someday. You might want to just wash it and hang it to dry, to get out any extra dye that could run when you do wash the wall hanging. Then you could always just wash and hang-dry the finished product. To wash your fabric, clip the corners and that will cut down on the raveling.
If you are planning to dry clean the wall hanging, dry clean the fabric before you cut, using a home dryclean sheet.
If you use a polyester batting, there will be no need to pre-shrink it.
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2007-11-17 13:58:27 · answer #3 · answered by Kacky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh I would for sure pre shrink it if u are hanging on the wall you are gonna wanna take it down and wash it once in awhile so Yes Pre shrink it
2007-11-20 18:47:55 · answer #4 · answered by eztalker68 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't pre-shrink, but I guess it's a personal choice. I've used pre-quilted muslin as a backing and it saved me a LOT of time.
2007-11-17 13:53:12 · answer #5 · answered by sxctighteyedtam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋