Prepping Your Fabrics for the Brave Beginner Quilt Course
Do You Need to Wash Fabric Before Quilting?
This is one of the first questions almost every new quilter asks, and the internet will give you completely opposite answers depending on who you find first. Some quilters swear you must always pre-wash. Others say never, under any circumstances. So who is right? In this lesson of the free Brave Beginner Quilt Course from Jittery Wings Quilt Company, Mitzie Schafer gives you an answer that actually makes sense: it is not about which choice you make. It is about being consistent with whatever you choose.
The Real Rule About Pre-Washing
Pre-washing removes chemicals from fabric and allows it to shrink before it becomes part of your quilt. Both of those things sound like reasons to do it, and for some quilters, they are. Mitzie's mom pre-washes everything, and that is a completely valid approach.
The problem comes when you mix pre-washed and non-pre-washed fabrics in the same quilt. If your quilt top is made from fat quarters you did not pre-wash, but your backing fabric was pre-washed, those two layers are going to behave differently the first time the finished quilt goes through the wash. The top will shrink, while the backing will not, resulting in a quilt that feels wonky, pulls at the seams, and does not lie flat. The same logic applies to batting, which can also shrink depending on the type. Most batting packages will tell you the expected shrinkage rate so you can plan accordingly.
The rule is simple: either pre-wash everything in your quilt or pre-wash nothing.
Why Mitzie Does Not Pre-Wash
Mitzie does not pre-wash her fat quarters, and she is transparent about why. Pre-washing requires washing, drying, and then pressing every piece of fabric back to a flat, crisp state before you can work with it. That is a significant amount of extra time and effort. On top of that, when fabric is washed before it is cut and sewn, the raw edges fray. There are tricks for managing that, like snipping the corners or using pinking shears, but for Mitzie, those steps are not worth the trade-off.
Because she works primarily with fat quarters and because she wants to get into the quilt-making part as quickly as possible, she skips pre-washing entirely and uses color catchers in the wash instead.
What to Do If You Do Pre-Wash Fat Quarters
If you decide pre-washing is right for you, Mitzie recommends soaking fat quarters in warm water rather than putting them through a full washing machine cycle. The agitation of a washing machine can cause you to lose an inch or maybe more from the edges of a fat quarter, leaving you short on fabric for certain patterns. Soaking allows the fabric to shrink without the mechanical beating.
If you are pre-washing larger fabric pieces, like yardage for a backing, a washing machine is fine. Just snip the corners or pink the edges first to manage fraying. Then dry everything fully so the shrinking is complete before you press and cut.
Handling Color Bleeding and Transfer
If you are working with both dark and light fabrics and not pre-washing, color catchers are your best tool. Mitzie uses five to seven catchers for a throw-size quilt and has not had any bleeding problems. The key is to stay home and pay attention when that first finished quilt goes through the wash. If dark and light fabrics sit wet against each other in a machine that has finished its cycle, you can end up with color transfer even without active bleeding. Be there to move the quilt to the dryer promptly.
One additional note: if you have a front-loading washing machine and you are working with batiks or very dark fabrics, the lower water levels in a front loader can increase the risk of bleeding compared to a top-loading machine. If that is your situation and you are nervous about it, Mitzie suggests finding a good friend with a top-loading machine and washing your quilt there the first time. You may also need to pre-wash to be on the safe side.
Should You Dry Your Quilts in the Dryer?
Yes, you may. Mitzie regularly puts her quilts in the washer and dryer, including queen-size quilts. When the batting shrinks slightly in the dryer, it gives the quilt a softness and texture that flat, crisp quilts cannot replicate. It feels lived in and loved, and that is a good thing.
Whatever You Decide, Press Before You Cut
Whether you pre-washed or not, the next step is pressing. Your fat quarters need to be flat and crisp before cutting. That is what the next lesson covers. Grab your iron, your starch, and your pressing surface, and get ready.
If you have not grabbed the free Sidewalk Cracks pattern yet, you can sign up at jitterywingsquiltco.com/brave-beginner-quilt-course and follow along with every lesson in the course.
Want Extra Support Along the Way?
The Hive+ community is Mitzie's membership community for quilters at every level. It is a great place to ask questions, share your progress, and get feedback from Mitzie directly. Learn more at jitterywingsquiltco.com/hiveplus.
And if choosing colors still feels like the hardest part, the free Color Flow Theory Workbook is a great place to start: jitterywingsquiltco.com/color-flow-theory-course.
Get the Free Pattern URL: https://jitterywingsquiltco.com/brave-beginner-quilt-course
Explore the Color Flow Theory Course URL: https://jitterywingsquiltco.com/color-flow-theory-course
Join Hive+ URL: https://jitterywingsquiltco.com/hiveplus