Should You Pre-Wash Quilting Fabric?

Ask a room full of quilters whether they pre-wash their fabric, and you'll get a lively conversation. Some always do. Some never do. The truth is, both can be right. It depends on your fabric and your project.

Why Some Quilters Pre-Wash

• Shrinkage. Cotton can shrink a little the first time it's washed. Pre-washing gets that out of the way before you sew.
• Color bleeding. Deep reds, maroons, and dark blues are the usual suspects. Washing first lets extra dye rinse out.
• Removing sizing. New fabric has finishes that make it crisp. Some people prefer to wash those off, especially if they're sensitive to them.

Why Some Quilters Skip It

• Crisp fabric is easier to cut. Unwashed fabric holds its shape, which helps with accurate piecing.
• That crinkly look. A quilt made from unwashed fabric shrinks a bit after its first wash, giving it a soft, puckered, vintage feel that many people love.
• It saves time. Washing, drying, and pressing yards of fabric takes a while.

When We Recommend Pre-Washing

• Garments, since you want any shrinking to happen before you cut a pattern
• Quilts with very dark or saturated colors next to white or light fabrics
• Projects mixing different fabric types, like cotton with flannel, which can shrink at different rates
• Anything for someone with sensitive skin

When It's Fine to Skip

• Precuts. Charm squares and jelly roll strips can fray and shrink unevenly. Sew them as they are.
• Wall hangings and quilts that won't be washed often
• Quilts where you want that soft, crinkly finish

The Easy Bleed Test

Not sure if a fabric will bleed? Try this before you decide:

1. Cut a small scrap and get it wet with warm water.
2. Press it onto a white paper towel or a piece of white fabric.
3. If color transfers, pre-wash that fabric or plan to use color catchers.

If You Do Pre-Wash

• Wash similar colors together in cool or warm water with a mild detergent.
• Toss in a color catcher sheet, especially with reds and darks.
• Snip the corners or zigzag the cut edges first to reduce fraying.
• Press with a little spray starch to bring back some crispness for cutting.

Our advice? Be consistent within a project. Either pre-wash everything or nothing, so all your fabrics behave the same way. Then go enjoy the fun part. Browse our quilting cotton and batiks for your next project.