I'd rather my quilts did not crinkle after washing

[rehak]

Maybe that is unavoidable. I've tried Hobbs 1/8 cotton plus 20% poly. I have their wool to try. But after making a quilt with various kinds of fabric (all cotton) , I'm starting to think thread count makes a difference because some crinkled a lot and some not much. I prewashed all fabric and batting. I noticed batiks crinkled the least.

Do people who enter quilt shows just not wash their quilts?

[suehenyon]

I think a lot do not. Or they are washed and blocked before quilting.

[genevacarroll]

I do not wash my show quilts.

I wash quilts that are made for cuddling and using.

Usually Batiks are a tighter weave of cotton and do not shrink up as much as regular cotton fabric.

Hope this helps!


Geneva

[genevacarroll]

You can reduce fabric shrinkage by pre washing and drying your fabrics before you start piecing.

You can reduce shrinkage by not using cotton batting. If you use cotton or a cotton blend batting you can pre wash and dry the batting to reduce the shrinkage. If you use a poly batting it will not shrink when washed. If you use wool batting should not shrink unless you use hot or warm water and high heat dryer -- actually it will felt if you do that.

Your best bet to keep the just made flat look is to pre wash and dry your fabrics inluding the backing, and use poly batting. Or do not wash your quilts.

[genevacarroll]

Thanks everyone.

Now I know the answer to the mystery as to why show quilts are so smooth. (Went to one last month in my home town. WOW.)

My frustration: I spent a tremendous amount of time making couch throws for two of my three sons, most of that on the quilting. Then I washed them and all that intricate quilting kinda disappeared into crinkles. Unless you flip them over. The first one I preshrink the fabric, but forgot about the batting and backing. The second, was not so crinkled, but I used 80/20 cotton. I've read the batting will shrink more the 2nd wash. Also I used cotton thread.

For my third son I will prewash everything and use poly along with poly thread. I am also going to use all Batiks. This will be my third quilt.

I am an oil landscape painter (for many years) turned quilter. I find fabric art even more engrossing than painting, and I think, more difficult. My plunge and subsequent addiction to fabric began when I was trying to do an apple applique onto a potholder for my kitchen. It was such a pain in the rear and I refused defeat. Once I saw pictures on the internet of free motion quilting, I was completely hooked. Bought a new high dollar sewing machine. Converted the spare bedroom to a sewing room.

Never enjoyed painting as much as I do quilting. I may fill up the world with them....quilts everywhere.

I have a quilt top my three greats grandmother made in her 90's in 1930, so it is 85 years old. It is hand stitched from flour sacks. I intend to finish it as soon as I feel qualified to do so. I will do it with machine FMQ. A part of her, a part of me. Distinctly different, 85 years apart, working together on the same project. Bet she never imagined I would finish it for her.....

[suehenyon]

Deb, welcome to the world of fellow addicts! TQS has great lessons. There is one on the Daily Blog about free-motion quilting right now. Do you know about Craftsy? I highly recommend Cindy Needham's classes. She uses a domestic sewing machine. There are others, too. They are a great value.

We always value pictures!

[twiglet]

Have you photos of your quilts do put them on your profile, I'd love to see them

[kfstitcher]

Thanks everyone.


I have a quilt top my three greats grandmother made in her 90's in 1930, so it is 85 years old. It is hand stitched from flour sacks. I intend to finish it as soon as I feel qualified to do so. I will do it with machine FMQ. A part of her, a part of me. Distinctly different, 85 years apart, working together on the same project. Bet she never imagined I would finish it for her.....

Isn't that wonderful! I'm sure she'll guide you with some quilting inspiration.

[kfstitcher]

Would love to see a picture of your grandmother's quilt.