When Should You Prewash Quilt Fabric?

How to Decide If Prewashing Makes Sense for Your Project

Jan 4, 2008
Christine Mann

Prewash Fabric for Quilts that Get Washed Often - Flickr.com User jillyspoon, CC Attrib. License

Some quilters wouldn't dream of starting a project without washing and machine drying their fabrics first. Others never prewash. Which will work best for your project?

Prewash or not to prewash--which is best? It all depends on the project. Here are some factors to consider before you decide whether or not you need to prewash the fabrics for your project.

Why Do Quilters Prewash Their Fabric?

There are several reasons why most quilters wash first and sew afterwards. Prewashing can:

Control shrinkage to avoid distorting finished blocks and quilts. The high-speed looms used to make quilting fabric stretch the cotton fibers to unnatural lengths. Prewashing and machine drying shrinks the fibers back into something closer to their natural shape before you sew your fabric, instead of afterwards, when shrinkage could distort the shape of your blocks.
Reduce uneven shrinkage. If your project combines several fabrics, prewashing avoids the puckering and pulling that can happen if they shrink at different rates.
Minimize color bleeding. Prewashing washes away excess dyes that might bleed onto other fabrics.
Remove potential irritants. It also washes away sizing and other chemical coatings that might cause allergic reactions in chemically sensitive people.

When to Prewash Fabric and When Not To

But of course it’s not that simple! Prewashing doesn’t make sense in every situation. Here are some dos and don’ts.

Do Prewash Quilt Fabrics When…

You know the project you’re making will be washed and dried in the future. Fabric you’ll use for bed quilts, clothing, accessories like bags and purses, or items for around the house, like tablecloths or pillows, should usually be prewashed to avoid shrinkage when the finished pieces need washing again as they get dirty from use.
You want a smooth, modern look with minimal wrinkles. To reduce wrinkling and puckering after the quilt is finished, prewash not just the fabric, but the batting, too. .

Don’t Prewash Quilt Fabrics When…

You know the quilt you’re making will never be washed. Some art quilts are meant to be hung on a wall and won’t be subjected to normal wear and tear. In these cases, you don’t really need to worry about future shrinkage or colors bleeding.
You’re going to fuse the fabric. Iron-on fusible web stabilizes your fabric and prevents it from shrinking. It doesn’t stop colors from bleeding, though, so you still may want to test for bleeding before you use the fabric.
You’re using a precut fabric kit. Washing and drying might distort the shape of your pieces and make the kit hard to assemble properly. You can preshrink fabric pieces from a kit by soaking them in cold water, keeping lights and darks separate. Then dry the pieces flat on a towel to avoid frayed edges.
You want an “antique” look.Washing the finished quilt after you piece and quilt it will shrink the fabrics, and especially the batting, to create a slightly puckered look that’s perfect for reproduction quilts.

If you liked this article, you may also like:

How to prewash quilting fabric. Prewash your quilting fabric to control shrinkage and wash out potentially harmful dyes and chemicals. Here's how the expert quilters do it.

Choosing a size for your quilt. Size recommendations and factors to consider when making wall quilts, lap quilts, table toppers, and bed quilts. Includes standard U.S. mattress and bed quilt sizes.