Should Quilt Fabric Be Prewashed?

Today's prompt for the 31 Day Blog Post Challenge hosted by Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com asks the question, Do you prewash your fabrics?

Tints of the Past by Linda Bratten

When I first started quilting, it was never a question.  Only the brave never prewashed.  It was a time when not all dyes were colorfast.  Given the amount of time I have been quilting, technology has improved the colorfastness of many dyes.  This means that you may not need to prewash your fabrics.

Terrific Triangles by Linda Bratten

I am still in the habit of prewashing my fabrics.  I guess that means that I am not terribly brave or I don't like surprises after I have worked so hard on a quilt.  I don't judge the quilters who don't prewash.  I do recommend testing the fabric for colorfastness if you are not prewashing.

Basic Skill Builder Blocks by Linda Bratten

Testing for Colorfastness

To do this, take a white piece of fabric and dampen it.  Rub it on the fabric you want to test, then examine the area.  Did color come off on the white fabric?  Did it create a halo of colors around the fabric you are testing?  If so I would recommend prewashing. 

Some quilters will even cut a piece of the fabric off and place it in a white bowl with water and check the color of the water after it has set a while to look for dye particles that are free.

My Fantasy Garden 2 enhanced with textile paint

When You Should Prewash Your Fabric

There are a few time when I believe that you should prewash your fabric. This may be done by hand or in the washing machine. Choose the technique that the fabric can endure, and that is the same way the quilt will be laundered in the future.

Here are my recommendations:

1. If the quilt is for a young child that may put the quilt in his/her mouth.  Many fabrics have sizing and even insect repellants on them.  It would be important to remove those with a prewash.

2. If the quilt is going to someone who is chemical sensitive.  See reason #1.

3. If you are using hand dyed fabrics made from a non-commercial producer or from an unknown fabric producer .  Some may or may not wash the fabrics when they are done with the dyeing process. I highly recommend this if the fabric has red dye in it.

4. Any fabric that you have purchased second hand from a thrift store, garage sale, etc.  You never know how it was stored, and it may contain insect eggs that you do not want to introduce to your stash.  This is just a recommendation and not intended to offend a fellow quilter.

5. Any fabric that I have used a mixed media technique on that may be washed in the future.  I want to be sure it is colorfast before I sell or give the item away.

6. If the quilt is going to be used and laundered frequently.  This will insure that the fabric is pre-shrunk and color safe. Those much loved quilts can really take a beating.

My Fabulous Feathers enhanced with Inktense Pencils

I am curious as to what you prefer to do?  Let me know in the comments below!

Also don't forget to check out what the other participants are blogging about today.  Click here to find out!

Off to prewash some new found treasures, 

On My Design Wall

Today's prompt for the 31 Day Blog Post Challenge hosted by Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com is on the design wall. 
  

December is when I do my class and workshop planning for the next year.  One project that I am currently working on is a Skill Builder class that takes a look at some basic blocks and the variety of construction techniques available to quilters. 

 It is an opportunity for beginners to advanced quilters to discover hints and tips to constructing pieced and applique blocks. 

Check out what other participants in the 31 Day Blog Post Challenge are working on by going here.

Off to finish my planning!

Plans for 2020

Today’s prompt for the 31 Blog Writing Challenge hosted by Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com is my dream project.  I have two projects that I would love to accomplish next year.  I have always admired lone star and broken star quilts.  I recently purchased a Compass Star pattern by Roxanne Carter of Quilting with Roxanne that I want to try.

I love the way she combines the lone star piecing with foundation paper piecing techniques.  I was hoping to create one with my Mother. She needs to get well, so we can quilt together again.

The next pattern that I want to sew is the Amethyst Project Bag by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness.  I have taught a project bag called the Simply Chic Carry All created by Michelle Griffith of Michelle’s Designs.

That pattern made you fearless when inserting a zipper and combining lots of sewing techniques thus requiring lots of time to create it.

The Amethyst Project Bag appears to have fewer elements to construct, so less classroom time will be needed.  But it will allow my students to still learn lots of bag making techniques in the process.  I consider this a win!

Do you have any projects that you are planning for next year?  Feel free to inspire me to add more to my wish list!

A Small, but Mighty, Sewing Studio

Today's prompt for the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com is sewing space.

I have never used the words, small, but mighty to describe anything in my life except my current sewing space.  In 2012 my husband and I downsized our home.  It was a smart move since all of the boys had left home.  This also meant that I left behind a very large and much loved sewing studio.

So I have had to make some choices about what I want to focus on, and what I really love to work with to keep my creativity within its boundaries.  I remember Alex Anderson discussing her decision not to build a larger sewing studio.  She reasoned that a larger addition/studio would raise her taxes, so there was the financial aspect.  She also knew that her current space was working, but it probably just needed to be decluttered.  That helped me to focus on what I really love to work with in my studio and to let go of the other stuff.

In addition Cheryl Sleboda also hosts a Spring Clean Your Studio Blog Hop.  This has encouraged me to dig deeper into my space and find forgotten things to work with and remove unnecessary items.

I have discovered that I am in love with sewing machines of all kinds.  I just wish they didn't need so much space.  I am also a “tool gal”, having the right tool for the right job makes a world of difference.  But I have discovered that no matter what size you have to work in, you can still be creative and make wonderful things!

Now I need to clean up some creative clutter in my studio!

The 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

This month I am participating in the 31 Day Blog Post Challenge hosted by Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com.   

She has created a list of fun posts to share with all of you and I am excited to be a part of the fun! 

So let me introduce myself, I started quilting shortly after the birth of my first son, and I haven't stopped since.  

I have always had an interested in all creative things thanks to my creative influences, my Mother and Grandmother.  They were great at taking a few resources and creating something wonderful.

I live in central Missouri, U.S.A. where I teach sewing and quilting classes.  I am also an online instructor with Craftsy/Bluprint and on my own platform, which can be found on my website: www.LindaBrattenCreations.com.

I have a free monthly newsletter and companion Facebook group, Linda B Creative where I share projects and Quilt-alongs to inspire my fellow creative people. Please subscribe to join in the fun, by Clicking Here!

The is the Pumpkin Spice Quilt-Along project from the Linda B Creative Facebook Group

While my roots are traditional quilts, I really love to create Studio/Art Quilts.  My passion is to use mixed media products to enhance my sewing and quilting projects.  Do any of you use mixed media products on your projects?  I would love to hear what you use and how you use it.

This is one of my favorite wall hangings, Peacock Passion.

I hand painted the peacock on Dupioni silk.

 Be sure to check out all the other bloggers participating in the 31 Day Blog Challege, they can be found here!

Off to write my  Linda B Creative Newsletter for December!

Let the Fun Begin!

It will come as no surprise that blogging is not my favorite thing.  That being said,  I have accepted a challenge to improve my skills and give it a fair chance! 

You can find out more about this opportunity by going to The 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge!

A special shout out to Cheryl Sleboda for organizing and hosting this opportunity.  So let's have some fun in the next 31 days!

Open for suggestions on posts, Linda