Important Laundering Instructions
Prewashing all new fabrics before using them in a quilt ensures that there will be no uneven shrinkage and no transfer of colors when the quilt is laundered.
Unfold all fabric before putting into the washing machine. (If you don't unfold the fabric prior to washing, paler lines will develop along the folds.)
Wash light colored fabrics in lukewarm water with a phosphate free detergent.
Soak dark colored fabrics individually in cold water for at least half an hour to set the dyes and then machine wash on cold water with a phosphate free detergent.
Tumble fabrics almost dry, then remove from dryer and press with an iron. To avoid wrinkling, do not put more than six yards of fabric in the dryer at the same time.
Precut samples or pieces should not be machine washed or dried. Being careful not to overhandle, separate these pieces into piles of same-colored patches, and preshrink them by soaking in cold water. If color bleeds, repeat until the water runs clear. Place patches on a paper towel or white cloth towel to dry.
For satisfactory results, please follow the above instructions before using these fabrics. Quilts made with both light and dark colored fabrics should only be washed in cold water.
** A big thank you to RJR Fabrics for these timely instructions.
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P & B Textiles sends us these instructions regarding the card and treatment of your quilting fabrics:
It is the nature of cotton fabric that some changes may occur when it is washed and dried. Regional water quality, water temperature, detergent varieties and the dryer temperature can all affect shrinkage, bleeding, and fading.
If you are making an art quilt or wall hanging that won't be washed, it is recommended that you do not pre-wash your fabric.
If the quilt is dusty, tumble it in a cool dryer for a few minutes, and shake it out.
If you pre-wash fabric, do not use hot water or a hot dryer. Once quilts are made, they should only be washed and dried in cold water and a cool dryer (or dried flat), and only if the fabric was pre-shrunk prior to construction of the quilt.
If you are making a quilt with light and dark fabrics, it is suggested that you pre-wash the dark fabrics to remove any potential bleeding. This can be done in cold water. A good test of bleeding is to add a light-colored or white piece of fabric to the dark wash, and see if any color bleeds onto it. If so, repeat the washing process until the light-colored swatch omes out without any color change.
Detergents can fade fabrics. It is recommended that you use a gentle detergent to wash quilts, and no detergent at all for pre-shrinking. Orvis is recommended.
