With the help of my friend Kathie I re-found the articles about washing fabrics. They were written by Becky Goldsmith of Piece O'Cake fame. Here are the links:
Washing fabric -- part 1
Washing fabric -- part 2
One of the commenters asks her my exact question.
Dawn said...
Do
you wash charm packs and layer cakes too? Thanks for the post. I used to
wash my fabrics until charm packs came along....I was afraid the
squares would shrink too much to use in a pattern.
Becky's answer was interesting.
I
would really really want to wash charm packs and jelly rolls. If I did,
I'd put them in a lingerie bag to do it. The problem is that most are
cut to specific sizes and there is no allowance for shrinkage. It would
sort of defeat the whole purpose of buying them in the first place. So I
have not been able to bring myself to buy them. I know they are pretty
but I just don't like using unwashed fabric.
I know that many people use them and love them. I'm just not in that group.
Many, many of us have already bought them. So I'm going to make an exception for pre-cuts and used them unwashed. I'll wash the finished quilt right away with at least two color catchers.
And I'm still going to pre-wash everything else. Except for the grab bags full of scraps that I pick up now and then.
I know that many people use them and love them. I'm just not in that group.
Many, many of us have already bought them. So I'm going to make an exception for pre-cuts and used them unwashed. I'll wash the finished quilt right away with at least two color catchers.
And I'm still going to pre-wash everything else. Except for the grab bags full of scraps that I pick up now and then.
