How to Wash a Quilted Blanket
by Monica
Dear Gloria, Thanks for your reply. I would like to wash my blanket in a commercial washer, but my biggest worry is shrinkage. Will the detergent you recommend help with this, and if shrinkage is inevitable, how distorted will the blanket turn out? My batting is 100% cotton. ANSWER Monica, Since your quilt contains prewashed AND unwashed fabrics, it's hard to predict the end result. Prewashed fabric shrinks less than unwashed fabric. You can expect unwashed fabric to shrink about 3% to 5%. Your fabrics are going to shrink at different rates. This could cause puckers or distortions to form on your quilt. I'm not saying to what degree, because I don't know. It could be major or minor. You'll just have to wait and see. Usually I recommend washing your quilt in warm water. But in your case, you might want to use a cool wash cycle. You don't know how your fabrics are going to behave, so it's better to be safe than sorry. But again, this is your choice, not mine. Now, as far as detergents go, some are better than others. There are none I know of that will prevent shrinkage. But I always recommend Dreft, Ivory Snow, Woolite or Orvus soap. Orvus is made especially for quilts, but it's expensive. You can buy it online or at most quilt shops. I know you've learned an important lesson about prewashing your fabrics. It's okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. The good news is you won't ever make this mistake again. Remember this rule of thumb: Either prewash all your fabrics, or don't prewash at all. Consistency leads to better looking quilts. Click here to read or post comments. |
