Expert: Connie Hester - 9/17/2009

Question
Hi Connie,
I was having trouble with my internet connection when I sent this before so I will try again. My mother was a quilter and saved fabric for years. When she died several yeard ago, my sisters and I inherited pieced quilt tops. The fabric in mine is at least 20 to 30 years old and looks like it was not washed prior to her piecing it. I am ready to learn to quilt now since I have retired
and wonder if I should wash it before I start. There are 2 tops.
1 is the log cabin design and the other I think is called flower garden.

Answer
I would go ahead and quilt it before washing.

If you wash it now, you will have all sorts of fraying. With 1/4" seam allowances, most of it could be lost to fraying. In addition, frayed threads could end up laying loose behind lighter-colored fabric pieces and show up against the batting which goes up against the fabric when quilted.

Quilting will also strengthen the seams by reducing the stress that could be put upon the seams when washed. Washing prior to quilting could result in opened seams.


Connie Hester