To Prewash Background Fabric or Not?
by Donna
(Texas)
Hi & Happy New Year!
I'm working on a toddler shirt project for my sister. I would not normally do this, as it's not my fav project. I've made 1 t-shirt quilt in my long quilting life & that's plenty enough for me.
I have a dozen button-down woven toddler shirts all prepped for appliquéing down into big blocks. Should I pre-wash the background fabric that I'm attaching the shirts to in order to quilt them? My initial thought is this: I know the shirts are all pre-worn & pre-washed, so I'm guessing the background fabric should also be pre-washed as well. This will hopefully prevent any pulling-away of the shirts from the background & also provide equal (minimal) shrinkage through out the quilt top???
Normally I don't pre-wash the backing fabric & allow that to shrink together with the batting. I've always loved the soft bubbly look of the finished washed quilt.
Thanks in advance for your recommendations.
Donna Simoneaux