Prewashing fabrics

[msevle]

Ok I'm new here and this has probably been asked before and I just can't find it

Is there anything that can be done when you are prewashing your fabrics? I picked up some fabric from Joanns yesterday to do some more christmas projects and I prewashed it and almost a whole yard of what I bought was a big matted mess when I pulled it out of the washer! I washed it on the easiest setting and only for a 10 min cycle so I could avoid destroying it, am I doing something wrong??

[lendube]

Hi, a good solution is to zigzag the edges so they don't unravel and wash gentle.

[carman]

matted as in frayed? if the weave is a loose one, and many are, then even the grain and everything goes wonky. all i do when i bring fabric home is put it on the rinse cycle, not the wash and have no problems with fat q's or larger amounts, i do have a front loader, so i don't know if that makes a difference or not

Carman

[temom]

Oh that does sound horrid. Did you by chance check the end of the bolt to see if it is washable?
Sometimes I will fold my fabric so the cut ends are together, than either ziz zag or serge it together. I have to cut it apart, but I still lose less this way than if I don't finish the edge before washing.

[msevle]

I didn't check the fabric to see if it was washable (infact I didn't even know they put that on the bolt ) I will know to check next time. I am also going to try a zigzag stitch before I wash next time. I used to not even wash fabrics before sewing but when they do get washed I experianced problems with shrinking and such. Thank you for all of your suggestions I guess I still have alot to learn

[bridesmom]

I almost always wash my fabric first, if it's not washable then I really don't want it. I onlly serge my edges if I think it's going to ravel badly. I did wash some fabric once that did matt and shrink, saved it to make a felted purse out of it - if I ever get to it, that is!)