Never. I think I would only wash a quilt in a machine if someone died on it or if it has some sort of fecal matter on it. I know everyone has a different opinion on this, so I’ll just tell you why I do things the way I do. When I began quilting, I did a lot of reading to educate myself. One of the primary things that stood out to me was that in order to preserve a quilt for as long as possible, one should spot clean whenever possible because machine washing has so much wear on a quilt. Quilts are very much heirloom pieces for me. Its so important that they be preserved for generations so they can be valued the way that I value quilts passed down in my family. I go to every extent to ensure a long life for my sewn goods including avoiding washing machines at all costs and I also only use high quality fabric. I will use Free Spirit whenever possible and do everything I can to avoid lesser brands like Art Gallery because quality and length of life are so important to me. That said, I do not think there is a definite right and wrong here. I think its all about what people like most in what they make. If you are going through the time of making something as special as a quilt it should be just like you like it. I happen to dislike any crinkle in quilts, and will iron mine whenever possible; many people prefer crinkled quilts.

I hope this has explained my opinion without any offense, as I haven’t intended any! :DReplyCancel