Pre-washing fabric when using interfacing

[AshtonagoL]

In the past I've never really prewashed fabric unless it came from the thrift store.  I've washed a few of the bags and purses I've made and they've come out fine.  But I'm making them for a lot of other people now and would hate for their bag to shrink differently from the lining due to not prewashing.  So I'm prewashing fabrics but how does that work when I use fusible interfacing?  Does interfacing not shrink?

[CraftyChef]

I don't pre-wash with the non-fusibles, but with fusibles, you pretty much have to or you'll have a wrinkled mess some time along the life of the bag. You will also have to make sure your customers know not to put the bag in the dryer - ever. If you use the high quality, woven fusible, you'd have to pre-wash that, too.

[AshtonagoL]

Thanks CraftyChef!  So would I just throw the fusible in the wash?  Then obviously line dry it right?

[CraftyChef]

If you bought the cheapy fusible stuff, I wouldn't pre-wash that - all the sticky dots will just come off. I would just prewash/dry the fabric. I've never seen/touched any of the "good" fusible stuff since my local Joann or Hancock only sells the cheapy kind. I don't use fusibles as a rule, but I always tell my customers to air dry their bags anyway. Folks just won't take their bags to the dry cleaners!

[AshtonagoL]

Thanks CraftyChef!  I use Pellon.  I asked on their facebook page and they said it would be ok without prewashing.  Maybe one of these days I'll have time to make myself a purse and I can experiment with washing it! lol.  My mom did wash and dry a purse that I made her and it turned out ok.

[little me]

I always prewash my fabric - I don't like how stiff it is, plus I don't want to take any chances of shrinkage. I did read somewhere about prewashing your interfacing, but I've never done it. In all my years of using Craftbond, only recently did I have a problem with wrinkling - don't know if it was the fabric or the batch of interfacing I had.

[CraftyChef]

That seems to be the issue - you never know if it will or it won't wrinkle. If you're selling a product to someone else, you take on risks and liabilities. I prefer to play it safe all the way. No way do I want a customer coming back to me demanding her money back.

[AshtonagoL]

I agree CraftyChef. I may have to try non fusible sometime soon.  I've always been a little scared of it!