What fabrics to prewash?

[mhudson]

Title pretty much says it all.I'm new to making diapers. I have made a few fitteds from old receiving blankets, so those had already been washed. But do I need to wash ALL fabrics before using them?

[qsefthuko]

All natural fabrics need to be washed and machine dried a couple of times at least. The natural fabric will shrink. You don't want to make a diaper and not be able to use it because after washing and drying it shrunk to small. I am pretty sure this is not a problem with synthetic fibers. So cotton, hemp, bamboo prewash and dry.

[mhudson]

How can I prevent fraying?

[aubreyaks]

Zig zag or serge the edges if you are worried about fraying. Knit fabrics don't fray too bad for me, anything else, if there is a little fraying, I just cut it off.

[mhudson]

Thanks

[Rdesonia]

Yes you should prewash all cottons and natural fibers. Otherwise if you are mixing prewashed blankets and unwashed other fabric... the other fabric will shrink later. It will make things look wonky. (The other fabric will cause edges to curl and all kinds of weird things like puckers at the seams.) Fleece and other synthetics usually don't shrink. I prewash everything normally just because I'd rather not spend the time making something and then have it look like junk after one use. (Also it is nice because you won't end up with weird color bleeds that can sometimes occur)

[firsttimejoy]

I was wondering the same thing, thanks for posting theis thread.