* * * LAUNDERING TIPS * * *

• PRE-WASHING ALL NEW FABRICS HELPS TO ENSURE THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE UNEVEN SHRINKAGE NOR COLOR BLEEDING WHEN YOU LAUNDER YOUR QUILT!! SNIPPING THE CORNERS OFF YOUR FABRICS WILL HELP TO LESSEN THE FRAYING EDGES...TOSSING THEM IN A MESH LINGERIE BAG HELPS TOO!

• WASH LIGHT-COLORED FABRICS IN LUKEWARM WATER WITH A PHOSPHATE-FREE DETERGENT!! A TABLESPOON OF VINEGAR PER WASHER-FULL HELPS TO SET COLORS-2 TSP FOR SMALL LOADS.

• UNFOLD ALL FABRICS BEFORE PUTTING INTO THE WASHING MACHINE!!

• WASH DARK- COLORED FABRICS SEPARATELY IN COLD WATER FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR TO SET THE DYES, THEN MACHINE WASH IN COLD WATER WITH A PHOSPHATE-FREE DETERGENT!!

• TUMBLE DRY FABRICS UNTIL ALMOST DRY, THEN IRON. (IT HELPS TO PUT NO MORE THAN 6 YARDS OF FABRIC IN THE DRYER AT ONE TIME!!) YOU CAN ALSO TRY SPRAYING THE FABRICS WITH SPRAY STARCH AFTER TAKING THEM OUT OF THE DRYER...LET SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN IRON...SHOULD GIVE YOU A NICE CRISP FOLD EDGE, WHICH WILL HELP WHEN ROTARY CUTTING LATER!

• DO NOT MACHINE WASH PRECUT SAMPLES OR KIT PIECES!! THESE SHOULD BE HANDLED AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE...SEPARATED INTO LIKE COLORS, AND PRESHRUNK BY SOAKING IN COLD WATER. TO DRY THESE, PLACE THEM ON TOWELING, OR WHITE PAPER TOWELS.

• QUILTS MADE WITH BOTH LIGHT AND DARK FABRICS SHOULD ONLY BE WASHED IN COLD WATER!!! QUILTS SHOULD NOT BE PUT IN A DRYER IF YOU CAN POSSIBLY AVOID IT!! IF YOU DO, AFTER EXCESS WATER HAS SPUN OUT, PLACE FLAT ON TOWELS TO DRY OR IN THE YARD ON SHEETS OUT OF DIRECT SUN!!