I love it when I finish something.

I've just finished sewing all the binding on my Paris Squares quilt. I am pleased with the outer border quilting.Here it is before it goes in the washing machine:I like to wash my quilts (on a 60 degree, white wash) as soon as they are finished for a number of reasons, the main one being I like the crinkled 'old' look that the quilt takes on as the wadding shrinks. I use an unwashed (mainly) cotton or alpaca wadding both of which shrink when washed for the first time. Depending on what style quilt or wallhanging, I either wash the wadding first or I use a firm needled polyester wadding. 'Soft and Bright'* is my favourite one for wallhangings, but it's not very good for cuddly quilts as it doesn't really 'drape'.

Washing is also good because it washes away any quilt markings, spray baste and of course all traces of starch.

When the quilt comes out of the machine, I will lay it flat on some towels to dry out and if it looks distorted I will need to block it.

*I buy my waddings from either Doughtys or Asding - both offer good prices, and are fast with their deliveries.