Jan
10
2011
Sewing Tips: Pre-Washing
Posted by Ashley 
90 Comments
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The holidays seem to have treated many of you very well. I have heard many of you say that you received new sewing machines, silhouette’s, sergers, and/or sewing tools of some sort for Christmas. Or for Hannakuh or Three Kings Day, etc. Whatever the occasion………..Hooray! And with that has come many questions in my inbox. Most of them are sewing questions.
I have a sewing tips category under the tutorials tab up at the top of the blog, found here. But there are always more questions. And now seems like a great time to add to that category. Because there are lots and lots and lots of questions right now. Which I love. Because that means many of you are cracking those new machines out of the boxes and gearing up for new projects.
Now the disclaimer.
Whenever I receive questions……………well, I chuckle to myself. Because who am I to answer your questions? I’m no pro. Honest. So keep in mind, that whatever I share on here, whatever advice I bubble out with……..it’s only from this gal’s experience. Nothing more. Whew. But if it helps you out……perfect. And if you know more about it, please share in the comment section. Deal?
Onto the tips……
I get asked a lot about pre-washing. It seems to really puzzle some of you whether it’s necessary or not. So it must be shared as one great big post. How I feel about it, anyway.
If you’re anything like me, you head to the fabric store (or online store) looking for one yard of a certain texture and color of fabric……
And you come home with this………..
Yummy fabric, yummy colors, yummy sales. It really makes a seamstress happy.
So my advice is yes, wash all of your fabrics, before cutting them up to sew with. Machine wash, hand wash, machine dry, hang dry………whatever the washing instructions are for that particular fabric.
Right when you bring them home.
Don’t wait until it’s time to begin making your project…….or you may forget. Or even run out of time.
The pile of fabrics shown above is all 100% cotton, and cotton is notorious for shrinking.
So for sure throw those cottons (or cotton blends) in the washing machine………
.
Then in the dryer………….
And then you’ll see, yep, it has all shrunk up and shriveled a bit. (Not a ton. Don’t worry about it shrinking several inches all around. I’d say maybe a 1/4-1/2 inch on a full yard of fabric. Depends on the quality of the fabric.)
And don’t worry, frayed edges are normal. And inevitable. Just trim off any long strings that get all tangled together…..but don’t worry about those little frayed edges until you start cutting out pieces for your project.
And then iron/steam your fabric flat.
This step helps a ton if you really want to be precise before cutting out your pattern pieces or begin working on your next project. It flattens the fabric back out and gives it a crisp look again. Such an important step.
(I admit, I don’t do this every time. It just depends on what I’m making. But it sure makes a big difference if you’re putting pattern pieces together. Or measuring in any way.)
And then iron throughout your project. Iron seams flat, iron flaps shut, iron curves flat, etc.
Ironing increases the loveliness of your project, guaranteed.
So just be sure to check out the washing instructions (located on the bolt of fabric) before buying your fabric. And then pre-wash that fabric.
Now for a “tell-the-truth” moment.
I don’t always pre-wash before a project. Even my cottons. If I am in a hurry or just antsy to get started…….I just make the item a tad bigger and expect it to shrink a bit in the washer/dryer. For example: If I am making a gathered skirt for my little girl in 100% cotton, I don’t worry about adding extra fabric to the width because I am gathering it in and it won’t make a difference, but I add an extra 1/2 inch (or even an inch) to the length, just to be sure it doesn’t shrink up too short….decreasing the life of the skirt in her wardrobe.
That’s the truth. But is more risky.
But my real, non-discouraging, advice?
Always pre-wash.
And if you do it right when you bring your lovely stack of fabrics home……they’ll be all ready to sew with once you begin your project a few days/weeks/months later. A good habit to get into.
Any other basic sewing questions you have?
I have a list of things I’ll be sharing throughout the next several months……..but if you are itching to ask something, leave a comment. And I’ll try to answer it in one of the upcoming sewing tips posts.
But no promises of when I’ll get it answered……remember I have this little baby plumping up inside of this tummy of mine. She’s almost done cooking.
Related posts:
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"I Spy" Bags -
Scrap-Pieced Baby Bib -
Decorate My Home, Part 16 - Bathroom Decor -
Simple Shirts with Exposed Zippers (works as cardigan too!!) -
Fabric Mail Organizer (wall mounted)
Filed under Sewing, Sewing Tips
thanks , and have a happy new year hugs from Greece
I don't prewash everything I sew, and I haven't had any major shrinkage problems yet. My DD likes the look of the new unwashed fabric in a new outfit. She handwashed all of my handmade items anyway.
Another way to check is to cut a 3×3" square, wash and dry it, and then measure to see if has shrunk.
I strongly recommend to iron, iron, iron when sewing. You won't get a proper size if that material isn't wrinkle free, but I'm old and picky about things like that. LOL
I prewash my fabrics for garments and a trick i learned elsewhere to avoid all the raveling is to snip of a little piece at the corner of each selvage, a diagonal clip about 1/4". Hope that makes sense. That keeps it from raveling all the way across. Works for me! Thanks.
At 80 plus years I’ve pre-washed many yards of fabric. I serge the cut end of the fabric to provide a clean edge for laying out pattern pieces. No frayed edges to contend with.
When I took a quilting class I was told never to pre-wash and if I did to not use softener. Then I made a quilt and I had problems with fading, and some pieces shrinking different amounts. Now I always prewash the way I intend to use the fabric.
I'm kind of like you – I know I should prewash – but I don't always. Couple of other things I've learned over the years about prewashing.
1. Another reason to prewash besides shrinkage is to remove the "sizing" (I think that is what it is called) that they put on fabric to make it look all nice and crisp in the stores. If you don't and you are trying to iron anything onto the fabric (interfacing, appliques, etc) they won't adhere correctly. I always prewash if interfacing or other iron-ons are involved in my project.
2. You don't need to send the fabric through an entire wash cycle. It really just needs to get wet and then dried. Also, you don't need to use detergent or fabric softener (in fact the fabric softner can cause the same adhering problems that the sizing does). I usually just sent my fabric through a rapid wash,or whatever my shortest wash cycle is, or even just the rinse portion of a wash cylce – and then throw it in the dryer. If it isn't a lot of material, I will even just run it under a faucet or dunk it in a sink full of water until it is completely wet, wring it out and then throw it in the dryer. I'm always so impatient to get started, and anything to speed up the process is a bonus.
Thanks these tips are super helpful- especially about the applique stuff. I don’t really sew, but I love to use fabric to dress things up!
Just to correct something that I think is a myth – I NEVER wash my fabrics first and I have been quilting 15+ years – I love batiks and hand dyes and I never have a problem with fusibles adhering to my fabrics EVER and I do alot of raw edge appliqué – perhaps you are using steam when you shouldn’t and a not reading the directions for the type of product you are using.
I personally love when my quilts look all wrinkly and loved. My art quilts never get washed so why bother with washing when it won’t ever get washed…extra work where I’d rather be quilting rather than washing and ironing..plenty of ironing going on as I’m quilting :)
Thankyou so much! This always always confuses me and I never know where to start. I am waiting on some yummt fabric coming through my door any day so I will be sure to wash it as soon as it gets here! x
Sometimes I put vinegar in the water because I've heard it holds the color in. Has anyone else heard that?
Thanks! I think I'm finally getting ready to make my first project and totally wouldn't have thought to do this. Do you have a suggestion for a good first sewing project?
What is the name/make/whatever of that orange fabric? Pretty sure I NEED some!
I wash most of my fabrics like you mentioned, but occasionally I skip it if I know the fabric is going in a project that will never be washed, e.g. a wall hanging. And because I need to save energy and water around here, I wash fabrics with a similar load of laundry.
Great tip! Thanks. I was wondering how do you get the sides of the fabric straight when your getting ready to cut things out for a quilt?
Good tip! Thank you for sharing (as I embark on a series of sewing projects)…
thanks for the tips! I am a beginner and I got too excited and cut my fabric for a slipcover before I washed it! But I caught myslef and I think it will still turn out fine.
how far along are you? I am expecting too and our baby girl is due Feb. 15 so I've been trying to work on my sewing skills with projects for her room :) I decorated a clock with the cloth rosettes I saw on your site and everyone has loved it!
I always prewash. One time I had purchased 3 different fabrics, all from the same line, of quilting fabric for some nursing covers. After I dried it, I noticed one of the pieces had shrunk a good 4 to 6 inches, and it was unusable for my project. When I took it back to Joanns, the manager claimed that was normal and did not want to replace the piece for me since it had been washed, but I was finally able to work it out with her. I have never had anything shrink that much, and the other 2 pieces did not shrink like that either, but just beware that it is possible.
I am no expert on this subject, but I will let y'all know what I've done in the past. I worked at a fabric store for 3 years and worked with ALL types of fabrics. When I buy fabrics, I sort them by color or type, then typically throw them in with the regular laundry. I LOVE to dry them outside on a nice hot day on the clothesline. Darks in the shade, lights in the sun. They ravel much less, wrinkle much less, and just smell so dang good when they come off the line. Plus they look so pretty hanging there. Knits love to hang dry too. If you don't have a clothesline you can take the wet fabric out of the washer and iron it dry too. I would only recommend that with quilting cottons, heavier fabrics don't do as well. Now if you have denim fabrics, do them SEPARATELY! They have a ridiculous amount of dye in them and it will run in to other fabrics or clothing. I know this from experience when my old jeans turned a strange new shade of blue one day. Lesson learned. And no the vinegar doesn't work that well with denims. As far as the sizing in fabrics, yes it needs washed out first, plus I always liked to wash out what I called "road dirt" from the fabric stores. How many times had that fabric been handled before me? You'd be surprised. I just like a clean crisp piece of fabric when I start a new project. And for Marlie, a pillowcase is a good first project. Happy washing!
Any advice on prewashing dry clean only material? I've been avoiding it (mostly b/c I hate spending money on dry cleaning). You can also you pinking shears or serge the edges of your fabric before washing it if you don't want the strings. On projects I care about I definitely prewash. On experimental things or stuff that doesn't really matter, I don't prewash. I also don't prewash fleece b/c I don't like how pilly it gets and it doesn't shrink.
Totally unrelated to the topic of your post but do you follow any photography blogs? I love the quality of the pictures that you take and I have a camera very similar to the one that you use but my pictures come out more like those from a point and shoot. Any tips or recommendations? I can't wait to see what you are doing with your snow days! We are covered here in SC!
My mother always said that I had to zig-zag before prewashing, so I actually do that even though it feels terrible boring. Less fraying though, but OH so boring…
I wondered about that. That’s what my mom always had me do too and I really really really hate doing it. It does help with the fraying but I wonder if it is really necessary?
Thanks for the sewing tips I love them! I need help with cutting fabric. I always struggle with cutting fabric the exact measurement I need it. Like if I'm making a large square blanket how do you cut it so the front and back pieces are the exact same size. I'm probably making it harder then I need to but just curious if theres some good tips to cutting your fabric. Thanks!!
What about colors bleeding on each other? I always wash mine separately but it looks like you don't. Am I just wasting time and water?
I almost always prewash – - one time I didn't, and the nightgown for my daughter shrunk WAYYY up – see if I ever try to cut corners again!
To the question above about soaking in vinegar; I was talking to a lady who works at the quilt shop saying I was frustrated about my reds fading so much, she told me to soak it in vinegar before washing it. Also it helps to prevent the color from bleeding
I would love some help with invisible zippers. I can get them sewn in, but I can't seem to close the gap between the zipper and the seam I sewed normally (if that makes sense). Do I need to hand sew that? Do I need to use a different presser foot? It is kinda frustrating. Any help would be awesome. Love your blog.
I just wish fabric would come pre-shrunk. :)
Thanks for the tips! Even knowing it's the right thing to do I still hate to do it :) But I know its necessary. I just wish those pesky strings which make knots weren't such a problem. Oh, and I think I am allergic to ironing. Just sayin…
will you post a simple pajama pant pattern… ?
I've always heard you should "press" your fabric and not "iron" it and that you should never use steam. I was told using stem and "ironing" caused the fabrics to stretch. And yes, I prewash my fabrics and always use a "Color Catcher" to catch any of those colors from fabrics that will fade or bleed.
what exactly does top stitching mean?
I always wash my fabric right when I bring it home. (otherwise I do get too anxious and just skip it!)
I also trim the corners on a diagonal before washing & drying and it helps the fraying & strings so much!
I usually separate colours when washing as well, but throw them all in the dryer together.
I don't sew, but I have a tiny bit and never thought to prewash. Thanks for the tip before I get started on some projects. You just may have saved me some future mishaps! :)
Check out my KITCHEN/LAUNDRY remodel today!!
http://www.these-are-the-days.com
Have a fabulous week!
My sewing machine is looping majorly on the back. I know this is a problem due to tension, but I've tried messing with the tension and it hasn't helped. I know I could take it into a pro, but I only paid $7 for the machine at a thrift store. So it seems silly to pay a pro $50 or more to fix something on my cheapy machine. Any tips?
It could very well be the thread that you are using!! I started having what appeared to be “tension” problems with a wonderful sewing machine that I had for years…I even took it to a repairman that couldn’t figure out the problem, so I got rid of it. I then purchased a rather high end machine and became quite frustrated when I experienced the exact same problem. I went back to the dealer and was told their experience showed it was the thread I was using. I purchased a better quality thread and wha-la…NO MORE ISSUES WITH THE THREAD NOT LOOPING PROPERLY UNDERNEATH!!! I hope this helps you. Unfortunately, I think if I had known this, my oldie but goodie machine would still be going strong!!
I've finally got into the habit of washing fabric within a few days of buying it. Just like you said it's nice and fresh and ready to go when I am ready to sew.
P.S. We have the same iron!
I would second the "Color Catcher" (found by your laundry materials in the store) as a fast, easy method for bleeding colors.
I agree with prewashing EXCEPT if you are reupholstering something. Lets say you are recovering your kitchen chairs. Put the new fabric on the chair anyway you like. Then spritz them with water. The fabric shrinks and the chair covers are super tight.
Good Tip… I always say
"allow 10% for fabric shrinkage" especially when you are sewing with cotton.
"wash like colors together" oh dear I have had some mishaps when I haven't… Gorgeous fabric gone pink is the usual problem!
"double hot wash and then machine dry with natural fibers" this will make sure it shrinks on that pre-wash, then you wont have to worry about your garments shrinking after you have finished making them perfectly tailored to you!
Another way to prevent fraying and nasty thread tangles on the end is the serge (or just zig-zag) the ends of the fabric together, so you have a loop of fabric. That's what we always did the costume shop I worked in. Granted, we were washing huge amounts of fabric and all of those loose threads could cause major frustration. After the washing you can either unpick the ends, or the faster route is to just cut it off.
I always prewash yardage. But, not pre-cuts. I did once and it was a huge mess!
I've always heard that you can skip prewashing if you buy precuts (charm packs, etc.). Any truth to that? It never really made sense to me, but I like thinking that I can skip it. ;)
I have a steam cycle on my dryer. Using the tray that was included for drying sneakers my precuts get unfolded and run thru a seam cycle. This may not take out the sizing but does shrink the fabric without fraying.
That's so funny, I actually was just thinking about this the other day…my mom pre-washes, and I was wondering if you did too, and thought maybe someday I'd get around to leaving a comment/question…thanks for reading my mind!
I've gotten into the habit of prewashing. Decided to jump in on a project at Christmas. Bought fabric and came home and made a dress. The ONE time I haven't prewashed lately. And the stupid colors ran. All that hardwork for nothin'. If I had prewashed I could have saved that time. :P Stupid fabric.
Do you have suggestion to how to pre-wash flannel fabric? My always came out look like it had been used.
Thanks for all the great tips.
Where did you get that orange and white fabric at?? It looks like a damask print or something, but I have been looking EVERYWHERE for fabric like that to use for my wedding. Please let me know!!
Millie.k.franklin@gmail.com
i am a shortcut queen and usually don't prewash. but when i have a bold colored fabric (especially anything with red!), i force myself to take the time to wash it. and i don't think you need to run them through the washer – just a quick soak will do the trick. my mom would always just let the fabric soak for a few minutes in a tub of water, then air dry and that worked for her. i usually pink my edges first, then soak them in the sink, then throw them in the dryer. with the pinking, you won't lose anything to unraveling that way.
I got a sewing machine for Christmas and I am thrilled. I have not sewn since I was a teenager and that was about was over 25 years ago. You inspired me!! I remember more than I thought I would and have been making pillows for my handicapped Grand-daughter like crazy.
I am interested very much into recycling clothes.I love your blog. I have been following your blog for a long time . You advice for Lizzy's braces worked great.I had to take the fabric off because it was was falling off in places but it worked!! Thank you and Happy Healthy New Year!!
If you could do a post on how to cut your fabric straight that would be so great! I know that sounds dumb, but seriously, every project I do that's what I spend the most time on. No matter how I do it I always end up needing to go back and straighten it out again. Makes me crazy! Btw you're so great for sharing all your sewing knowledge! Your blog is one of the reasons I started sewing!
I have SERIOUS fabric envy!!!
I agree with Tasha about doing a post on cutting straight lines! I have such a problem with that. It takes me forever and i have to measure and draw the lines several times before i cut, and even then they come out slightly crooked! Cutting squares and rectangles are my nightmare.
Also, as for ironing.. why does it take me FOREVER to iron something, and then even still i can't the wrinkles out?! Is it my iron? Ironing board? Or am i doing something wrong? I just dont get it! Any help with the above topics would be awesome and very much appreciated!
I've never pre-washed anything, and I've never had any problems, but then I am rather gung ho about these things and know I ought to be more methodical.
Thanks so much for all your advice, I have a freshly bought pile that I need to wash – wish all of this rain and flooding would stop long enough for it to dry though :(
I have so very rarely pre-washed in the past. After having a nightgown out of knit shrink up about 6 inches, I learned my lesson!! I'm really looking forward to the sewing tips!
Thanks for the tips! I am just reorganising my craft cupboard and my mountain of fabric. It is always a mess, and I like to have things tidy. Do you have any tips for ways to store fabric, so when you rummage through you don't have to refold everything??!!!
Thanks for post, I have certainly regretted not pre-washing new fabrics in the past. On the colour fading, I read somewhere that adding black pepper (powdered type) to the detergent could reduce this as well, I tend to do it for high colour washes. Not sure how much it helps, but my clothes don't tend to fade that much before they wear out.
I strongly encourage pre-washing bc of the chemicals on the fabric. My children have reactions to new clothing if I don't wash it first!
Manufacturers put formaldehyde on fabric to keep bugs from eating it. Nice, huh?
So I prewash from now on. AND I had read a little tidbit about snipping the corners on the fabric before throwing it in the washer, something about keeping it from fraying badly. Can't wait to try that.
What is the best way to store/organize fabric? I have a tiny house (read: no sewing/crafting space except the kitchen table.) and really need some tips for organization.
Cutting and measuring. PLEASE help, I know it seems so simple but how to you cut a straight line? What do you line it up with? Thanks so much!
I've never pre-washed my fabric, but I guess I'm gonna have to start…
I didn't read all the comments, so if someone else said this – sorry!
My mom always prewashes her fabrics and to save on the fraying business (because some fabrics fray HORRIBLY and some not at all) she serges the cut edges of her fabrics before washing. I don't have a serger, so I do a big zig-zag stitch down the edge of mine.
Sometimes I cut the edges of the fabric with pinking shears before throwing them in the wash so they won't fray quite as much (but fraying is inevitable!).
And I bought that same black, white, and red fabric at the bottom of the pile last month and used it to make a sewing caddy for my sister! I still have some left so I'm hoarding it for something for myself later down the road. :o) Thanks for the tips!
I don't always prewash, but I DO like to get the fabric wet in the sink or tub and then throw it in the dryer… that way I don't have to wait through a whole wash cycle first… every extra minute counts, right?
With the exception of wool, I have always prewahsed my fabric, even silks. If I am going to spend all that time and money to make something, I don't think it's worth risking shrinkage, bleeding, etc. I used to make all of my own clothes and was never disappointed taking the extra time to do this, even when I had to go to a laundry mat. I also went the extra mile and dry ironed my patterns (depending on the fit of the garment).
I have a blanket with one of the fabrics shown here…Can I ask where you purchased the fabric at?!?!
I am so excited to have found your blog! I got a new sewing machine/monogramming combo for my birthday and know virtually nothing! I've got you bookmarked!
Hooray for prewashing! lol
The orange damask is: Joel Dewberry, rose damask in orange
The blue polka dot is: Michael Miller, Ta Dot
The red polka dot is: Amy Butler, Lotus Full Moon Polka Dot Cherry
The Black fabric I got at Hobby Lobby
The Green was a clearance fabric at WalMart
Hope that helps!
Ashley
I realize this comment will be at the VERY bottom of all those others and maybe skipped but I wanted to share my thoughts and experience about pre washing. If you’re going to make a quilt, consider carefully whether or not you want to prewash. I started out ALWAYS washing the fabrics I bought, including the popular quilting cut called a fat quarter (18″x22″) then I was so excited when I found a pattern that called for fat quarters. I pulled 10 FQs out of my stash that had been prewashed and realized they were 17×21 inches after I washed them. Sort of difficult to cut a square 18″ square when you fabric isn’t even 18″ to start with. And with SO many patterns being written for use with precut fabrics, I just decided to wash AFTER the project is complete. ALSO, there are precut fabrics such as charms (5″ squares) or Jelly Rolls (2 1/2″ strips) that are so small you can’t possibly wash them without them ravelling all away. So here’s the rule, if you are using precuts and you use other fabric for sashing, don’t wash it until the project is done. If you wash anything in the quilt, wash ALL of the fabric so that it is all preshrunk. I hope that makes sense, from a quilter’s viewpoint. Thanks for sharing this post and all your other great tips.
I live in a small town and I am sick and tired of only having one fabric store to choose from. Do you recommend any online fabric stores that you are pleased with?
I am not use to denim and I just bought denim to make my twin grandaughts it is a summer pattern but I thought I would use it with a denim I guess is considered 10, I will make a top and pants with ruffle, for christmas.I am thinking about lining the shirt with a nice soft 100% cotton fabric. Need your feed back soon as to is this all right to do. I thought about It before I bought and got to the store to purchase material and decided to by this as the denim was not light weight and not too heavy. I am going to preshrink as I do for when I make a quilt, soak it for 15 minutes and continue through a rince cycle. Is all of what I told you corret.
Thank You
Jody
I pre-wash my 1/8 yard and other small pieces in a lingerie bag.
HI!! So I found your blog this weekend when I was needing help figuring out how to do shirring with my brother sewing machine – LOVE your blog and have been scouring it over for tips. You’re amazing!! I’m really on the look out for tips related to cutting and prepping fabric for projects – there are so many techniques and tips and tricks that I feel like I’m not aware of so I’m hoping to gain a lot of good info!!
Thanks so much!
You can use a washable fabric marker or pencil to write washing and care instructions on fabric. I do this if I know it might be awhile before I use the fabric and then I’m not guessing how to clean it once it’s a finished garment. Great tutorials on your blog!
Where do you go to buy fabric online?
Before I wash my new fabrics, I always serge the cut ends of any that will fray. It’s no fun to pull all that fabric out of the washer and dryer all tangled up with miles of frays.
I need assistance, especially after reading that I need to prewash the fabric. I am making a crib set for my first grandchild due in 9 weeks. To buy the quilt, bedskirt and bumper is almost $500, Picket Fence ensemble, so I ordered the fabrics from Fabric.com and now I have a dilemma. The main fabric, a Suzani print came in one piece, 8 yards. How do I wash something so large or should I cut the pieces with a little extra and then wash it? This fabric also must be air dried and I cannot air dry 8 yards of 54″ wide fabric. Please advise. I haven’t sewn in 30 years and this is ambitious for me. Thank you.
Marilynn,
I am by no means an expert, but my friend who is a seamstress taught me this…and it has worked quite nicely for me: When pre-washing a great length of fabric, fold it into a manageable size and pin one length of the fabric together with large safety pins so it will remain in a folded formation when laundering. She taught me to run it through a rinse cycle and then dry on low/medium heat. I hope you find this helpful.
My aunt made some lovely tablecloths, aprons, and tea towels for my sister and I’s apartment as Christmas gifts. We started using them right away, but of course they get dirty pretty fast in the kitchen and we soon washed them. She is a quilter and fabric crafter, and chose some very pretty and bright cotton prints that look great with our bright yellow kitchen. But she obviously didn’t prewash because thinks came out all shrunken and puckered along the trims. My favorite table cloth is a looser canvas style woven and it shrunk up several inches, and since it was a circle and shrunk mainly in one direction, it is now an oval.
Moral of the story is always prewash. Anything that could possibly get dirty, someone might want to eventually wash someday, so it is safer to have the whole fabric stash washed and ready. If you like that nice crisp feeling, you can get that again by ironing.
Regarding vinegar: it helps set dye more if you soak the item in the sink with a ton of vinegar added (I did some red doll clothes in it straight recently. I would recommend this for bright trim, esp natural fibers). But I have heard adding a cup or salt or a cup of vinegar to the hot water rinse can help. When I dye fabrics at home I think the dryer on high also helps to set the dye. Apparently vinegar or baking soda in the wash or rinse cycle is a great fabric softener that leaves no residue and can help remove sizing even better than detergent. I know lots of people who prewash twice with just that, and no detergent or dryer sheet. Going to try that tonight.
If you do have fabric bleed, soaking the tinted fabric in a sink full of oxyclean will work miracles! Whites can soak for hours, just be sure to watch over your brights or prints for fading (it says it’s color safe, but at a certain point they will fade a tad). Oxy got the pink right out of my whites after a new red sock got in the load!
As a beginner sewist, this post was EXTREMELY helpful to me, I even blogged about it and tried an experiment with different prep for my raw edges. You can check it out by following the link below. Thanks, Ashley, for posting!
http://thethinkingcloset.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/pre-washing-fabric-an-experiment/
I learned this in high school when I took a sewing class:
You can prewash the material and dry or
You can “stretch” the material slightly from opposite corners, stretching all four corners. Work your way from the corners to the center of the fabric. Has anyone done this instead of prewashing? I’m one to get started right away, and this is easier for me and never had a problem with it.
Does anyone know if a water softening system effects the dye in fabrics. I have bought the same material twice from 2 different stores and they continue to fade. (Black with White pokadots)
Great tips!! The ONE exception to the rule that I’ve found: DON’T PRE-WASH PUL (waterproof material used in making wet bags, diaper covers, etc.). It has no benefit to pre-washing, and you can’t iron it. It doesn’t shrink or bleed, though, so you’re good to go! But other than that I ALWAYS pre-wash because of the same examples noted above.
PS- Love love love the blog!!
I have heard mixed responses in terms of prewashing. What do you do when you use charm packs and other precuts? I can’t really see washing them when they are only 5″ square–wont’ most of it unravel, or stretch?
May have been mentioned before-I use SHOUT towels saves the bleeding every time! They last forever!