When I'm washing fabric, I take it with me to the laundromat and throw it in the washer (with the rest of my laundry) and then into the drier. I do this to just about everything. Even silk and linen. Oh, don't look so shocked.
I wash and dry fabric to get out any sizing and get some shrinkage in. If it's going to shrink, I sure want it to happen before I cut it (it only takes cutting and sewing a pattern first and then it shrinking get into the pre-wash habit). I don't want to be bothered with dry cleaning so I'm not worried about washing, you can machine wash and dry most "dry clean only" fabrics. It will change the texture and sometimes make it more interesting. I tried it with a cheap linen and the only "drawback" is that the linen is softer now.
Sure, there are some fabrics this won't work with. I sure am NOT going to do this to velvet or some $25/yd brocade. Fabrics with a funky trim or threadwork get the gentle treatment as well.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-05-02 08:45 pm (UTC)When I'm washing fabric, I take it with me to the laundromat and throw it in the washer (with the rest of my laundry) and then into the drier. I do this to just about everything. Even silk and linen. Oh, don't look so shocked.
I wash and dry fabric to get out any sizing and get some shrinkage in. If it's going to shrink, I sure want it to happen before I cut it (it only takes cutting and sewing a pattern first and then it shrinking get into the pre-wash habit). I don't want to be bothered with dry cleaning so I'm not worried about washing, you can machine wash and dry most "dry clean only" fabrics. It will change the texture and sometimes make it more interesting. I tried it with a cheap linen and the only "drawback" is that the linen is softer now.
Sure, there are some fabrics this won't work with. I sure am NOT going to do this to velvet or some $25/yd brocade. Fabrics with a funky trim or threadwork get the gentle treatment as well.