Fabric Takes the Plunge
There are some easy extra steps to take before your fashion fabric takes the plunge. A little preparation now will help keep the fabric from twisting and pulling as it goes through the wash cycle:
Open up the fabric to its full width. Next, fold the fabric opposite of the way it came off the bolt, matching up the full width of both cut edges. At the sewing machine, baste these edges together. Back at your table, smooth out the fabric, and align the selveges. Now, pin the selveges together with safety pins. Your fabric will now be open, folded in half, stitched together at one end, and pinned together on each side.
Essentially what you have done is reduce the length of fabric that will be manipulated in the wash. It will be far less likely to twist, allowing all of the fabric to be thoroughly washed and most importantly, rinsed of all soap.
Labels: Tips / Techniques
8 Comments:
More stuff I never knew - I never realized how much I was missing! I'll be doing this for my next pile of prewashing. I've always just thrown it in the machine, at most zigzagging the cut edges first so my entire yardage didn't unravel.
Hi Carol,
I had a student in my studio for her first tailoring lesson, and she helped me prepare some fabric for pre-washing. Even though she is a fairly accomplished sewist, she was fascinated by my "soap potion" way of washing yardage, LOL!
Based on her interest, I decided to write this article....I am glad you found it useful.
Interesting, I'll have to try this next time.
I always wondered how I could avoid the tangled twisted mess that I usually pull from my front loader.
Why do I think this will also reduce the amount of pressing my yardage needs before I can cut?
Great tip!
Terrific Frank! I am glad to be able to add to your collection of sewing techniques. ...and thanx for the compliment.
Oh, Pam,
It's too late for all those pieces that twisted into horrible ropes, however, I'm pretty sure I'll be buying more fabric, ha, ha, ha. Thanks for the tip.
regards
No matter how long you've been sewing, you can always learn new things. I definitely will use this method with my next piece of fabric that I pre-wash.
Jeanie
Pam,
I tried this last time I washed some new material. Works great. Thanks. We can always learn new things even if we've sewed many years.
Joyce
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