Preshrinking Fabric

[Michael Martin]

Hi Guys-

So, in my efforts to improve my sewing and have my MYOG projects not look so much like they were hand sewn by a chimpanzee, I just read "Sewing for Dummies" to learn some new tips.

One of the things they suggest is to pre-wash and press your fabric and trim before sewing to reduce puckering of the finished project.

Have any of you tried this? Is it worth it?

Cheers,

-Mike

[Bill Fornshell]

Hi Mike,

I pre-wash all my silk and merino before sewing with it. It is also important to pre-wash silk before dying it. I add the silk wet to my dye pot. I press (iron) the silk after washing or dying it as it is much easier to work with.

Other material like Pertex products and Cuben are not pre-washed.

[Roger Caffin]

> Other material like Cuben are not pre-washed.
Ah, Bill, you disappoint me! I was hoping to hear how you pre-washed all your Cuben fabric … :-)

And strangely, I have found that pre-washing silnylon is not a lot of use either – and the same goes for the Dim Poly X-Pac fabrics too.

Mike – the pre-wash thing really only applies to fabrics made from natural fibers. Synthetic fabrics rarely undergo any changes from washing at all.

Cheers

[Michael Martin]

Thanks, Guys! Now I won't have to explain to my wife why there is 10 yards of silnylon drying in the laundry room. ;-)

-Mike

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