Debbie B

I have been quilting/sewing crafts for a little over a year now. I love this hobby. I have sensitive skin, but it has gotten better as I have gotten older. Some, but not all, perfume, lotion, shampoo & certain jewelry will cause me to get an itchy red rash. The past two months I get a rash on my face & hands. It gets better and then reoccurs. I can't think of anything that I am doing or using that is different. And then someone told me that maybe I'm allergic to fabric. I hope not. If it's fabric you would think that new clothes would break me out and that has never happened. Some fabrics I can wash & others are designer fabrics that I'm afraid can't be washed. Just wondering if anyone else does this????

grann of 6

I can't wear wool, as it causes me to break out in a rash, and I can't knit or sew with it; makes my hands all itchy. I have to be careful with home dec fabric because of all the chemicals used to treat it for UV resistance, etc. I get terrible migraines when I sew or iron it while working with it. I have cut back on my home dec sewing for people for this reason. Did you change your laundry detergent or softener? My son is very allergic to these things. He can't even wear deodorant.

donnajean

There are a lot of chemicals in fabrics as they are processed. I have trouble in fabric stores. I'm also allergic to fabric softener.

Sadiemae

You may be allergic to the chemicals that are added to the fabric. These aren't always added to fabric that is made into clothes. I know people who have to wash fabric as soon as they take it home.

Quiltzilla

I had trouble with fabrics and in particular, fabric stores in the past. It was due to a formaldehyde allergy. I could be in a fabric store for no more than a 15 minutes before the reaction would start. Carpet store caused the same trouble. That was back more than 15 years ago. I am thinking that there is currently much less formaldehyde in fabric than there was back then.

Debbie B

I haven't changed laundry detergent or fabric softner. I have been sewing a lot...almost 5 - 6 days a week. My friend & I are getting into a craft show come Nov and I've been sewing a lot of Bow Tucks purses and some messenger bags, plus some lap quilts & table runner/toppers. Maybe I should take a week off & see what happens. I hate to do that though, because I enjoy this so much.

marknfran

WOW you have just described me!!! We have found only one detergent that we are not allergic to and that is the Original
Tide powder (we have a front loader and so only use l/4 cup for a full wash).We cannot have wool or anything made from wool in the house. All the fabrics we buy (clothing and sewing fabrics) must be washed as soon as we get them in the house. So, all of my fabrics are washed before I sew with them. We do not buy any cleaning products with chemicals. And, we do not use deodorants. It has taken us many years to locate products we can use for cleaning our bodies and our home. So, You Are Not Alone!!!

Lv2sew2011

I'm alergic to wool too! makes me itch awfully.

grann of 6

Try using some of the organic cottons and see if things change. They also have organic cotton batting and bamboo batting. Those might help your problem. I can certainly sympathize with you because of all my allergies. I can't go through a department store without having an allergy attack because of all the perfume displays. And going into a restaurant where they can only smoke outside; you have to walk right through it; I start having a coughing spell and feel like my breath is being taken away from me.

grann of 6

My family can't use Dial soap. And I can't stand the smell of Tide; makes me start sneezing. I use All free and clear.