Thread: Folding fabric for washing

Open out your yardage; accordion pleat it along the selvage approx every 18"; safety pin along the one edge; throw in washer; when finished pull out & shake it down into the folds again; and throw it into the dryer; then shake it when dried; remove pins. It has always worked well for me, although I know some people say it doesn't work for them. I use quilt shop fabrics so not sure how this would work on a very loosely woven fabric.

My method is like this without pins to wash. I DO NOT use the dryer instead I match the selvages by hand, smooth and hang fabric over trouser hangers using several hangers with app. 18 in loops and hang over the line. In my laundry room I use my display shelves that go around the room. You could even place a rod where you could use it. With several yards you will have several draping loops of fabric.
I rarely need to even press after this metod.

Part of the reason for prewashing is to preshrink. Using the dryer does some of the preshrinking, so I always use both washer and dryer, and with some fabrics (muslin and loosely wovens), I w/d several times. I serge the raw edges together and cut them off with a rotary cutter afterwards.

I think one of the more important steps is to make sure that the fold line (when the fabric was on the bolt) has been opened/unfolded.

I zig zag the cut edge. That way I use up old bobbins that I now longer need the color. Works fine for me

I’m going to try these methods. I always suspected the twisting and pulling of the washer contributed to the fraying. Thanks.

All these methods were very interesting to read.