Well Ladies, I am surprised to hear that there is some formaldhide still in the fabric. Ck to see where it was made, and how long ago. I have managed a retail store that sold fabric and clothing that had so much formaldhide in it that I had to remove some product for the benefit of my employes. It made us all very sick when we got a new shipments in, and they sit in the boxes in the stock room.
Yeas ago, formaldhide was added to yarns to discourage millebugs, and moths that ate the yarns before it was woven into fabric. Of course we all know now that Formaldhide is what is put into the human body to preserve it after we die, right? It also is the liquid that hairdressers use to sterlize their combs and brushes and anything that comes into contact with the public. We used to put some on a piece of cotton and then put that in a drawer or a container that houses our implements.
All of this is old news,,,,,,, and new news,,,,,, Wash everything that you buy, that is going to be in contact with the human body. I even do the Dog and Cat items. Sometimes I wish I did not have to because it takes the "New Crisp look and usually the brightness out of the fabric,,,,,,,but the yelps and the iching is not very pretty.
There many Dies that have chemicals (to make them not fade) in them that not only smeal bad, but are a problem for those of us with very sentive skin and noses. Watch for those too. I have to limit the time I spend inside a fabric store or a large store that has alot of product that is shipped into the country. I cannot breath after aprox. 30 min. So watch for this and then you will KNOW that you will have to wash the fabric before you handle it.
In Tayloring Classes that I took, we had to wash the fabric and then straighten (pull a welt thread) and then we folded it selvage to selvage and hang long way to dry naturaly. If you do not spin the fabric dry and use the Delicate on the washer you will have much better luck. Good luck ladies......; )