I wash my ties before deconstructing them. I throw them (silk, cotton, poly) into the washer and wash them just like anything else I wash: warm wash & rinse and regular detergent. I don't use fabric softener because I use Pellon SF 101 Woven Fusible interfacing. I recommend putting them in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase with the end pinned or basted closed. Otherwise you will have a jumbled, tangled mess! (Voice of experience
). After they are washed and deconstructed (which is pretty simple to do), I
PRESS them and then apply the Pellon SF101.
You can certainly make your own Dresden template by sub dividing a circle. Good luck and be sure to post a picture when you are done.