I did not wash my dad's bow ties. They were silky and didn't look dirty. I took them apart appliqued them onto a black silky material that was probably rayon. It is a quilt that is not intended to washed. I was going to try to make a crazy quilt but I have not mastered the embroidery process so these cut in half bow ties made a fan on a 12' square then I sewed those squares together. It came out really pretty and if I knew how to post a picture I would.