bakermom

i had that same problem, oh maybe 20+ years ago. My eyes would burn so bad when i walked into a fabric store I couldn't stay more than a few minutes.Haven't noticed it in recent years though.

3flowers

I am sensitive to flannel. I have to wash it really well and dry it in the dryer, not on the clothesline. I get laryngitis and lose my voice when working with it if it's not washed well.

Also, I can only stay in the fabric store about 15 minutes before I begin sneezing. I have to wash everything before I cut it. Gets a little troublesome. Have to keep my sewing room aired out or I will sneeze in there too.

kit'smamma

When permanent press first come out it was loaded with formaldehyde sic. It was reminiscent of college zoology lab with a tank of the stuff to preserve the fetal pigs we were disecting then. That stuff really gets me in the eyes.

I wash everything before cutting. All dyes run to some degree and the cottons shrink in vaying amounts. I wouldn't dream of not washing with a color catcher sheet and some dye fixative. I then dry with a softening sheet but with your sensitivites you'd probably to better without. My detergent is always odor free. I can hardly stand to go down the detergent aisle in the store. My nose itches and I get the sneezles. Besides, who wants everything to smell like cheap perfume. When I was in high school almost 60 years ago we referred to type of super sweet perfume as smelling like a French whorehouse. I don't think I knew anyone who'd ever been in one of those establishments however.

Snorky Lvs2Quilt

I can't wear wool or work with wool fabric. I get all red and itchy so I steer clear of them. I can't even knit with wool yarn.

grann of 6

Well, I worked for a dentist for years and had to wear a mask, caused my glasses to fog up from my breath. No matter how I pinched the nose area I still had the problem. No more masks for me since I am retired.

grann of 6

Formaldehyde was supposed to be banned because it was determined to be a carcinogen, but I think it is still used surreptitiously. I still have problems with carpet stores and mattress stores. My allergy doctor told me the problem is the glues used to hold carpet together, and also with mattresses they use pesticides to alleviate the bug problem. Years ago my husband shopped for a new mattress. The salesman told us his mattresses were hypoallergenic; he knew this because his daughter had a serious problem with allergies and almost died from an allergy reaction to a mattress. What a good salesman he was. We bought a mattress there. I couldn't sleep in that room for almost a year despite a mattress cover, daily airing of the room, etc. No more new mattresses for me as long as I live.

pieces

I am allergic to formaldhyde and must wash all my fabric.
This also washes away excess dyes.
Do you wash your fabric? If not this maybe causing some problems. After washing theres not much to 100% cotton fabric to cause problems. Unless you are allergic to the laundry soap or fabric softner you are using. I have to use a chemical free laundry soap and use vinegar in the rinse.

pieces

to granof6,
Because of my allergies we had to buy an 100% organic cotton mattress. I am allergic to everything and I am able to sleep on this mattress. I have also had to order 100%organic cotton pillows. Formaldhyde is in so much stuff unless you have allergies you really don't realize this. Hyperallergenic means nothing to those of us allergic to formaldhyde.

StitchinJoy

I'm allergic to many things. Formaldehyde is one of those things. It is in some sizings for fabric. I wash all fabrics I use before I sew. I also wash my hands at the quilt shop, because you know, we are always fondling there.

grann of 6

We are lucky nowadays that we are able to find organic products. We got our mattress before this became a public issue. I know now that when I see the hypoallergenic label I take it with a grain of salt. People without allergies don't realize how serious a problem this can be.