Originally Posted by Mattee

I'm sorry, I don't understand your comment. Are you saying that you think that the government is responsible for the use of formaldehyde in the manufacturing process? The government has regulations to try to minimize the impact of its use.

Originally Posted by galvestonangel

I believe our government has not done enough to make sure that what comes in this country is safe. Besides fabric, toys are still getting on store shelves with lead in them. There is a web site that will send you the recalls, [email protected].

Originally Posted by Julie in NM

Just got home from dermatologist. Excema on hands really bad. She gave me refill on one med, a new one to try and said if you have issues on your hands...breaking out, itching, etc. to wash your fabric 5 times to get all the...can't spell it correctly...formeldahyde out. So now I know, washing fab once won't do it with laundry detergent. I use liquid w/no perfumes or other chemicals.

Just thought I'd pass this along. I know there is a huge populatioin of quilters who don't believe in prewashing fab, but know you know why LOTS of us have to do it.

Originally Posted by carolaug

I have washed precuts but I have never bought a precut square before today...I got them when I signed up for Keepssake quilting. I also have been wearing white gloves for my last quilt I just made...I was amazed to see how dirty they got. And that was washed fabric....

Originally Posted by Julie in NM

Just got home from dermatologist. Excema on hands really bad. She gave me refill on one med, a new one to try and said if you have issues on your hands...breaking out, itching, etc. to wash your fabric 5 times to get all the...can't spell it correctly...formeldahyde out. So now I know, washing fab once won't do it with laundry detergent. I use liquid w/no perfumes or other chemicals.

Just thought I'd pass this along. I know there is a huge populatioin of quilters who don't believe in prewashing fab, but know you know why LOTS of us have to do it.

Originally Posted by auntpiggylpn

I have posted several times on QB about pre-washing fabrics because of the chemicals in the fabrics. I have psoriasis and in the past year or so it has gotten incredibly worse. My hands have become involved so much so that they crack and bleed and are swollen to almost twice regular size and it has flared it up on other areas of my body. It has been linked back to fabrics. My hands will itch and burn after an afternoon of touching fabrics in a shop (favorite pasttime!!) I have different creams for different parts of my body and I take oral medications as well as I am now on the injections to get my psoriasis under control. There are so many chemicals in the fabric from manufacturing and to make it look crisp and pretty in the store. Thanks for the information about washing it 5 times. I definately will from now on. . .

Originally Posted by GingerK

Just think--formadehyde is the main ingredient in the dying process of fabric design. Formadehyde is also the main ingredient in the embalming process. One wonders...if a quilter dies, will she ever fall to 'pieces'??