fabric_lover

So sorry to hear of your fabric allergy. Must be very frustrating.

Have you thught about using rubber gloves or the form fitting latex gloves when going to fabric shops or washing fabrics? Might help.

quiltermomo

Wow, you chose the wrong craft! The easiest way to prewash fabric is to clip the corners and put the pieces in a large sweater bag or lingerie bag, tie the top and wash. I have several sizes,(large for yardage, small for fat quarters). Take them out damp and press. I have done this several times and it works beautifully. :)

baglady65

I sometimes sneeze when messing with my fabric but that OK I can live with that!

natalieg

Someone mentioned hanging on hangers to dry. Duh, why didn't I think of that!!! LOL
Then I thought about it, my clothes that I hang out, sheets too, come out nice and crisp and very few wrinkles! I am not hanging my fabric out on the line, but I did dig out my indoor clothes dryers, and there are several pieces, nicely folded in half (just like off the bolt) adorning the two racks! And, other pieces are on hangers, hanging on the shower rod! I have two bathrooms so the other rod should be full with the next load!
This will be so much easier now! Thanks to whomever mentioned the hangers! From there, they should dry like my sheets and I won't fret about ironing that out at all! I can see light at the end of the tunnel on the washing now!
If only I could have thought of this yesterday while I was washing three loads of the little pieces up to half yard!!!

sosewcrazy

Glad you figured out about your allergies, and although it's a pain, at least you know what to do to make you feel better! Good luck. I give myself shots every week, and it helps so much.

JackieG

You can also air it out by setting it outside. The formaldehyde should dissipate after a while. At least that's what I do and one of my daughters has asthma. She doesn't have any problems when she enters my sewing area anymore.

Quilting Nana

SOOOOO sorry to hear about your allergy!!
Sewing the fabric before washing is way to much work. I just wash and while I am ironing I cut off the threads.
As far as damp or dry it depends on if I remember to take the fabric out in time.
If not I use my spray bottle on mist and spray starch then iron.
Works fine.
I have a rule. The fabric does not come in the house till it gets washed.
I drive into the garage put the fabric on top of the washing machine. Then when I get a full load I wash.
Unless I think they may run. Then they get washed alone with a color catcher.
Good luck.

Jean OK

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......; )

wraez

Oh so sorry! But knowing that the fabric can be washed and the allergen removed should give you a sigh of relief.

I agree, have someone else wash the fabrics for you so you don't have to touch them or breathe in the formaldehyde ... maybe invite a few friends over for tea/coffee/lunch/desert and some laundering /ironing of your fabrics. What are friends for? I think it would be fun myself and would come over and help if you were local to me.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

wraez

As a side note, I forgot to add, I have a dust allergy and going into my sewing studio gives me the sniffles and makes my nose run so I keep a big box of tissues handy. It is most likely a combo of fabric lint and dust. The same thing happens when I vacuum any room of the house.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA