QuiltnLady1

A year ago I would have said I was not troubled by any of the fabric. Now, some of the newer fabric in my stash has to be washed for me to avoid headaches. Right now it is only headaches -- I have not had the really bad reactions but this may be building to something worse.

Sunnye, I hope you are feeling better now.

nhweaver

I think that the fabric made in china is using formaldyhyde as a sizing now. I used to get an allergic reaction walking into fabric stores years ago, and I stopped sewing for a long while. Recently I had an allergy attack, and couldn't figure out the cause. Duh, I stopped and shopped a long time in Joann's - I wonder if it is the formaldyhyde, or just the dust. Joann's seems to have gotten messy lately.

Dakota Girl

As long as I can remember when going into a fabric shop, after a few minutes my eyes would burn and start to tear up
and my nose would run. I finally noticed that it was much worse if new fabric had been unpacked. I personally think that it is the dye, sometimes you can even smell it, especially dark fabrics.

cherrio

man plans and God laughs. But happy you are on the mend

Jingle

Our oldest Granddaughter Has been in Italy for a month, she has had a cold or allergies the whole time. I'm leaning towards allergies, although she has none here. When she has a cold it only last a day or so. I know lot of differences between here and there. She comes home Monday and I hope all clears up.
I am glad you have recovered and watch what flannel you buy. I don't buy much flannel, bought some years ago and still have not used it.

Caswews

Oh my goodness I do hope you are doing better..

quilt addict

Glad the store was supportive. Sorry you had such a bad reaction to something. I have a hard time shopping at my Joanns because of the smell and allergic reaction. I thought it was just Christmas time and the smelly stuff they had, I could smell it in the parking lot. But I went last week to try again, within one minute my eyes were burning and started to have wheezing.

I am lucky that I have another Joanns that does not effect me so badly but at that store the service is terrible. Oh well, guess I have to use those coupons for online shopping.

I wonder if it is some of the fabric and not just the scented stuff.

psailer

sure hope you are feeling better now.. maybe by the weekend you will be good enough to do some sewing.. sure hope so... what fun you had planned... hope it works for you. and thanks for the news about joanns..smile

SewOK

I bought a brand of flannel at Hancock Fabrics several weeks ago, I think it was Kozy Flannel. It pilled like crazy when I washed it and really, really, shrank and was very thin after washing. It was okay that it was thin because I was making baby blankets for use in South Florida. However, the pilling was very bad and I had to use my fuzz buster on it. I will not be buying this brand again. So, don't think it's just at JoAnn's with the bad flannel and the smell. A lot of warehouses are beginning to spray with chemicals to kill bed bugs being imported into this country in shipments of fabric from China. Be sure to wash and dry all fabric you buy these days to prevent an onslaught of possible bed bugs in your homes.

Helen S

I hope you're feeling better by now, and happy for you that they let you return the fabrics.

I have issues at JoAnn's too, but it's usually at its worst when they get a new shipment in and haul it out to stock the shelves. I'm allergic to the formaldehyde they use in the fabrics...I think it's in the sizing! I walk in the doors and immediately start itching like a dog with fleas! lol By the time I get to the back of the store my eyes are burning and itching. No shower helps, no lotion helps, etc. I just have to wait for it to "wear off". EVERYTHING from the fabric stores goes immediately into the washer when I come in the door!

I've gotten really picky about chemicals in every way over the last few years; in our foods, on our foods, laundry soaps, fertilizers, etc.