In today's world of everything being scented up with soaps and perfumes, many are becoming allergic to their ways of life. Check out how room deordorizers work. Yes, I too am allergic to air-borne smells. Ironing some fabrics actually makes me dizzy and clogged up. I did not realize that formaldhyde was used in materials but knew it was in a lot of cosmetics, etc. Thank you for this post for I have learned a lot about what I now need to do. I wash only my cheaper fabrics and always cut a diagnol one inch piece from the corners before washing to prevent a lot of loose threads. But now I will wash even my nicest Thimbleberries. Like so many of you, I take it from dryer a little damp and then iron and fold as if it had just been taken from the bolt.

Thank you svenskaflicka1 for the link to cancer site. I have breast cancer with some recent additional developments so gaining more knowledge is always a good thing. These carcinogens are all around us.

So sorry about your allergy! We have a fabric store locally that only carries organic fabrics that have all natural dyes. And they are beautiful fabrics...not just beige, etc. No formaldehyde or any other chemicals. Maybe there is one in your area, too. My fabric comes right in the house and goes into the washer. I usually end up ironing it twice...once to get the wrinkles out and once to get the folds out. Starch really helps. Good luck.

Oh, no!!! I am so sorry to hear this. I hope the follow up testing goes quickly and there is a solution.

Kyia

The things that I learn here! I did not realize that clipping the corners of the fabric prior to washing would help it to not ravel! Bummer about the fabric allergy!

How very very heart breaking ,I would have broken down in the Dr. office and cryed :cry:

Instead of using pinking shears to finish the raw edges, I use a wavy blade on my rotary cutter. I lay my ruler about 1/2" from the edge to hold the fabric in place, then zip down the edge in a flash. As for clipping a corner, I've often heard of that, but logically don't understand how that could work. It seems to me that would open a bound edge so raveling can start right at the cut. Can anyone enlighten me on how this might work?

As for drying, be sure to dry on permanent press setting. I let my dry all the way and pull out the fabric immediately to be folded. Iron it? Why bother until you plan to use the fabric? My stash is huge and I'll only use a fraction of it in my lifetime. Why would I want to lose time ironing fabric when I may never even use it? I iron as I go.

My sympathy on your allergy. Perhaps rubber gloves and a face mask will get you through the washing process. Good luck!

I believe you may be referring to latex gloves. Latex bothers some people, too.

I know what you are going through! Never a smoker, I've been diagnosed with Emphysema and the doctor told me to stay away frm cutting fabric - expecially cotton! How do you that as a quilter? You learn to wear an N95 mask when you cut it. If you are not allergic to latex, perhaps you could wear latex gloves when handling the fabric prior to washing.

I also wash my fabric, dry and remove from the dryer when it beeps. Fold, then iron when ready to cut! Since I still have a closet rod in my fabric closet, I put a lot of the pieces on hangers that trousers were returned from the cleaners on, then hany them up. Hope this helps some. Hang in there!

I am sorry to hear that you are allergic to fabric. You may haveto go with organic cotton.

I would use light gloves to handle the fabric with until it had been washed.

When I wash my fabric I hang it out to dry and when it is just damp, bring it in, iron it and trim the frayed bits. My least liked Job :-)

Maybe1day