Question about shrinking for you techies and scientists
05-10-2019, 03:48 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 802
Question about shrinking for you techies and scientists
What makes cotton shrink:
a. water
b. Hot water
c. hot air when drying
d. other
I just did a bunch of yardage I got at Goodwill, and I did the loads differently. The firsts one I did I washed it then dried it on hot in the dryer. I usually fold the fabric an extra time lengthwise and serge the cut ends to prevent all that fraying and the thread nests. The ones I dried came out all wonky and are going to have to have the ends either cut off or unsewn, and then the yardage will need to be pressed.
The second load I washed and then hung to dry. I don't think I will be able to tell if they have shrunk more or less than the ones I dried.
Anyone ever done any experimentation on this???
a. water
b. Hot water
c. hot air when drying
d. other
I just did a bunch of yardage I got at Goodwill, and I did the loads differently. The firsts one I did I washed it then dried it on hot in the dryer. I usually fold the fabric an extra time lengthwise and serge the cut ends to prevent all that fraying and the thread nests. The ones I dried came out all wonky and are going to have to have the ends either cut off or unsewn, and then the yardage will need to be pressed.
The second load I washed and then hung to dry. I don't think I will be able to tell if they have shrunk more or less than the ones I dried.
Anyone ever done any experimentation on this???
but imho (from experience) water alone doesn't cause cotton to shrink, but hot water does, as does heat from a dryer.
05-10-2019, 04:39 PM
#3
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Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC
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Cotton shrinks because of the tension that is applied to it during the construction of the fabric. The tension is released by heat from the washer, dryer, steam and even sunlight, which causes the fabric to be reduced to its natural size.
05-10-2019, 08:32 PM
#5
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Location: MN
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I have measured (lengthwise and crosswise) hundreds of pieces of Fabric before and after washing them, almost all of them shrink. Usually in only one direction or another . I do not know ahead of time which way it will shrink.
05-11-2019, 02:55 PM
#6
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The time it would take to experiment would just take away from my sewing.
I just pre-wash everything before I use it. I use coldwater Tide and dry on regular heat or low heat. If it shrinks I don't know about it.
I just pre-wash everything before I use it. I use coldwater Tide and dry on regular heat or low heat. If it shrinks I don't know about it.
05-11-2019, 02:59 PM
#7
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,390
I was curious enough to see if it was worth my effort.
I became aware of shrinkage when I was going to sell some cat print fabric that only measured 35 inches long - and when I watched the piece being cut - it was 37 inches long.
I became aware of shrinkage when I was going to sell some cat print fabric that only measured 35 inches long - and when I watched the piece being cut - it was 37 inches long.
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