What a bother....washing fabrics
09-05-2011, 09:47 PM
#71
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,073
My understanding is that most of it is sprayed on the crates after the printing process is done overseas to kill bugs.
Originally Posted by ccthomas
Do you know why "formaldehyde found in the processing of fabric!"
Thank god I don't have the respiratory allergies, just the skin. I too scratch at my hands all the way through a fabric store and have a cream that I have to apply immediately after leaving. Sometimes, I have to apply it while I am still shopping. Such a pity, I love to pet fabrics!!!
Originally Posted by auntpiggylpn
Originally Posted by natalieg
It does seem like such a big pain, I agree totally! I NEVER used to pre-wash my fabrics, until I was tested for chemical allergens and the ONE thing they found that I am highly allergic to is the formaldehyde found in the processing of fabric! What a pain!
The whole experience starts when I go shopping for fabric. About 15 minutes in the LQS sets me into a sore throat and itchy hands....and that is if I barely fondle the fabrics! When I find fabric, I have to put it on the cutting table and leave it there so that I don't have to carry it around. About 30 minutes into the shopping "experience" the inside of my hands are scratched from my fingernails and I have almost no voice left! Quite a sight to see actually!!!
When I get the little pretties all home, then I trim the corners back to help with the fraying and wash them with warm water and "free" detergent and a smidgen of "free" softner, and an extra rinse. Then, the second washing is with no soaps or softners. They get to be in the dryer or on the line for a short time, long enough to be almost dry. Then, ruler folded and put away.
When it comes time to use the fabric, then I press it and cut away! But, while cutting and sewing it together, I still suffer the itchy hands, but a lot less than I would without washing them!
I never suffered with any of this in the first 6 years of quilting until I was diagnosed. I don;t suffer too much at home in the sewing room unless I am handling the fabrics. I have well over 2,000 yards in my sewing room and don't suffer like in a QS. The reason is that when I found out, I had to wash all the fabric I owned at the time (just under 800 yards). After putting it back into my room and washing all fabric before it gets into the sewing room, it has removed most of the chemicals. When I enter an LQS, I am surrounded by unwashed fabrics, so my body reacts.
Now, since I have started prewashing, my quilts don't suffer as much shrinkage!
The whole experience starts when I go shopping for fabric. About 15 minutes in the LQS sets me into a sore throat and itchy hands....and that is if I barely fondle the fabrics! When I find fabric, I have to put it on the cutting table and leave it there so that I don't have to carry it around. About 30 minutes into the shopping "experience" the inside of my hands are scratched from my fingernails and I have almost no voice left! Quite a sight to see actually!!!
When I get the little pretties all home, then I trim the corners back to help with the fraying and wash them with warm water and "free" detergent and a smidgen of "free" softner, and an extra rinse. Then, the second washing is with no soaps or softners. They get to be in the dryer or on the line for a short time, long enough to be almost dry. Then, ruler folded and put away.
When it comes time to use the fabric, then I press it and cut away! But, while cutting and sewing it together, I still suffer the itchy hands, but a lot less than I would without washing them!
I never suffered with any of this in the first 6 years of quilting until I was diagnosed. I don;t suffer too much at home in the sewing room unless I am handling the fabrics. I have well over 2,000 yards in my sewing room and don't suffer like in a QS. The reason is that when I found out, I had to wash all the fabric I owned at the time (just under 800 yards). After putting it back into my room and washing all fabric before it gets into the sewing room, it has removed most of the chemicals. When I enter an LQS, I am surrounded by unwashed fabrics, so my body reacts.
Now, since I have started prewashing, my quilts don't suffer as much shrinkage!
09-05-2011, 09:49 PM
#72
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,073
I do most of my shopping online. If I buy something that isn't quite the right color, I just put it with the stash and use it later. A lot of times, I buy bolts of a few lines that I like. I cut off 5 yds or so for myself and wash it. I then sell the rest unwashed.
Originally Posted by DMotyl
I have a friend who also has chemical allergies. She is pretty much housebound b/c of her problems. At first it was cleaning products, then perfumes, and then the lsit continued to grow. I am glad you have been able to continue sewing by prewashing all your fabrics. Have you considered by fabric on line so that you don't have to go to a LQS to purchase your fabric? (I realize how much easier it is to match fabrics etc. but it might be helpful to you....)
Originally Posted by natalieg
It does seem like such a big pain, I agree totally! I NEVER used to pre-wash my fabrics, until I was tested for chemical allergens and the ONE thing they found that I am highly allergic to is the formaldehyde found in the processing of fabric! What a pain!
The whole experience starts when I go shopping for fabric. About 15 minutes in the LQS sets me into a sore throat and itchy hands....and that is if I barely fondle the fabrics! When I find fabric, I have to put it on the cutting table and leave it there so that I don't have to carry it around. About 30 minutes into the shopping "experience" the inside of my hands are scratched from my fingernails and I have almost no voice left! Quite a sight to see actually!!!
When I get the little pretties all home, then I trim the corners back to help with the fraying and wash them with warm water and "free" detergent and a smidgen of "free" softner, and an extra rinse. Then, the second washing is with no soaps or softners. They get to be in the dryer or on the line for a short time, long enough to be almost dry. Then, ruler folded and put away.
When it comes time to use the fabric, then I press it and cut away! But, while cutting and sewing it together, I still suffer the itchy hands, but a lot less than I would without washing them!
I never suffered with any of this in the first 6 years of quilting until I was diagnosed. I don;t suffer too much at home in the sewing room unless I am handling the fabrics. I have well over 2,000 yards in my sewing room and don't suffer like in a QS. The reason is that when I found out, I had to wash all the fabric I owned at the time (just under 800 yards). After putting it back into my room and washing all fabric before it gets into the sewing room, it has removed most of the chemicals. When I enter an LQS, I am surrounded by unwashed fabrics, so my body reacts.
Now, since I have started prewashing, my quilts don't suffer as much shrinkage!
The whole experience starts when I go shopping for fabric. About 15 minutes in the LQS sets me into a sore throat and itchy hands....and that is if I barely fondle the fabrics! When I find fabric, I have to put it on the cutting table and leave it there so that I don't have to carry it around. About 30 minutes into the shopping "experience" the inside of my hands are scratched from my fingernails and I have almost no voice left! Quite a sight to see actually!!!
When I get the little pretties all home, then I trim the corners back to help with the fraying and wash them with warm water and "free" detergent and a smidgen of "free" softner, and an extra rinse. Then, the second washing is with no soaps or softners. They get to be in the dryer or on the line for a short time, long enough to be almost dry. Then, ruler folded and put away.
When it comes time to use the fabric, then I press it and cut away! But, while cutting and sewing it together, I still suffer the itchy hands, but a lot less than I would without washing them!
I never suffered with any of this in the first 6 years of quilting until I was diagnosed. I don;t suffer too much at home in the sewing room unless I am handling the fabrics. I have well over 2,000 yards in my sewing room and don't suffer like in a QS. The reason is that when I found out, I had to wash all the fabric I owned at the time (just under 800 yards). After putting it back into my room and washing all fabric before it gets into the sewing room, it has removed most of the chemicals. When I enter an LQS, I am surrounded by unwashed fabrics, so my body reacts.
Now, since I have started prewashing, my quilts don't suffer as much shrinkage!
09-05-2011, 10:22 PM
#73
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,611
If I didn't prewash, I couldn't use the fabrics because the smells cause chemical reactions to my breathing. My DH is a great help because he zigzag stitches the very edges so they don't ravel so much. He can really make my machine go and has many yards done in no time. He says I'm worth it. :)
09-05-2011, 10:31 PM
#74
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
Originally Posted by auntpiggylpn
Originally Posted by natalieg
It does seem like such a big pain, I agree totally! I NEVER used to pre-wash my fabrics, until I was tested for chemical allergens and the ONE thing they found that I am highly allergic to is the formaldehyde found in the processing of fabric! What a pain!
The whole experience starts when I go shopping for fabric. About 15 minutes in the LQS sets me into a sore throat and itchy hands....and that is if I barely fondle the fabrics! When I find fabric, I have to put it on the cutting table and leave it there so that I don't have to carry it around. About 30 minutes into the shopping "experience" the inside of my hands are scratched from my fingernails and I have almost no voice left! Quite a sight to see actually!!!
When I get the little pretties all home, then I trim the corners back to help with the fraying and wash them with warm water and "free" detergent and a smidgen of "free" softner, and an extra rinse. Then, the second washing is with no soaps or softners. They get to be in the dryer or on the line for a short time, long enough to be almost dry. Then, ruler folded and put away.
When it comes time to use the fabric, then I press it and cut away! But, while cutting and sewing it together, I still suffer the itchy hands, but a lot less than I would without washing them!
I never suffered with any of this in the first 6 years of quilting until I was diagnosed. I don;t suffer too much at home in the sewing room unless I am handling the fabrics. I have well over 2,000 yards in my sewing room and don't suffer like in a QS. The reason is that when I found out, I had to wash all the fabric I owned at the time (just under 800 yards). After putting it back into my room and washing all fabric before it gets into the sewing room, it has removed most of the chemicals. When I enter an LQS, I am surrounded by unwashed fabrics, so my body reacts.
Now, since I have started prewashing, my quilts don't suffer as much shrinkage!
The whole experience starts when I go shopping for fabric. About 15 minutes in the LQS sets me into a sore throat and itchy hands....and that is if I barely fondle the fabrics! When I find fabric, I have to put it on the cutting table and leave it there so that I don't have to carry it around. About 30 minutes into the shopping "experience" the inside of my hands are scratched from my fingernails and I have almost no voice left! Quite a sight to see actually!!!
When I get the little pretties all home, then I trim the corners back to help with the fraying and wash them with warm water and "free" detergent and a smidgen of "free" softner, and an extra rinse. Then, the second washing is with no soaps or softners. They get to be in the dryer or on the line for a short time, long enough to be almost dry. Then, ruler folded and put away.
When it comes time to use the fabric, then I press it and cut away! But, while cutting and sewing it together, I still suffer the itchy hands, but a lot less than I would without washing them!
I never suffered with any of this in the first 6 years of quilting until I was diagnosed. I don;t suffer too much at home in the sewing room unless I am handling the fabrics. I have well over 2,000 yards in my sewing room and don't suffer like in a QS. The reason is that when I found out, I had to wash all the fabric I owned at the time (just under 800 yards). After putting it back into my room and washing all fabric before it gets into the sewing room, it has removed most of the chemicals. When I enter an LQS, I am surrounded by unwashed fabrics, so my body reacts.
Now, since I have started prewashing, my quilts don't suffer as much shrinkage!
09-05-2011, 10:50 PM
#75
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: The Beautiful Willamette Valley In Oregon
Posts: 689
I always pre-wash, dry and fold my fabrics but only iron them before use. I remove them from the dryer right away so there is not a lot of wrinkling at all. I always use Best Press and iron when I am ready to use it.
09-05-2011, 11:10 PM
#76
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NW Wa
Posts: 1,549
I agree auntpiggy lpn I do not mind ironing my fabs. But if I can keep track I do not dry all the way ad iron right then and they iron so much faster and better. And I then fold in half and then rollon two log rullers and then in half they fit just right on my shelfs...
09-06-2011, 07:56 AM
#78
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 913
Ironing anything is not a job I am crazy about. I had about 20 yards I had to wash and iron yesteday because the fabric was questionable to me. I don't alway wash my fabric but I have learned that batiks and Kona solids will bleed and I want them taken care of before I start cutting my pieces for a quilt. I did let these dry too long, yesterday, before I started to iron. They get ironed after washing and drying and again before I cut.
09-06-2011, 01:11 PM
#79
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: GREAT STATE OF TEXAS
Posts: 1,415
I rarely prewash anymore, only deep reds etc. The only fabrics I've had bleed in many years of quilting were red and green Jinny Beyer fabrics. If I do wash, I dry just a few min til damp. Drying is the hardest on fabrics. Just fold and don't iron until you need to cut - why iron twice?
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