RugosaB

Are you ok when you walk into a fabric store? My mom's breathing started to be affected by the smell of formaldyhide in the old Minnesota Fabric store. I don't know why it was just that one store, maybe it was their carpet? Just know that if allergic to something, it's affecting your whole body, maybe not in ways you can perceive it.

stitchinfrenzy

I have chronic eczema on my hands that is constantly irritated by many different things. The latest outbreak started in Feb. and shows no signs of letting up so I know how you feel. My problems started more than 40 years ago and each outbreak appeared to be caused by something different. After many different specialists and tests, I was told I was allergic to my own body chemistry. With each outbreak, my hands became more sensitive to everything I touched, formaldehyde being one of the worst offenders. Household cleansers, fabric, most hand lotions, pet hair, metals of any kind, latex or vinyl gloves, and incredibly my own sweat will cause it to worsen. Unless I end up with both hands bandaged like mitts, I continue to quilt. Washing fabrics first is a good idea for anyone. You can develop a sensitivity or allergy at any time. I don't buy a lot of yardage, but am addicted to fat quarters. I've found the best way to wash them is place them inside a mesh laundry bag like you would delicate lingerie. I toss several of these bags in the washer at a time. This prevents tangling and fraying. I take them out of the bags before drying. Don't over crowd your dryer. The less you put in, the faster they dry and the fewer wrinkles you'll have. I've dried as many as 4 bags of fabric, one at a time, in one timed dryer cycle. I also use Mary Ellen's Best Press when ironing them. It works great and doesn't attract bugs. I use simple cotton gloves when handling unwashed fabric. I've also found that a hand cream designed for "wet work" can protect your hands from allergens almost as well as rubber gloves. Hope this helps.

joyceinoh

could you wear gloves? (I personally hate wearing them) I know a gal who works with craft stuff and says she has special gloves that she wears to keep her hands from blistering.

svenskaflicka1

do wear gloves when you handle it before it is washed. there are cotton gloves to be had that would protect you. even old dress gloves from the thrift store would help. nitrile gloves are what we wear at the hospital--they are about 12-14 bux for a huge box, and they have saved my hands and my sanity from latex allergies. and if you continue to have problems, use them when you sew. takes a little getting used to, but a correct size really doesn't interfere--and even gives a little better control.

if you wash it twice, it should get most of the nasty stuff out. formaldehyde sets the color--it is a preservative used in most labs for tissue preservation (formalin is the most common formulation), but every one of us should be aware that it is a carcinogen--it can cause cancer after prolonged exposure. it is added to fabric made in asia, to prevent mildew during shipping. any of us who sew should be aware that it is best to wash our "goodies", and prevent exposure we don't need.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/f...k/formaldehyde

http://dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/form...e-allergy.html


i'm just sayin'.....

IBQUILTIN

Allergies are a real pain. Just do whatever is recommended by your allergist. A simple allergy can turn into a nightmare, so take special care. And good luck

Annz

Oh my. This is the first I've heard of this. So sorry for you.

Dee

I wash everything. That certain smell makes my alergies run rampant.

Gerbie

Sorry to hear about your allergy. Some time back someone posted this on their way of washing their fabrics, sew the two ends together and wash them that way, only one seam to have to sew. Sure hate that you have to mess up your new arrangement. I've been working on reorganizing my sewing stuff off and on all summer, and it is a job. Take care and good luck. Maybe if you are in a guild, you could take some of your fabs. on a meeting date and some of you quilting buddies would help you get them sewn for washing. Just a thought.

zz-pd

I am so sorry. I dry mine all the way, then hand press, and fold. God bless.

Shermy

WOW, what a bummer to be allergic to fabric. I usually bring my fabric right into the laundry room as soon as I bring it home from the store and wash it on prewash. All I want it to do is to get the sizing out of it, so the aggitation of the machine does that for me. I don't use soap or anything else. Then I dry it in the dryer on a low setting (knit setting) until it is dry and it comes out almost wrinkle free. Then I fold it until I am ready to use it, then I iron it with steam and then starch if needed. I never overload the dryer or else you will get wrinkles...