Should Fabrics be Pre-Washed or Skip the Process: Properly Preparing Fabrics before Sewing
Pondering whether you need to give your fabrics a spin in the wash before stitching them together is a question that riles up plenty of makers. While it's essential for some fabrics, others may not demand such attention. We'll delve into the reasons to pre-wash fabrics, detail which ones to always soak, and those that require little to no pre-care.
The Lowdown on Pre-Washing
The technical scoop: fabrics are predominantly woven by interlacing threads at right angles. Long threads, also known as the warp, run parallel to the selvedge across the fabric length, while the shorter threads, or weft, cross at a right angle. This knowledge comes in handy when considering pre-washing since the warp and weft could potentially have different shrinkage rates, especially if the fabric was stretched to fit on a roll.
Why's it important? The fabric could shrink more on the warp than the weft, resulting in an uneven finished product. This is particularly noticeable in knit fabrics like jersey. Pre-washing aids in correcting the grain if it has been stretched or messed up.
Reasons to Pre-Wash
- Shrinkage Prevention: Many fibers shrink when washed for the very first time. Pre-washing makes sure that any shrinkage takes place before the fabric is cut and assembled, saving your finishes from a deformed fate.
- Color Bleeding: Some fabrics with vibrant dyes have a tendency to bleed during the wash, which can make your masterpiece turn out splotchy. Pre-washing helps eliminate excess dye, reducing the risk of color transfer.
- Soft and Snug: Pre-washing your fabric can make it softer, providing for a cozy and easy-to-sew experience. Moreover, pre-washing may disclose possible fabric defects before you dive into your project.
Fabrics That Need a Wash
- Batik Fabric: These intricate hand-dyed fabrics are famous for their radiant colors, but they can also bleed significantly. As batik is created via a manual waxing and dying process, you should always pre-wash to remove excess dye and to test for dye fastness.
- Cotton Fabric: Cotton is a natural fiber that may shrink when it hits the water. Pre-washing ensures the cotton is pre-shrunk, ensuring the final sewing project keeps its size and form after the wash.
- Double Gauze: This delectably crinkly fabric demands a pre-wash as it can shrink dramatically without ironing.
- Linen (and other natural fibers like cotton): Shrinkage is a significant concern for these natural fibers since they can shrink quite a bit. Pre-washing helps eliminate the shrinkage before starting your sewing project.
- Denim: When it comes to darker shades like indigo or black, the excess dye may bleed onto other fabrics. Pre-washing helps eliminate this excess dye and makes the fabric gentler to work with.
- Flannel: This fabric is known to shrink and needs a pre-wash. Pre-washing also tends to enhance its softness.
- Knit Fabrics (like jersey or ponte): With their natural propensity to shrink, it's always safer to pre-wash. Once pre-washed, be sure to familiarize yourself with our guide to sewing with knit fabrics.
- Seersucker: Due to the way it's woven together, seersucker can shrink slightly after the first wash. As this refreshes the puckered effect, we recommend pre-washing before sewing.
- Viscose: Made from cellulose or wood pulp, viscose behaves like a natural fiber in terms of shrinkage. Pre-washing helps to remove the chemicals employed during production.
- Voile: This fragile lightweight cotton may benefit from a pre-wash to account for potential shrinkage.
Fabrics You Can Skip Pre-Washing
While there are plenty of reasons to pre-wash some fabrics, other materials require no such treatment.
- Polyester and Nylon: These synthetic fabrics are pretty resistant to shrinkage and color bleeding, making pre-washing useless. However, if your synthetic fabric is blended with a natural fiber, you might still wish to pre-wash.
- Silk, Wool, and Velvet: These fabrics are usually dry clean only, and pre-washing at home could lead to permanent damage or color loss.
- Boiled Wool: Has already been pre-washed.
- Spandex: This elastic fiber doesn’t generally require any pre-washing.
In the realm of textile projects, pre-washing can greatly aid in preserving garment dimensions and preventing unsightly color bleeding. Fabrics like batik, cotton, double gauze, linen, denim, flannel, knit fabrics, seersucker, viscose, and voile often benefit from a pre-wash to eliminate excessive dye and manage potential shrinkage. In contrast, synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon are typically resistant to shrinkage and color bleeding, eliminating the need for pre-washing. Additionally, delicate fabrics like silk, wool, velvet, boiled wool, and spandex are either dry clean only or have already been pre-washed.
