Today, I will answer a question I am often asked: Is it really useful to wash your fabric before sewing it? 

The answer for most fabrics is yes, and three times yes! But let's look at the details together.

1. Knowing the composition of your fabric.

The first question to ask when buying fabric is its composition. Knowing the material of your coupon will allow you to know if:

• the composition corresponds to the pattern you want to sew (e.g., knit vs woven)
• the fit and fluidity correspond to the pattern 
• you can wash it
• and if so, at what temperature or washing program.

The best thing to do is to refer to the manufacturer's advice which you will find indicated. In our shop, you will find in the description of each product the type of composition and the manufacturer's care advice. 

2. Washing your fabric, why? 

If the fabric composition allows washing, wash it on the recommended program.

"Wash your coupon of fabric as you will wash your future garment"

The first reason for this washing is the potential shrinkage of the fabric during the first wash. Indeed, natural fibers tend to tighten during the first wash. High-quality cotton shrinks little, linen and wool a bit more (sometimes up to 10%). It is therefore important to wash your fabric or risk no longer fitting into the garment you took care to make...

The second reason is to remove the finish that the manufacturer has applied to the fabric to enhance it. This finish serves to give a certain stiffness to the fabric and to stabilize it. It is important to remove this layer before sewing your garment, to see the real drape of your fabric; and if it is indeed this fluidity that you want to give to your garment. 

The third reason is that your fabric may bleed, that is to say, fade. Indeed, the fibers are saturated with pigments that will dissolve in the washing water. Blue, black, and red fabrics are the most likely to bleed. Who has never had blue hands when handling a new pair of jeans?  

You can fix the color a bit more with this grandma's trick of soaking your coupon for about 1 hour in a bucket of cold water with 200ml of white vinegar (make sure to mix the water and vinegar well before immersing the coupon). Once this bath is done, wash your fabric according to the recommendations.

Finally, fourth reason, washing allows you to clean the fabric and remove dust, microorganisms,... that it may have encountered during manufacturing, transport, storage processes...

3. Drying

Be careful with spinning! Some fibers like silk and wool do not tolerate it. Make sure to respect the fabric composition before starting this program; otherwise, you might end up with a doll's sweater!

Ideally, air dry your coupons of fabric. Be careful with sunlight for dark fabrics like black and purple, they tend to fade in the sun's rays. 

Wool must be dried flat, otherwise it risks deforming or marking the clothesline fold. 

4. Ironing

I invite you to always iron your fabrics even if you will sew them later and store them in your stock. Indeed, some creases form during washing and drying that are sometimes difficult to remove except with steam. 

Grandma's little trick, store your fabrics away from light with cedarwood balls or plaques that repel moths and smell much better than naphthalene ;-)

And if you sew your coupon right away, ironing will help avoid creases when you cut your pattern (at the risk of having crooked pieces). 

5. Cutting and sewing 

Finally, the most enjoyable moment arrives ;-) 

You will have taken a bit of preparation time, but so much time saved during sewing. 

Last little tip: Don't forget to overlock your pieces so they don't fray too much and last over time. 

Happy sewing ;-)