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prewashing wool?
daruiz Member since 12/20/08 Posts: 13	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/9/11 11:45 PM I am going to sew a reversible jacket. Wool on one side and microfleece on the other. Should I prewash/pre dry clean the wool? I anticipate to dry clean the jacket after I make it since I don't want one side to shrink on me. Thanks.
MNBarb   Intermediate MN USA Member since 4/3/10 Posts: 1521	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/10/11 6:48 AM I prewash my wool in the machine on cold/gentle and dry on the same. I can't be fussing with dry cleaning and don't like the idea of it.If it doesn't survive this initial treatment it's out the door. So far, all of the wool I've washed was tolerant. ------ Barb "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison "I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." Woodrow Wilson
Nancy K Advanced NY USA Member since 12/28/04 Posts: 7584	Login to reply to this post In reply to daruiz Like this post Date: 10/10/11 9:55 AM Looser weaves will felt or felt slightly if you only wash once. It will shrink. Harder finish wools will not felt for the most part. Yes you can wash wool but will you like how it looks and feels after it's washed. Fancy wools really won't survive the washer. The only issue I see here is that it really must be washed because I don't believe that synthetic fleece can be dry cleaned. ------ www.nancyksews.blogspot.com
Restart06 Intermediate USA Member since 10/29/06 Posts: 2051	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/10/11 11:14 AM Nancy K & MNBarb, what is the best way to wash/preshrink wool? In otherwords, how do you do it? Thanks ------ There is no easy way! quote from my Grandfather Sharing is caring! Stash yds sewn in 2013 - 18 from quilting stash, with more cut out!!
allycovey   Intermediate AR USA Member since 11/16/07 Posts: 1421	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/10/11 11:19 AM Yep I washed the wool I am making into a jacket right now and the lining before I started. I will use Dryel in my dryer after that though.
daruiz Member since 12/20/08 Posts: 13	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/11/11 0:27 AM I did wash a piece of wool swatch. It did shrink a tad. So I went ahead and prewashed the entire 2.5 yards. The wool turned out alright. I air dried it too. Thanks for all your responses.
elizajo   Intermediate LA USA Member since 4/15/05 Posts: 1176	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/14/11 11:57 AM I just received some navy wool tricotine from Fabric Mart. I'm going to throw caution to the wind and try pre-washing this weekend in cold water and air dry. Here's hoping it works because I love the color. ------ Elizabeth
JodieT   Intermediate AR USA Member since 7/3/06 Posts: 11	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/14/11 12:26 PM I have been told from others and in one of my Sarah Veblen classes on PR, to lay out your wool and give it a really good steaming. I have a piece of sweater knit wool that the cleaners would not touch. It is beautiful and I got it from Emma Onesock. I am in process of it laying between two hot damp towels. I then am going to give it a work over with my garment steamer and let it lay to dry. We will see. ------ Jodieth
Nancy K Advanced NY USA Member since 12/28/04 Posts: 7584	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/14/11 1:12 PM If it's going to the cleaners I have just pressed it with a wet cloth and my iron. The traditional method is to wet a sheet and lay the fabric on it. Carefully fold it up and let it dry. That's all. I know that people can be lazy with preshrinking, but if I have an expensive piece of fabric I am going to take the extra time and prewash a sample to see if I like it . I have a piece of stretch wool that I prewashed a sample and I will not be washing the whole piece as I did not like how it came out. I have some cashmere knit that I am going to handwash in Euclan and probably either handwash in future or send to the cleaners. Oh the other thing to do if handwashing is to use something like Euclan and soak for 20 minutes and then use a minimal spin cycle. It does not need to be rinsed. Lay flat or hang to dry depending on the weave. ------ www.nancyksews.blogspot.com
Jacqui315   Intermediate WA USA Member since 3/1/06 Posts: 743	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/14/11 1:36 PM My understanding is that it's the warm/hot water and the agitating that causes the felting. I wash my wools on a gentle cold water cycle. Then I dry them on an extra low cycle until they're only a little damp and finish by air drying. I use the same method to wash the coats I've made of wool but only air dry the finished garments. ------ http://sweetnotions.blogspot.com/

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