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fabric CPR? tencel splotchy after washing
USMCMom   Advanced Beginner NY USA Member since 7/26/06 Posts: 334	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/18/12 4:58 PM I'm so disappointed, but hope one of you have a suggestion for me. I've had some tencel in my stash for a year or 2 nd finally got around to washing it in prep for cutting out a pair of pants. I washed it in cool water & air dried. When I was laying it out I noticed there were dark splotches over large parts of the fabric. It looks like someone spattered some liquid on it. It reminds me of the kind of mark you get when a car passes too close to you on a rainy day. Don't know if I'm explaining it correctly It's a medium taupe color and I tried taking a pic of it but it doesn't show up well. Also, in some areas it looks as if the color is darker....Like stone washed denim, if anyone remembers that! It was fine before washing. I can't figure out what went wrong, but I'd hate to toss this fabric. I have my heart set on a nice pair of pants from it! Any suggestions? Should I try washing again? I thought of dyeing it but I'm afraid the dark spots would still be there...just in a different color! Grateful for any wisdom!
a7yrstitch   Intermediate TX USA Member since 4/1/08 Posts: 4381	Login to reply to this post In reply to USMCMom << Like this post Date: 5/18/12 6:00 PM Is it splotchy after It is thoroughly dried, or is it still damp? Tencel didn't work very well for me in my climate but I well remember how freaky the light colored fabric looked when I pulled it out of the washer to air dry. All of the irregularities disappeared once the fabric was totally dried. ------ I have no idea what Apple thought I was saying so be a Peach and credit anything bizarre to auto correct.
gramma b Advanced USA Member since 7/25/08 Posts: 2264	Login to reply to this post In reply to USMCMom << Like this post Date: 5/18/12 6:14 PM I didn't buy any more tencel when it was first out. Every RTW thing that I and relatives had got spots, very stainable like silk. They looked great on the hanger but ...our idea was it's treated with some chemical that bleeds and can't be spotted out.
USMCMom   Advanced Beginner NY USA Member since 7/26/06 Posts: 334	Login to reply to this post In reply to a7yrstitch << Like this post Date: 5/18/12 9:41 PM It's thoroughly dried. Still splotchy. I've been trying to see if there's any way to lay out my pattern to avoid the worst of the flaws.
a7yrstitch   Intermediate TX USA Member since 4/1/08 Posts: 4381	Login to reply to this post In reply to USMCMom << Like this post Date: 5/18/12 9:51 PM Sorry to hear that. It didnt work for me because the fibers just sucked in moisture and held onto it. It felt very heavy and cumbersome in our normally humid environment. Worse, when it was hot and humid, any dew collected at the waist or other contact point sucked right into the fabric and became an obvious wet mark. So very un lady like. Hope you can get your garment cut out so you can trial the fabric. ------ I have no idea what Apple thought I was saying so be a Peach and credit anything bizarre to auto correct.
Tarrbaby   Intermediate MI USA Member since 10/28/06 Posts: 104	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/19/12 10:07 AM Sometimes fabric softener makes splotches if it doesn't rinse well. Try re-washing it with out softener . That is assuming you used it in the first place. ------ Dawn T.
a7yrstitch   Intermediate TX USA Member since 4/1/08 Posts: 4381	Login to reply to this post In reply to USMCMom << Like this post Date: 5/19/12 1:42 PM Here's a thought. Our favorite neighborhood restaurant has a thin balsamic and olive oil dressing that splatters everywhere. Getting it out was hit and miss until the owner suggested rubbing the spots with bar soap before washing. I use the nothing fancy added Safeguard soap. 80 - 90% effective and worth trying on a scrap of your tencel. ------ I have no idea what Apple thought I was saying so be a Peach and credit anything bizarre to auto correct.
solveg   Beginner MN USA Member since 2/16/12 Posts: 366	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/8/12 11:48 AM I have this giant book on "homemaking". It has some really awesome tidbits of knowledge in it. It says that with t-shirts, at least, they will often get mysterious splotches from being laundered. That's because they're treated with a chemical that "brightens" the colors. The expect the consumer to use similar products when they do laundry, and if they don't, the splotches appear. I have no idea, however, if this occurs for tencel things, or other items than t-shirts.

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