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Member since 3/16/04
Posts: 2235
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Posted on: 3/20/04 12:54 PM ET
I just purchased a lovely blue boucle, (that matches my eyes perfectly...or so I tell myself!;) but I forgot to write down how to care for it.  :rolleyes: Does anyone have any experience with this?  I am thinking of making a cowl neck sweater out of it eventually, but to pretreat it...  Should I wash it in cold, warm, delicate???
  
Member since 9/19/02
Posts: 931
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Posted on: 3/20/04 2:18 PM ET
Kris, what is the fiber content? Is it wool?
  
Member since 3/16/04
Posts: 2235
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Posted on: 3/20/04 3:21 PM ET
I think it may be.  I wish I had my head on straight when I bought it.  Should have paid attention.  Grrr.
Anyway, it is a tiny bit scratchy, but not too bad.  Maybe a blend?  I may go back to the store and see if there is any left attached to the bolt.  It was almost gone and they are running a sale this weekend.
Is there any way for me to tell if it is wool now?  Or should I go searching for it?
  
Member since 10/5/02
Posts: 2292
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Posted on: 3/20/04 4:22 PM ET
Here's a nifty web page about fiber ID.  There is a test for wool, usually by putting a match to a corner of a scrap.  If it smells of burnt hair, its wool...if it melts, its poly or some other synthetic.  Do I have it right?
  
Member since 3/16/04
Posts: 2235
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Posted on: 3/20/04 8:14 PM ET
I went to the site and did the burn test.  It is wool, so will have to decide if I want to dry clean it or wash in gentle and cross my fingers.  Any experience with this?  Maybe I will wash a scrap and see what happens to it.
Thanks for the help!
  
Member since 8/20/02
Posts: 3338
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Posted on: 3/21/04 8:49 AM ET
If you decide on washing - do not wash in the washer. Adgitation, even on gentle, will cause felting. I wash almost everything, including wools. Cut a square and try hand washing it in luke warm, or better yet cool, water. This will give you a feel how it'll come out. If you have extra fabric, it would not hurt to throw a square into the washer on-gentle. You'll be able to compare the swatches and pick the care.
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We love our fabrics at www.SawyerBrook.com
  
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Member since 11/28/01
Posts: 16579
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Posted on: 3/21/04 8:55 AM ET
I recently bought some wool blend sweater knits from Emma one sock and I had the same problem. But I actually did put all of them in my washer with woolite and cold water and very small cycle on delicates. Then I dried the wool blends on a sweater drying rack and I am pleased with the results. It did felt slightly but I like it. I dont know if I would do that with 100% wools though. I've usually washed them by hand in my kitchen sink in the past. I know its a pain :(
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- Deepika
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Member since 2/13/04
Posts: 87
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Posted on: 3/21/04 10:38 AM ET
I too purchased some boucle to make some sort of jacket, any pattern suggestions from kwik sew or big four? How is the fringing done that we're seeing in all the fashion photos, anyone know? I would like to try this.

Hint on care;
Claire Shaeffer and Sandra Betzina recomend dry cleaning, both state preshrink by holding steam iron 1 half inch above fabric. Claire Shaeffer's book has six pages on how to work with this stuff, no fringing though.
  
Member since 1/26/03
Posts: 3678
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Posted on: 3/21/04 10:45 AM ET
You can use your washer if you have a soak cycle, or you can stop the cycle after it's filled and agitated a few seconds to mix the detergent and water. Spinning the water out doesn't agitate it and is so much easier than trying to wring it out by hand.

Definitely try a scrap. If you lay out your pattern you can see where areas of waste will be. Don't cut it out and don't cut off the entire section, just enough. That way if it shrinks you can decide whether to wash or dry clean the rest before you cut it.
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Buy the best and you only cry once.

  
Member since 1/24/03
Posts: 19
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Posted on: 3/22/04 10:18 AM ET
Would a front loading washer still agitate it and case felting? They are supposed to be less wearing on the fabrics.
  
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