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How do you do it? (Moderated by Deepika, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 3/28/11 6:28 PM ET
I have been thinking a lot lately about how to wash my handmade stuff. Admittedly, I only have a few pieces of handmade clothing so far but I want to properly care for it. All of the fabrics that I have used so far, and what I will use in the foreseeable future, are things that can be washed instead of taken to the dry cleaners.
What I am wondering though is should I put things in the washing machine or should I always take the time to hand wash them? So far I have been putting aprons I made in the washing machine but hand washing everything else. I have been finishing seams using a zig zag stitch and I'm afraid the harshness of the machine will cause them to fray, which I want to avoid as much as possible.
How do you decide what goes in the washing machine or what gets the handwash treatment? Do you ever take washable fabrics to the dry cleaners? What about knits that don't fray, should I just chuck those in with the rest of the laundry?
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What I am wondering though is should I put things in the washing machine or should I always take the time to hand wash them? So far I have been putting aprons I made in the washing machine but hand washing everything else. I have been finishing seams using a zig zag stitch and I'm afraid the harshness of the machine will cause them to fray, which I want to avoid as much as possible.
How do you decide what goes in the washing machine or what gets the handwash treatment? Do you ever take washable fabrics to the dry cleaners? What about knits that don't fray, should I just chuck those in with the rest of the laundry?
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http://talesofawannabeseamstress.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 3/28/11 6:38 PM ET
I actually have a handwash setting on my washer. If I'm worried about something, I'll put it in one of those zipper mesh baggies to keep it from getting tangled or caught on something else.
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"To love another person is to see the face of God!" ~Les Miserables
www.lillianbettyandsibyl.blogspot.com
www.lillianbettyandsibyl.blogspot.com
Posted on: 3/28/11 6:39 PM ET
One of the joys of sewing is making easy care clothes. If I have a washable fabric, I wash and dry it at least once before cutting. And I don't pamper the fabric -- most of it is machine wash warm, dry with heat...cotton gets machine wash hot, dry with heat.
Abuse the fabric before you cut and then you don't have to worry about the completed garment. Zig zag finish on seams should be enough to keep them from fraying, in the future if you are working with a very lose weave or other fabric that frays like crazy you can chose a more substantial seam finish.
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Abuse the fabric before you cut and then you don't have to worry about the completed garment. Zig zag finish on seams should be enough to keep them from fraying, in the future if you are working with a very lose weave or other fabric that frays like crazy you can chose a more substantial seam finish.
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2012 : starting stash 386, net additions 206, used 164, ending stash 428...I'm never going to get in front of this pile of fabric!
Posted on: 3/28/11 6:41 PM ET
In reply to talesofawannabe
I wash my handmade stuff the same way I wash my RTW. It all just gets thrown into the wash machine. I have found that it doesn't fall apart any different/faster than RTW.
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http://theramblingsoftcm.blogspot.com/
Numbers for 2013:
Yards in stash: 606.25
Yards in: 22.75
Yards out: 10.50
Numbers for 2012:
594.00 yards in stash
4 yards in
10.25 yards out
Numbers for 2011:
601.25 yards in stash (I'm sure this number is off by a few yards)
Yards in: 137.50 (Seriously? I'm over 100, and it's only JULY? Ugh!)
Yards out: 88.75
Numbers for 2013:
Yards in stash: 606.25
Yards in: 22.75
Yards out: 10.50
Numbers for 2012:
594.00 yards in stash
4 yards in
10.25 yards out
Numbers for 2011:
601.25 yards in stash (I'm sure this number is off by a few yards)
Yards in: 137.50 (Seriously? I'm over 100, and it's only JULY? Ugh!)
Yards out: 88.75
Posted on: 3/28/11 6:48 PM ET
I probably dry-clean my sewn clothes more than wash but that is really determined more by the fabric and style....no different than when I purchase clothes. I just find things last longer when dry-cleaned...especially if I have a lot of time and money invested.
I think I'm more likely to buy "wash and wear" than to spend my time sewing. But, I think if you are thinking ahead when designing then washing is fine.
I think I'm more likely to buy "wash and wear" than to spend my time sewing. But, I think if you are thinking ahead when designing then washing is fine.
Posted on: 3/28/11 7:05 PM ET
I treat it as I treat RTW. The things that I would wash on a delicate/gentle cycle I wash that way, and the permanent press sort of items get tossed into the regular wash.
Posted on: 3/28/11 7:11 PM ET
In reply to talesofawannabe
I have a gentle cycle on my washer, and everything questionable (except wool) goes in there. It can be any sort of delicate; I even washed an antique silk kimono with this cycle and hug up the kimono to dry, then tumbled it on low for a few minutes to take the wrinkles out.
I do have two pieces of undergarments that I take the time to hand wash--one is a silk camisole and the other is a pair of silk leggings. I handwash these by placing them in a sink with washing soda and letting them sit for a few minutes. A quick rinse, a little vinegar in the water to remove all the soap, and they're done.
I have even thrown in sneakers and hiking boots in the washer; drives DH crazy.
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I do have two pieces of undergarments that I take the time to hand wash--one is a silk camisole and the other is a pair of silk leggings. I handwash these by placing them in a sink with washing soda and letting them sit for a few minutes. A quick rinse, a little vinegar in the water to remove all the soap, and they're done.
I have even thrown in sneakers and hiking boots in the washer; drives DH crazy.

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"Play the cards you are dealt, but choose who is sitting at the table"..AARP magazine
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Posted on: 3/28/11 7:16 PM ET
In reply to talesofawannabe
I haven't completed anything sewn yet, but my knitwear, even washable knitwear, I hand wash (and many people think I'm nuts.) My favorite product to use is Soak Wash but I also really like Eucalan and they offer a Free Sample if you're in US or Canada.
There is no actual hand *washing* involved, the items are just soaked for a period of time, excess water squeezed out and hung or laid flat to dry, so it's not a terribly labor-intensive process, and I feel like I'm being decadent and treating myself when I do it, aside from taking the best care I can of the items I spent many, many hours creating and lots of money on LOL. Now, will I hand wash handsewn pajama pants? Probably not, but any outerwear, aside from maybe t-shirts and jeans, I am sure I will, but that's just me. The others make excellent points about one of the joys of crafting for yourself is explicitly creating items with easy care, and I can totally appreciate that too, but I want my handcrafted items to last as long as humanly possible and if a little extra time laundering them helps, I'm all for it.
ETA: Both of these products can be used in your washing machine if you so desire too.
-- Edited on 3/28/11 7:17 PM --
There is no actual hand *washing* involved, the items are just soaked for a period of time, excess water squeezed out and hung or laid flat to dry, so it's not a terribly labor-intensive process, and I feel like I'm being decadent and treating myself when I do it, aside from taking the best care I can of the items I spent many, many hours creating and lots of money on LOL. Now, will I hand wash handsewn pajama pants? Probably not, but any outerwear, aside from maybe t-shirts and jeans, I am sure I will, but that's just me. The others make excellent points about one of the joys of crafting for yourself is explicitly creating items with easy care, and I can totally appreciate that too, but I want my handcrafted items to last as long as humanly possible and if a little extra time laundering them helps, I'm all for it.
ETA: Both of these products can be used in your washing machine if you so desire too.
-- Edited on 3/28/11 7:17 PM --
Posted on: 3/28/11 8:24 PM ET
I find that zig zagged seams actually stand up extremely well to machine washing and tend to shed a bit and then are fine.
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http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
Posted on: 3/28/11 8:38 PM ET
I sewed for many years without a serger and zigzagged my seams. The loose threads get a little raggedy going through the wash, but the garments stand up to *years* of machine washing. I just washed a pre-serger shirt with zigzagged SAs I made on August '08 the other day that is still going strong.
I put virtually nothing in the dryer, though; all clothing gets hung to dry to preserve lycra (if any) and color.
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I put virtually nothing in the dryer, though; all clothing gets hung to dry to preserve lycra (if any) and color.
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http://theslapdashsewist.blogspot.com
=================
2007: purchased 115+, sewed 105+
So close to parity, yet so far
Trying again in 2008
Yards purchased: 133
Yards sewn: Somewhere around 95
2009? I give up
=================
2007: purchased 115+, sewed 105+
So close to parity, yet so far
Trying again in 2008
Yards purchased: 133
Yards sewn: Somewhere around 95
2009? I give up
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