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Member since 12/28/12
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Posted on: 9/26/14 7:06 AM ET
Hello, can anyone advise me on whether I can use the steam cycle on the washing machine for pretreating wool coating (wool/cashmere/poly or wool/poly)? Or even the wool handwash cycle? Please say yes!

I don't think my local dry cleaners would be too keen to help out and I don't have the space to lay it all out and faff about with the London method...
  
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Posted on: 9/26/14 7:44 AM ET
I put my wool in the dryer with two wet towels (not dripping wet - but wet and wrung out). I measure before and after and there is usually a 1/2 inch to one inch difference.
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Posted on: 9/26/14 8:19 AM ET
What Nothy said. I did that for a gazillion years. The key, like she said, is WET: not dripping, but not wrung out, either.

Now that I have a new washer/dryer, I've been playing with the different settings. I now use my dryer's steam cycle on practically everything I don't feel like washing. It's brilliant. I haven't noticed an appreciable difference between steam-with-wet-towels and the steam cycle. Except that the steam cycle is easier. :b

ETA: Thanks, Liamsmama, for the clarification about dryer vs washer steam cycles! I had forgotten that some washers have this feature, too.
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Member since 12/23/13
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Posted on: 9/26/14 10:57 AM ET
Don't use the steam cycle in your washing machine, it will definitely felt your wool and shrink far more than you probably want ( the steam cycle washes in hot water and then heats further to create steam). If your dryer has a steam cycle you can try that, but I've done the towel thing a few times and it has worked out well.
  
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Posted on: 9/26/14 11:43 AM ET
I have run my wool through the wool handwash cycle and then air dry. It has worked well for me.
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Gina
  
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Posted on: 9/26/14 12:56 PM ET
I usually take mine to the cleaners. They never seem to mind taking care of yardage. But I might try the towel method.
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Posted on: 9/26/14 1:19 PM ET
I don't own a dryer at the moment, but I will bear that in mind if we get one. Thanks for the heads up about the steam cycle - I am glad I asked before I tried it - would have been very upset if I accidentally felted £60 of coating fabric!! I will just have to try the local cleaners I guess until I find one who will help... Thanks for your tips.
  
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Posted on: 9/27/14 8:48 AM ET
If you don't have a dryer there is still another way:

Gertie has a good overview but her link to Carolyn's (Diary of a Sewing fanatic) is to the general blog not the actual post

href='http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/2010/01/preshrinking-fabrics-methods-and.html' target='_blank'>Gertie's overview of pre-treating wool fabrics

Here is the actual link to Carolyn's blog post:

Carolyn's post on pre-treating wool
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karen
  
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Posted on: 9/27/14 9:16 AM ET
In reply to nothy lane
As mentioned before, Gertie and Carolyn's post say it all. Personally, I use the steam method. But yes, have sent large yardage out to have it steam pressed. The price is worth it (for me).
  
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Posted on: 9/27/14 7:48 PM ET
I washed and dried a very inexpensive (<$4 yd) wool blend I got from Fabric.com
I did a small sample first though. I do have a little pilling after construction ....possibly from washing it ...not sure
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