Today's Top Tips

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

kraftycat — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:09:17 GMT

I do prewash, and I use the water temp recommended for the fabric, and yes, it's the dryer that shrinks.

If you are using say a quilting type fabric, plain cottons ect, you can always spray after washing with spray sizing. It gives it back that new feel and it helps keep the embroidery from puckering too. A little netting on top for those robes will help keep the stitches underneath as well and won't wash out.

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

Designerlady — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:55:39 GMT

I pre-shrink everything that I embroider. I don't want to deal with puckering. If you feel the fabric is limp after pre-shrinking the spray with some starch or sizing, press and hoop. I have found this method very good.

Marlene

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

pherfoxx — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:51:49 GMT

I wash all embroidered things in cold water and after the dryer I steam press the embroidered area on the wrong side. that seems to straighten everything out and you only have to do that the one time. Hope this helps pherfoxx in Melbourne

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

Jean178 — Sat, 24 May 2008 14:54:05 GMT

I always pre wash in cold water, dry in the dryer to shrink fabrics. If it is for me, I hang to dry since I hang all my wearable laundry....Jean

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

linditalouwho — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:32:13 GMT

The general rule for preshrinking that I use is: Wash & dry the fabric in the same manner you will launder it after it is made. This can apply to all fabric types. Remember, however, that knits tend to shrink more than wovens (in both length & width), and towels or terrycloth have lots of opportunities in the weave to shrink. If you're making a gift & not sure how it will be laundered, play it safe & use a hotter setting on the dryer.

Linda from Seattle

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

alssweetheart — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:55:12 GMT

Something that you may want to do is just put your fabric through a rinse cycle and then dry according to the type of fabric. That is enough to shrink the fabric. Then it should be ready to put your embroidered designs on your item. Enjoy your time in "Embroidery World", it's a journey to be enjoyed!!

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

mawchristineallen — Mon, 19 May 2008 04:03:39 GMT

I've found that most good quality 100% cotton fabrics hold up best when washed in cold water and machine dried at the lowest setting and removed from the dryer the first time the dryer buzzes signaling that the cycle is over. Too much heat, whether it is in the washer or in the dryer, takes too much life out of the fabric--fading the colors and making the fabric feel limp.

My push-pin can be added in Central Texas--the city of Hewitt, to be exact.

Christine ("Maw" to my grandchildren)

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

hfroese — Sun, 18 May 2008 03:31:32 GMT

Hi,

I use cold or warm water, and the dryer to shrink cottons, all works well. I have even hung the cotton on the clothesline outdoors to dry and that works fine too. I think the secret is to wet and then dry the cotton and it is pre-shrunk.

Enjoy your embroidering, I have done it for the last eight years, and now have a small home-based embroidery business = and loving it!

Hilda

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

spekw — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:24:44 GMT

There's nothing worse than spending the time embroidering an item then washing the stabilizer out and having a puckered object to give as a gift! And taking stitches out is VERY Hard! If the item will withstand hot and not ruin the colors, go for it but really warm should do it. I wash my fabrics and lightly dry them in the dryer, but take them out and finish "drying" them as I press them dry with the iron. That helps get rid of wrinkles and gives back body to the fabric. I also use an extra wide ironing board because I also like to quilt and that gives a larger surface!

Always stitch a design on scrap fabric first to be sure the design works! Sometimes if you've resized it, the stitches may be off. And put a pin in Cleveland, Georgia for me...Home of the Cabbage Patch Kids!

Phyllis

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

borden47 — Sat, 17 May 2008 20:24:07 GMT

Hi Judy,

I would like to give these gifts without pre-washing so that they will be "new". I have given embroidered towels as gifts and pre-washed them (because read that suppose to !!??). Towels were not bad pre-washed because they fluff right back up in the dryer.

BUT, if I don't pre-wash, won't the embroidery design pucker when these ladies actually do wash the robes and use the dryer?

Joan / NJ

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

kdjohn — Sat, 17 May 2008 18:29:42 GMT

Hi Cathy,

Welcome to our world!

I always preshrink everything in hot water and the hottest setting on my dryer. It seems to me that if the point is to pre shrink as much as possible, why not use the hottest settings? Especially as I sell items.....I know I wash in cold water, and include laundry instructions in all my items sold, but I can't control what other folks do in their laundry rooms. I want to cover as many bases as I can, so prefer to use the hottest settings. I've been sewing for more decades than I care to admit to, and have never ruined a piece of fabric this way.

Kathy

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

ladye156 — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:18:35 GMT

Hi Cathy, I am a quilter and I always prewash my fabric. I have only used cold water for years. In fact I do all my wash in it. Never had a problem. Congrats on your first embroidery. I have been embroidering on and off for about 5 years. Colleen from Long Island NY

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

jalcumbrack — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:34:24 GMT

Hey Joan,

I never pre-wash anything I give as a gift. I feel it looks used when you give it.

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

borden47 — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:44:59 GMT

Hello Cathy,

Being a quilter for a few years, I was forced to pre-wash cotton fabric. I, myself, use cold water for all laundry so this was no exception to me. I always figured that placing in the dryer would be the "shrinking" agent.

But, I too, have a question for the community..........I will be embroidering two "fluffy" robes for Christmas gifts and have been himming and hawing over actually washing them prior to embroidering. I keep thinking that I would love the "New" feeling when presenting the robes. But, I also know the two ladies who will receive the gifts will be placing the dryer. So, community; what is the thought for pre-washing?

Joan/NJ

Re: Use HOT water to prewash cotton for embroidering?

jalcumbrack — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:36:01 GMT

Hi Cathy,

I use whatever the fabric calls for,ex:whites-hot,colors-warm, and darks-cold. So far I have never had a problem with it. Good Luck!