by lidiad 17 Aug 2012

Do you wash 100% linen fabric before embroidering it? The washing instructions are: "Gentle machine cold wash. Do not bleach, soak or wring. Do not tumble dry. Warm iron. Do not dryclean"

I'm inclined not to wash it, as it looks lovely as it is. Thank you for your advice.
Hugs, Lidia

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by berny 17 Aug 2012

Linen is made of flax and should be treated differently,I would not wash first,But you could wash a small piece see the results,most Linen are treated now so wash better than they used to.but I love Linen.

1 comment
lidiad by lidiad 17 Aug 2012

Thank you, Berny. I will wash a piece of the fabric first to see the result. Hugs, Lidia

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by nhsmith55 17 Aug 2012

If the item will be washed after it is used, I wash it before I embroider it. But linen is REALLY hard to get creases out of! So I'd hope not to have to wash it! lol

1 comment
lidiad by lidiad 17 Aug 2012

I intend to make doilies and runners so they will be washed every now and then, and hopefully there will not be creases to smooth out.. lol... Thank you for your advice. Hugs, Lidia

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by airyfairy 17 Aug 2012

I would wash first as you would be terribly disappointed if you embroidered only to find that the material shrunk on it's first wash. It is a shame that material never looks quite the same after it has been washed. Hope all goes well. Sarah.

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lidiad by lidiad 17 Aug 2012

Thank you, Sara. I think I will wash a piece of it first, to see what happens.
Hugs, Lidia

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by bevgrift 17 Aug 2012

Linen , is not always 100% cotton so I think I would try to do what the instruction say "cool"
I do however pre-wash all my fabric for shrinkage, fabric starch ,then embroider.
Hugs Bev

3 comments
lidiad by lidiad 17 Aug 2012

Thank you for your advice and the link where it's written that linen has only moderate initial shrinkage. Well, moderate shrinkage is still shrinkage and I think I will wash the fabric before embroidering it. There is one question, though: if the fabric is being washed in cold water, it should not shrink, right? So to make it shrink I should wash it in warm water, against the advice written on its docket. What do you suggest?

lidiad by lidiad 17 Aug 2012

if the fabric is being washed in cold water, it should not shrink, am I right? So to make it shrink I should wash it in warm water, against the advice written on its docket. Hehehe..... What do you suggest?

pennyhal by pennyhal 17 Aug 2012

Often it's the dryer that causes the shrinkage. The hot air is hot!

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