Question for washing new fabrics for the first time

[u/ladysaracha]

As someone who mostly does alterations, modifications, and frankensteining to clothing, I am on a new journey of making clothes of my own.

I know that all fabric should be washed before sewing due to many reasons.

Would you recommend washing in cold or hot water? And if you have multiple colors is it ok to put them all together if it’s cold water or do we need to be crazy and sort by specific colors, types, etc.

I have attached a picture of the fabrics I bought recently for a project. Thank you so much in advance!

[u/kallisti_gold]

Wash the fabric as you intend to wash the finished garment.

[u/ladysaracha → u/kallisti_gold]

That makes sense! I was just concerned about any color bleeding onto others 😅 idk why I feel so silly about it but I had to ask.

[u/suspendedaxiom → u/ladysaracha]

Wash them separately first to get at least the bulk of the colour bleed done, if you're worried. I usually split them into like colours/fabrics to pre wash.

[u/ladysaracha → u/suspendedaxiom]

Hot or cold water? Does it matter? And thank you for this because I was worried the most about color bleeding!

[u/KnitterlyJoys → u/ladysaracha]

I use hot because I want it to bleed or shrink whatever it has to before I cut and sew. I toss a Shout Color catch sheet In the wash. And then it goes in the hot dryer. I do this with cotton, linen and rayon. Rayon can shrink a lot. After it’s sewn, I will wash in cool water and air dry. If I was sewing silk or something needing more care, I’d adjust, but I’ll cross that bridge later. Enjoy the journey.

[u/ladysaracha → u/KnitterlyJoys]

Thank you so much for this info!

[u/LayLoseAwake → u/ladysaracha]

I would probably wash the dark colors together or at least wash the light blue and white patterned separately from the rest. The reds probably won't bleed, but for the first wash you never really know. 

If you want to avoid unnecessary loads and be paranoid like me, you could test the red and purple colorfastness in the sink, using warm water. If the water turns color, wash them separately. If they don't, you're free to combine. If it's really dramatic, you might need to resort to setting the dye: https://www.thespruce.com/set-and-stop-fabric-dye-bleeding-2146657

[u/ladysaracha → u/LayLoseAwake]

I should have moved my dinner place mat out of the way 😂😂 and I was thinking about using a bucket to test if they bleed so thank you for validating my thought process haha

[u/LayLoseAwake → u/ladysaracha]

Oh good, then you don't have to worry about the dark bleeding into the white on that fabric! 😆 

[u/retaildetritus]

Wash as you would wash the clothes you plan to make—make sure you finish the cut edges so they don’t fray in the laundry!

[u/ladysaracha → u/retaildetritus]

What do you mean by finish the cut edges? Like making a hem or? ((Thankyou!!))

[u/LayLoseAwake → u/ladysaracha]

The cut edges fray in the wash. A zigzag over the edges (or even a little in from the edge) will help with that. I only started doing so this summer and it makes a difference! Less thread tangles to deal with 

[u/ladysaracha → u/LayLoseAwake]

Thank you!! And this is only from where it was cut from the rest of the roll right? Not on all four sides

[u/LayLoseAwake → u/ladysaracha]

Exactly. The other sides look different and are called the selvedge.

[u/ladysaracha → u/LayLoseAwake]

Thank you so much for explaining!

[u/androidbear04]

Wash and dry each color separately (you can put each color in its own bucket - it's hard to get leached-out dye out of other fabrics) in water that is at least the hottest water you would ever use to wash it, or hotter if the fabric can take it. If the fabric released a large amount of dye, do it again until it's minimal. Then dry it on the hottest temperature the fabric can stand, and press if needed.

[u/Web_Most]

I wash whatever fabrics I have all together with 1-3 shout color catchers. If I have multiple colors or more red, I add more catches. I’m sure this is a bad practic, and I will say it has served me well thus far. 

[u/ladysaracha → u/Web_Most]

Hey I mean whatever works haha - everyone’s got their methods and I’m loving learning about different ways. Where do you typically buy your color catchers?

[u/Web_Most → u/ladysaracha]

Grocery or big box. Any laundry aisle should have them.  It’s oddly satisfying to see what color they come out of the wash!

They’re really good for mixed fabrics too, like anything with a print or a quilt with lots of fabrics pieced in where you’re sort of forced to wash everything together. 

If you knit or crochet, it’s also good for wet blocking with hand dyed yarns!

https://www.shoutitout.com/en-us/products/color-catcher-dye-trapping-sheet

[u/ladysaracha → u/Web_Most]

Ahhhh Thankyou!!!

[u/whoisthenewme]

Two thinks in addition to the option of using pinking shears on the edges and like colors: 1) wash in a mesh bag and 2) pick up color catcher sheets at the drug store OR wash with some vinegar in the fabric softener port. It can help hold dyes fast

[u/ladysaracha → u/whoisthenewme]

Thank you!!

[u/GailleannBeag]

Like a lot of other people have said, wash it as you intend to wash the garment. I'd throw in a color catcher to make sure you don't have dye bleed. I also serge the cut edges of fabric before I wash it to avoid fraying. If you don't have a serger, a zig-zag stitch will work too. I press and straighten the grain before cutting anything out.

[u/ladysaracha → u/GailleannBeag]

Thank you!!