To Prewash or Not to Prewash your Fabric in Garment Sewing-that is the question!

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Unwashed fabric can shrink and distort after washing

There are a lot of schools of thought on this topic and some controversy. Some people swear it is not necessary and some people always do it.

Which camp do I belong in?

I for one, am a rule follower and I do prewash the fabric I am going to use for sewing garments (not for quilts as I like them to be stiff when I cut and I also like how they shrink up and look crinkly after the quilt is washed)

I am going to explain why prewashing fabric is a necessary step for anyone sewing garments.

1. Stabilize the Fabric:

Prewashing fabric helps stabilize the material before sewing. Fabrics are often subjected to various processes during their production, such as dyeing, printing, and finishing. These processes can cause the fabric to shrink or warp, which can lead to misaligned seams, puckering, or distortion.

By prewashing your fabric, you remove excess dyes, finishes, and chemicals, allowing the fibers to relax and stabilize. I will often wash a stiff fabric and find that it becomes much softer and pliable after prewashing. By washing the fabric first you can see what it will really be like before you cut out a garment. Prewashing also minimizes misshapen garments after sewing.

2. Prevent Shrinkage:

Serged fabric-serging before prewashing prevents raveling

Failure to prewash fabric can result in unexpected shrinkage once the finished garment is laundered. Different types of fabric, such as cotton, linen, and rayon, have varying shrinkage rates. Skipping the prewash step can lead to a garment that shrinks too much after it’s first wash making all your hard work worthless. I never want to take this risk because let’s face it: Making clothes takes time. If I am going to take the time to sew something to wear, I am going to take the time to prewash it

3. Prepare for Care Instructions:

Washing fabrics is an essential part of garment care, and prewashing helps you determine the fabric's specific care requirements. Different types of fabric have varied washing and drying tolerances. By prewashing, you become aware of how your fabric will respond to different laundering methods, enabling you to establish appropriate care instructions for your finished garment. If you buy a fabric that says dry clean only, many people recommend dry cleaning the fabric. I have never done this. I always just make sure I only dry clean the finished garment. If the fabric says Hand Wash only, it is better to hand wash the fabric before cutting. The rule of thumb is to clean it first as you will after you wear it. I generally use my best judgement on this. But honestly, I always wash cottons, linens, and washable fabrics before cutting into garments because I don’t want them to shrink.

4. Testing Fabric Quality:

Prewashing is an opportunity to test the fabric for any potential quality issues or flaws. This step can help identify problems like color bleeding or fabric bleeding, uneven shrinkage, or fabric weakness. It is good to know if a fabric is going to bleed, fade or hold up to washing before you sew it up, so washing it first is always a good test to see if the fabric is a good candidate for your garment. If it does bleed you can eliminate this fabric from quilts or use a product like this: Color Catchers

Zig Zag the edges of your fabric if you do not have a serger before washing to prevent raveling in the washing machine and dryer

5. Consistent Fit and Design:

Prewashing fabric ensures that your finished garment retains its original shape and size over time. Cutting and sewing unwashed fabric can result in the final garment shrinking or distorting after laundering, leading to an ill-fitting or misshapen piece.

By prewashing, you can guarantee that the fabric's original dimensions are consistent throughout the sewing process, allowing you to achieve the desired fit and design as intended. No weird pulling, distortion and no shrinking. And after all the work we put into sewing our clothes and handmade quilts, who has time for that?

Happy Prewashing and Sewing,

Andi

My Top Picks for Sewing Scissors

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Scissors are one of those things that you absolutely need when sewing. And not just any pair of scissors. Actually you will find as you continue your sewing journey, that your collection of shears will grow. Different tasks require different scissors. Note that several of the below types of scissors have Left Handed versions so if you are left handed you will have a pair that works best for you. If you are just getting started or have been sewing for a while you might find my top picks helpful.

1. Gingher Scissors-I love my Gingher Scissors. I really love them, and most people who sew, know about them. They have been around for ages, and are a superior product. You can even send them back to the company in North Carolina for a 15.00 fee and they will sharpen, repair (within reason) or adjust them for you.

   Gingher Scissors

2. Pinking Shears-You are going to need a pair of Pinking Shears. These come in handy for trimming out curved seam allowances, ribbons and other fabrics that you do not want to fray. It also adds a nice decorative touch to items where the seams are going to show on the outside.

My favorite pair are from Fiskars

Fiskars Pinking Shears

3. Razor Edge Scissors-I also love these funky looking scissors that always elicit comments from people who come to my studio. They always ask about the weird silhouette of these shears, but they work like a charm when cutting out on my studio table.

Fiskars Razor Edge Scissors

4. Sewing Snips-Lots of sewists enjoy having snips in their studio. I often lose mine or they go dull long before I am ready for them to. So it is not unusual for me to use full size scissors to snip threads while sewing at the machine, but it is always nice to have a pair of snips for those quick thread snipping jobs and a lot easier to hold. I like Fiskars brand for their dependability and affordability.

Fiskars Thread Snips

I also recently found a pair of Squeeze curve snips and they are so helpful, I cannot even believe it. Not only do I use them for clipping threads but I also use them to cut small curved pieces of felted wool for my wool felt applique projects. It is much easier to manipulate these small clippers instead of a bulky pair of scissors.

Spring Action Curved Snips

5. Featherweight Scissors-These next pair are not essential but I had a pair just like these for many years. So many years in fact that I actually wore off the points on one of them. Really! I need to get another pair because I finally had to throw the others away. These are lighter than your typical Ginghers but still sharp and wonderful. They make cutting fabric easy.

Gingher Featherweight

6. Embroidery Scissors-I have several pairs of embroidery scissors which is good because they are small and I used to misplace them until I started keeping them in a little pouch. I use these for cross stitch, embroidery, and other hand stitching projects. So if you do any of these types of projects, a small pair of scissors are going to be helpful to you. These are simple and do the trick but you can get a prettier pair if that tickles your fancy. There are lots of different designs.

Embroidery Scissors

7. Paper Scissors-Once you have your fabric scissors, make sure you do not use them for paper, cardboard, plastic, wood, or anything else that is not fabric. This will dull them way before they need to be dull. Just buy some paper scissors for cutting paper templates, PDF patterns, etc. I recommend a multi pack so you can put one in the kitchen, one in the office and one in your sewing area. That way the kids and husband can always find a pair of craft scissors and will be less likely to come and find your fabric scissors.

paper scissors

Three Simple Sewing Projects for Beginners

Do you want to learn how to sew but are not sure what projects are beginner friendly? Or are you teaching someone how to sew? I teach a lot of children aged 7 and up and adults how to sew in my studio, and I have amassed a good collection of tutorials and patterns for some super successful beginning projects. These can be used for old and young people learning to sew. So, whether you are an adult wanting to learn to sew, or trying to teach your child or grandchild, one of these projects is sure to fit the bill.

Book Marks: These useful items are easy to sew, and this is a quick enough project that you can make several of these at once to give as little gifts. It is a great project to get started in a sewing practice and gives almost instant gratification. You can also customize the fabric to the recipient to really personalize these or just use scraps. Either way this is a project you will come back to again and again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTPlhlV1Ixk

Fat Quarter Projects: Using fat quarters, you can create all kinds of simple and fun projects. Fat quarters are pre-cut pieces of fabric that are commonly used in quilting and craft projects. Try this Love Bug project that makes a perfect birthday gift for a little one. This is also perfect for teaching children how to sew as well. Started as a Partnership with Moda Fabrics and Creativity Shell, this little project is a no fail way to introduce young sewers to sewing. Even adults will have fun making this for a child or grandchild in their life.

https://www.shabbyfabrics.com/p113778/love-bug-pattern

Pillowcases: I love using this tutorial for making pillowcases as gifts. I have assisted many students in successfully making this style of pillowcase. And who doesn’t need new colorful pillowcases? You can even get them monogrammed as an extra special gift for someone on your list.

https://www.seasonedhomemaker.com/pillowcase-tutorial-burrito-style/

Remember to start with simple projects that match your skill level and gradually challenge yourself with more complex ones as you gain experience and confidence. These three projects will get you started in sewing basic items that you can keep for yourself or give to others. I find that the most successful beginning projects are those that can be completed quickly and easily so that you will gain confidence as you learn and become ready to tackle more detailed projects. Stay tuned for more sewing project ideas.

Happy Sewing,

Andi