Kathryn Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 I want to make this dress: http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/09/knotty-jumper-with-ruffled-leggings.html I've read that you should always wash your fabric before sewing. My question is if I should pre-wash the jelly roll fabric. It seems like I'll lose a lot of width with fraying, but will it be a problem if I don't? And if I don't wash the jelly roll fabric, should I wash the bodice fabric? What about the rick rack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 (edited) I think you would get fraying if you prewash the jelly roll fabric. I would not prewash anything for the dress. But I would wash the finished garment in cold water and hang to dry. That will minimize any shrinkage. I *think* most shrinkage happens with hot water and with the dryer. ETA: I have never prewashed rick rack. IIRC the packaged rick rack is a cotton/poly blend so should not shrink. Edited January 10, 2016 by TrixieB 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawana Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 (edited) I also would not prewash any of the fabric or the rick rack. Any shrinkage will likely be quite minimal, and for this project should not affect the outcome. Enjoy your sewing! ETA Prewashing is often advisable, but there are many fabrics and constructions where it is not. Don't take the advice to prewash as dogma;) Edited January 10, 2016 by Lawana 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 I always pre-shrink, especially with cottons. Since most of the fraying happens in the washer, you can just get the fabric completely soaked, wring it out and stick it in the dryer to shrink without the massive fraying. Just my .02 :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted January 10, 2016 Author Share Posted January 10, 2016 Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plateau Mama Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 You can also run the fabric under water and then iron dry. That will shrink it w/o the fraying. I learned this trick at a sewing camp, so we could buy fabric and sew it at the camp. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pehp Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 I don't really understand the jelly roll concept so can't speak very well to that, but I basically gently prewash all fabric, gently dry it and then iron it. Not rick-rack, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 I'm a quilter, not a garment sewer. I use jelly rolls and never prewash. The quilt world is divided- some prewash and others do not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 I'm with Annie - I don't wash pre cuts either. Also , make sure you press them instead of ironing them. Ironing will distort the shape. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 (edited) I made it today! I'm nervous about washing it, but here's what it looks like now: ETA: I didn't add the ric rac because I wasn't sure how to seal the ends so they didn't unravel and I was in a rush to get done so didn't have time to figure it out. Edited January 17, 2016 by Kathryn 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Ooo, it turned out cute!! Good job!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 It's adorable! You did a great job!!! Don't hesitate to wash it when needed- it'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 (edited) That looks fantastic! I use a long lighter to seal the ends of the ric rac. Works for grosgrain ribbon too. Edited January 17, 2016 by zoobie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Very cute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 So cute! I like it better without the ric rac. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 So cute! I like it better without the ric rac. Me too. It's super cute! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikslo Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Adorable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Really great ! Rick rak. I have always hpjudt turned the end under when I was sewing it in place. There is a product called Fray Check you can use on a raw edge. Lighter, wow, never thought about that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawana Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 (edited) That is so cute!! You did a great job!! Don't be afraid to wash it. It will turn out just fine. (You can't tell me sewing factories prewash fabric;) Edited January 18, 2016 by Lawana 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Before you wash--did you zig zag or overlock stitch the raw edges inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 Before you wash--did you zig zag or overlock stitch the raw edges inside? I used pinking shears on some of them and zig zag stitches on others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busymama7 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I have been told by a professional seamstress that in addition to the shrinking issue (which is certainly a concern for cottons and especially garment made from cotton) that the sizing that is in the fabric is quite bad for the sewing machines themselves and getting that out is a key part of ore washing. She said rinsing is fine. I cannot verify this info it's just what I was told. The dress is adorable! You did and great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinnia Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 So cute! I always prewash after an experience a long time ago....spent a long time on a dress, wore it, and it shrunk the first time I washed it. Heartbreaking. And now I abide by my mother's wisdom adn prewash. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 (edited) I used pinking shears on some of them and zig zag stitches on others. The pinked areas may get stringy. With how fast you are picking up sewing, I foresee a serger in your future. :D That is so cute!! You did a great job!! Don't be afraid to wash it. It will turn out just fine. (You can't tell me sewing factories prewash fabric;) No, but they wash a test piece and adjust their patterns for shrinkage. :) Edited January 18, 2016 by zoobie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I don't know, but that is an insanely cute dress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pehp Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Very sweet!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 (edited) In future, you can plan ahead to hide the raw edges of the ric-rac in a seam. (Make skirt except for one side seam, apply ric-rac from raw edge to raw edge, sew up side seam.) Or you can tuck each end under a bit, or you can overlap and just tuck under the top one - this works well with regular straight trim but not so much with jumbo ric-rac because of the zig-zag.) ETA - I am in the always-prewash camp, having, like a PP, once ruined a dress I'd spent a long time sewing. Washing also removes the sizing and reveals the true nature of a fabric - I've had cheap fabric go limp and flimsy, nice fabric become even nicer, and once even had a plain, flat plaid turn into a (nicely) puckered seersucker. You can also find out whether the color is going to run, which may affect how you use it in a garment. Start saving for a serger!!! Edited January 18, 2016 by justasque Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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