As promised for a long time, this article will be about caring for cotton fabric. The fabric is the foundation of your project. To ensure that your sewn dresses, blankets, and other wonderful projects bring joy for a longer time, it is important to take care of them.
Proper fabric care - a way to extend its lifespan.
Here I compile guidelines and recommendations on how to care for cotton fabric.
COTTON-NATURAL FIBERS
Cotton fabric is made from cotton fibers, which are obtained from the cotton plant.Here is a branch of this plant:
Durable, comfortable, and natural fabrics are made from cotton fibers. Cotton fabrics are absorbent, making them particularly appealing for wearing in hot weather. They are not warm by themselves, which is why they are favored for making summer clothing and also workwear (due to their durability as well).
WASHING
Dyed cotton fabrics should be kept at a moderate temperature, as it affects the intensity of the colors. APrinted cotton is recommended to be washed at a temperature of 30° – 40° Celsius, but white can also be washed at a higher temperature of 60°-90° C. and, if necessary, bleach may be used.
For colored cotton fabrics, we recommend using laundry powder designed for washing colored items. Make sure that the detergents are bleach-free or hydrogen peroxide-free.
IRONING AND DRYING
Colored cotton, especially in dark-saturated shades, should not be dried in direct sunlight – as the color may fade.
White fabrics will become even whiter in the sunlight, without unnecessary chemicals.
It is recommended to iron cotton products while they are still slightly damp. The brighter the fabric color, the more it is recommended to iron it from the reverse side.
It is not recommended to dry in the tumble dryer until completely dry, as the resulting creases will no longer be possible to iron out. The recommended temperature for ironing is 160-200°C. (most often for the iron, setting 2 ●●)
In our family, for several years now, we stretch the wet bedding from the washing machine over a railing and let it dry for a couple of hours. This way, the small wrinkles will smooth out under the weight.
BEFORE SEWING
Cotton fabric is great for beginners. However, it should be noted that cotton fabrics tend to wrinkle quite a bit and can shrink when washed, so before cutting and sewing, it is highly recommended to wash them or at least properly treat them with a steam iron.
Cotton fabric shrinks on average by 2% - 7%
In short, we wash gently, try not to put it in the dryer, and the natural, fantastic cotton fabric will delight us for a long time.
Creative day,
Charlotte's fabrics! :)
