New Wool Blend Matterial

[mbhandy]

I just received in the mail a wool blend tartan? Should I wash the cloth and then attempt to make my Kilt? I know I saw postings But now I can't find them. ??:

MrBill

[Sherry]

Only if the fabric is considered washable, & you want to be able to wash it after you make up the kilt.

If the fabric is dry clean only, you can have it dry cleaned, dry clean it yourself if your dryer is large enough, or dry clean it at a laundromat. If it is dry clean only, you can try hand washing it in a tub & air drying it.

Cleaning by whatever method before you make up a garment is SOP because if the fabric is going to shrink, you want it to shrink before you do any cutting on it.

Sherry

[mbhandy]

Thanks, Sherry

Now should I cut the material and wash or leave it whole and then cut. I wash all my wool sweaters and blankets with a lanolin soap. The kind wou wash your sheep before showing, from the feed and grain store.

[Sherry]

Leave it whole, wash & dry in the same manner you will be caring for the completed garment, then cut & make up garment. The only other thing you might do is IF the fabric frays a lot, you might want to finish off the raw edges with a zigzag or overlock stitch. That way you won't have threads coming out of the fabric ends.

Your shampoo sounds interesting--keeps the wool from shrinking on the sheep.