*** New Fabric Care ***
Your fabric order has finally arrived and you can’t wait to start that special project! STOP!
All new fabrics should be washed prior to using in a quilt. Pre-washing ensures that there will be no uneven shrinkage and no transfer of colors (bleeding) when the quilt is laundered. Please resist the temptation to skip this step.
LAUNDERING INSTRUCTIONS FOR YARD GOODS:
Unfold all fabric before putting into the washing machine. Separate light and dark colored fabrics. For best results launder no more than 6 yards at a time.
Wash fabric in a washing machine set on hot water (yes, hot, or as hot as possible) with 2 oz of Synthrapol per wash load. Run wash cycle for 8-10 minutes. The hot water frees residual oils and sizing that hold on to excess dyes. Synthrapol is a detergent that suspends oils, sizing and unreacted dye (dye that has not chemically attached itself to fiber) and carries them from the material during the rinse process.
Tumble fabrics almost dry, remove from dryer and press with an iron. You may want to use a spray starch when pressing to replace the sizing, lost in the wash process. We recommend Best Press Spray Starch, because it does not clog or leave flaking or white residue on dark fabrics. It is acid free and contains a stain shield that helps protect fabrics and helps resist wrinkles.
HAND WASH PRE-CUT KIT PIECES:
Do not machine wash or dry pre-cut pieces. Separate pieces into piles of same-colored patches, being careful not to over handle. Caution: Always wear rubber gloves for the wash and rinse process. In a utility sink or plastic tub, add 1 teaspoon of Synthrapol per gallon of very hot water. Soak the pieces for 5 minutes, then pour out the wash water and rinse until the water runs clear. Place pieces on toweling or white paper towels to dry. When almost dry, press and starch as above.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR HAND-DYED FABRICS:
The color rich batiks and other hand-dyed fabrics, so highly prized by quilters are notorious bleeders. Not because the dyes are inferior but because the process tends to leave a lot of excess dye in the fabric. Hand wash these fabrics as described above. Yardage can be machine dried.
Some people prefer to use Retayne on hand-dyed fabrics. Retayne fixes unreacted dye after the dye process. This is normally done by the manufacturer, but many people want to ensure all dye has been set. If you dye fabric at home, use print transfers from computers, or purchase fabrics from unknown sources, Retayne is recommended. The cost is the same as using Synthrapol and the wash process is virtually the same. If you use Retayne, there is no need to use Synthrapol. NOTE: Retayne works only on commercial reactive dyes - It is not effective on natural plant dyes.
MC Enterprises
444 Kenilworth Rd
Bay Village, OH 44140
440-871-2132
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