Shrinkage after washing
Also: Fabric shrinkage
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A garment coming out smaller after its first wash usually means the fabric wasn't pre-washed before cutting, or was laundered hotter than the fiber tolerates. Always pre-wash fabric the way the finished garment will be laundered.
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Dye bleeding
Color transferring onto another fabric during washing, or running when the garment gets wet, comes from unfixed or excess dye in the fibers, common in dark or hand-dyed fabrics. Wash separately in cold water with a color-catcher sheet.
Pilling on knit fabric
Small balls of fiber forming on a knit's surface from friction during wear come from loose, weaker fibers tangling together. Use a fabric shaver or comb to remove pills, and wash inside out on gentle cycle.
Removing wax residue
Melted candle wax or fusible web residue stuck to fabric can be lifted by placing the fabric between layers of brown paper and pressing with a warm iron, letting the paper absorb the melted wax.
Reviving crushed velvet pile
Velvet or other pile fabric flattened from pressure or storage can often be restored by steaming from the wrong side without letting the iron touch the pile, then brushing the nap back upright.
Colour fading from washing
Fabric looking dull or washed-out after repeated laundering comes from dye breaking down under heat, sunlight, and detergent brighteners. Wash in cold water, turn garments inside out, and use a detergent made for colors.
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