Were you surprised by the results of this Sewing Report experiment? I sure was! Drop me suggestions for future videos where I test out commonly held beliefs about sewing & crafting methods. EDIT: To answer a few of your questions. For the initial laundry cycles for the "Prewash shirts" I did NOT use any detergent or fabric softener. I don't ever buy or use fabric softener. I did use detergent on the 10x cycles after embellishing, as that would mimic real use. At 3:20 in the video, I explain the materials used including no-show mesh stabilizer for the embroidery. It is recommended for thinner and/or light colored fabrics - particularly knits as other types of stabilizer may show on the outside of the garment. It's soft, but still strong making it a good choice for knits or stretchy fabric and I've used it before. It also has a soft finish - more comfortable against skin. I do tend to use cut away stabilizer on woven fabrics or medium to heavy knits like sweatshirts. Thank you for the suggestions on further experimentation! If there is enough interest (read: views) I would definitely consider doing a follow-up. However, videos like this require a lot of time and resources so I'd need to have a strong indication that it would perform well on RUclips. If you want to see this happen, please help me out by sharing the link to this video around the internet and with other crafters so it can gain some traction. *Note: this information does NOT apply to garment sewing with fabric. Typically you should prewash or pretreat it before cutting into it if you plan to launder it afterward. There are obviously some exceptions to this rule, but I will still prewash common fabrics like cotton, rayon, linen, etc.*
Thank you for doing this experiment. I never prewash garments that I embellish but I do prewash fabrics before sewing. Your video gave me the confirmation that I needed to continue doing what I’m currently doing. 😊 Thanks!
I don’t embroider yet, but I only prewash fabrics that I am creating the garment for myself. However, I have made various garments without washing the fabric first and they still fit great. I actually tested it with the same fabric content for some joggers I made where I washed the fabric and one I didn’t and they both fit the same. I agree that things you are selling should not be prewashed. I am allergic to some detergents and would be pissed if I paid someone for an item and I end up in the ER. HTV has to have time to sink into the fibers before you wash the garment. I would think that once you prewash the fabric has been manipulated in the wash too much for it to adhere as well or as long. Great video Jen!
Thank you for your time and energy in this test. It explains my head scratching on embroidery designs not turning out like I wanted. Love your channels
Thank you for doing this comparison experiment Jen! I would not have predicted the outcome and it’s really helpful to know. It made me wonder about how different types and brands of stabilizer might affect the outcome as well. What are your thoughts on this?
Love your videos. Just wondering if you can do a video with different materials for applique if it holds up stitching, washing, ironing. Also different embroidery threads, holding up stitching, washing, ironing.
When you say you "pre-washed" does that include adding any fabric softener to the load? Because that too, will make a difference in the outcome, no matter whether the t-shirt is 100% cotton or a poly-cotton blend. I pre-wash fabric to sew without fabric softener because I read somewhere that fabric softener adds a layer of chemicals (or sizing) that make your garment soft and smell nice and it's more difficult for a needle to penetrate and also dulls your needle much faster. I am going to try HTV on an unwashed t-shirt to see what the outcome is. I can always make it again if it doesn't turn out well! Thank you for this sewing report! 🙂
Good to know! But i have another question. Do you recommend washing fabric before sewing and what fabric material should I use to make a dress of a primary and pastel color that won’t ruin the pastel color fabric? Thanks!
Yes, I was curious also dori.....I heard her say that she used poly mesh stabilizer....but was that all she used? Would that be strong enough? I'm not sure....when I wear something I was taught to use cut away.....Also....although I really appreciated this video and it helped me, I wanted to see the back of the embroidery monogram....Please next time show us the back....great video....I did learn a lot
Thank you for this! Would you say the same thing would apply to quilts? I'm doing a couple of baby quilts and I didn't plan on pre-washing because I am using 100% cotton batting, but then I decided to do some embroidery on the front including some embroidery appliqués and thought maybe I had to pre-wash. What would you do?
This may have been mentioned already, but it’s just a thought I am having. With the embroidered shirt that you prewashed, the fabric most likely won’t shrink anymore, but the threads in your embroidered design probably will the first time. I’m guessing that is why there is so much puckering.
Were you surprised by the results of this Sewing Report experiment? I sure was! Drop me suggestions for future videos where I test out commonly held beliefs about sewing & crafting methods.
EDIT: To answer a few of your questions. For the initial laundry cycles for the "Prewash shirts" I did NOT use any detergent or fabric softener. I don't ever buy or use fabric softener. I did use detergent on the 10x cycles after embellishing, as that would mimic real use. At 3:20 in the video, I explain the materials used including no-show mesh stabilizer for the embroidery. It is recommended for thinner and/or light colored fabrics - particularly knits as other types of stabilizer may show on the outside of the garment. It's soft, but still strong making it a good choice for knits or stretchy fabric and I've used it before. It also has a soft finish - more comfortable against skin. I do tend to use cut away stabilizer on woven fabrics or medium to heavy knits like sweatshirts. Thank you for the suggestions on further experimentation! If there is enough interest (read: views) I would definitely consider doing a follow-up. However, videos like this require a lot of time and resources so I'd need to have a strong indication that it would perform well on RUclips. If you want to see this happen, please help me out by sharing the link to this video around the internet and with other crafters so it can gain some traction.
*Note: this information does NOT apply to garment sewing with fabric. Typically you should prewash or pretreat it before cutting into it if you plan to launder it afterward. There are obviously some exceptions to this rule, but I will still prewash common fabrics like cotton, rayon, linen, etc.*
This was such help to me, thank you. You answered every question I was looking for an answer to.
Thank you for doing this experiment. I never prewash garments that I embellish but I do prewash fabrics before sewing. Your video gave me the confirmation that I needed to continue doing what I’m currently doing. 😊 Thanks!
Hello, do you use any detergent to pre wash? or do you use only plain water? I'm a newbie, help😔
Thank you. I know what I'll be doing from here on.
Fantastic! Way more patience than I have for demonstrating the outcomes. Thank you!
This is useful thanks so much 💖 relieved that there's not more work to do as I've anxiously procrastinated a year on trying my vinyl 😭
Good information for a new person just starting out.Thank you
Wow great news, thanks for that one Jen.
I don’t embroider yet, but I only prewash fabrics that I am creating the garment for myself. However, I have made various garments without washing the fabric first and they still fit great. I actually tested it with the same fabric content for some joggers I made where I washed the fabric and one I didn’t and they both fit the same. I agree that things you are selling should not be prewashed. I am allergic to some detergents and would be pissed if I paid someone for an item and I end up in the ER. HTV has to have time to sink into the fibers before you wash the garment. I would think that once you prewash the fabric has been manipulated in the wash too much for it to adhere as well or as long. Great video Jen!
Thank you for your time and energy in this test. It explains my head scratching on embroidery designs not turning out like I wanted. Love your channels
Thank you for doing this comparison experiment Jen! I would not have predicted the outcome and it’s really helpful to know. It made me wonder about how different types and brands of stabilizer might affect the outcome as well. What are your thoughts on this?
This is quite surprising!
Good video. I have never pre-washed a shirt or fabric before sewing, adding vinyl or embroidery. Glad to see your results.
Do you before you wake it though ?
Thank you for this
Love your videos. Just wondering if you can do a video with different materials for applique if it holds up stitching, washing, ironing. Also different embroidery threads, holding up stitching, washing, ironing.
When you say you "pre-washed" does that include adding any fabric softener to the load? Because that too, will make a difference in the outcome, no matter whether the t-shirt is 100% cotton or a poly-cotton blend.
I pre-wash fabric to sew without fabric softener because I read somewhere that fabric softener adds a layer of chemicals (or sizing) that make your garment soft and smell nice and it's more difficult for a needle to penetrate and also dulls your needle much faster.
I am going to try HTV on an unwashed t-shirt to see what the outcome is. I can always make it again if it doesn't turn out well! Thank you for this sewing report! 🙂
Good to know! But i have another question. Do you recommend washing fabric before sewing and what fabric material should I use to make a dress of a primary and pastel color that won’t ruin the pastel color fabric? Thanks!
Hi, this is very interesting! For the embroidered shirts, what type of stabilizer did you use? Tear away? Cut away?
Yes, I was curious also dori.....I heard her say that she used poly mesh stabilizer....but was that all she used? Would that be strong enough? I'm not sure....when I wear something I was taught to use cut away.....Also....although I really appreciated this video and it helped me, I wanted to see the back of the embroidery monogram....Please next time show us the back....great video....I did learn a lot
Wow this is not what I expected! But any tips on how to prevent puckering on the shirts over time? Thanks!
Will placing the tee in a heat press help with shrinkage when doing embroidery?
Thank you for this! Would you say the same thing would apply to quilts? I'm doing a couple of baby quilts and I didn't plan on pre-washing because I am using 100% cotton batting, but then I decided to do some embroidery on the front including some embroidery appliqués and thought maybe I had to pre-wash. What would you do?
How about flour sack kitchen towel and other types. I always was prewash. I was very surprised
Thoughts on appliqué on sweatshirts?
Im new to embroidery ,want to make my gand children orniments on a se600 michene. How do i do that?
This may have been mentioned already, but it’s just a thought I am having. With the embroidered shirt that you prewashed, the fabric most likely won’t shrink anymore, but the threads in your embroidered design probably will the first time. I’m guessing that is why there is so much puckering.
That's an interesting thought, but I used polyester thread so there shouldn't be any shrinkage. If cotton thread was used, that could be an issue.
@@SewingReport then I am completely baffled lol