Always pretreat fabric before sewing to remove chemical sizing from the manufacturing process. Pre-washing also gives you a better sense of the true drape and handfeel of a fabric. We recommend washing and drying fabric in the same way you intend to wash your finished garment. Be sure to separate brights and colours, as some dyes and prints may run the first few times you wash them. You can add half a cup to one cup of vinegar to the final rinse cycle to help set the colours and minimize bleeding. It’s important to wash and dry cotton to remove any potential shrinkage down the road.

Cotton stretch blends may shrink excessively when exposed to high heat. Machine wash in cool water and tumble dry on low.

Use a medium iron with a pressing cloth. We recommend starting your project with a brand new ballpoint or stretch needle.