Denim

[SmilieFace]

I recently bought some denim, but I didn't record the care instructions. Should I just machine wash regular and tumble dry? Or does it need to be gentle cycle and hang dry?

Also, I've heard denim ravels a lot (this is my first time using denim -- I'm going to make a skirt!) Will pinking take care of that, or will I have to zig zag the edges?

[bridesmom]

I just finished a rag quilt with denim, and it really frays so I'd suggest going with a little larger seam and if your machine has an overcasting stitch, use that rather than the zigzag. I think the pinking would frustrate you when you wash it, as it will fray and leave little fluffies in your dryer. Definitely wash and dry it before cutting it out. It will SHRINK! I wash everything in cold now, and I rarely completely dry my denim items in the dryer. I let them go about 10 minutes then hang them to dry so they don't shrink any more. Denim seems to keep shrinking slightly for a while.

[kaitlinnegan]

If it's not dark denim or you don't mind it fading, you can machine wash and dry it. My dark denim jeans go in the washer on cold, but not in the dryer -- it keeps them darker longer. When I made my jeans, I washed and dried the fabric 3 times before sewing -- I think this softened it up a bit and made it easier to sew. I would definitely finish the seams with a zigzag - I didn't find my denim to ravel too much while I was working with it, but it raveled like crazy in the wash.

Soo -- what are you making with this denim?

[DorothyL]

A flat fell seam works well with denim where practical and won't fray. Make sure you don't just prewash -- PRESHRINK.
If you can't come up with a better finish, overcast like Laura said because, while it isn't likely to fuzz all the way through a 5/8 inch seam, the fraying along the edge of the seam gets kind of lumpy and bumpy and is unattractive on the right side as well as the inside.
That, of course, is just my opinion.
Also, while denim isn't at all hard to work with it is thick so when you get to the thicker places (like where a seam crosses a seam) lengthen you stitch and slow down. And a folded scrap slid under the back of the presser foot helps keep things even.

[SmilieFace]

Thanks for the tips. It looks like I will be zig-zaging for sure (my machine doesn't have an overcast stich). I'll

I am making a simple pencil skirt with it. (I don't have the pattern in front of me or I'd give you the number...It's a simple New Look pattern, though.) Or at least, I hope I will be. The pattern calls for 7/8 yards (I think). I bough 1 1/4, but hearing you all talk about shrinkage, I'm not sure if it'll make it! Will washing it once in cold water and hang drying it be enough? Or will I need to wash it multiple times? I'm also thinking of trying an invisible zipper on the skirt...I've never put one in before....

[DorothyL]

Wash it in hot and put it in the dryer. You should have enough. It's gonna shrink -- better now than when it's a garment and you've put all that work into it. Then the finished product will wear like jeans.

[SmilieFace]

So even if I plan to wash cold and hang dry the finished garment, I should pre-wash/shrink it in hot water and in the dryer? Also, won't that cause the color to fade?

[Sewing Lady]

If it is cotton and not a blend do pre-wash and dry. Just MOP, I don't wash anything in hot water. It fades and gives more wear and tear on the fabric before you even wear it. I wash everything in cold water. DH and I owned a Dry cleaners for years, and although the fabric contents change as they create new stuff for us to sew, cotton is still cotton. Hot water in MOP, is not good for any fabric. I dry only partially and then hang dry.

Good Luck.

[Magot]

I am lost now - what is MOP?

[Sewing Lady]

I meant just My Own Opinion.