I'm in a quandry...! I recently bought some cotton decorator fabric with the intention of doing some embroidery on it and using for table runners and placemats. My problem is this;it says on the selvedge edge that it is water repellant and has a stain resistant finish.Am I going to be able to wash my projects after? Should I prewash? My backing has been prewashed.What would you do? Thanks.

I researched this a bit for you and it seems that the stain repellent will last for about 10 washes. Even so, I'd prewash the fabric since you don't know it's true content and if it's going to shrink in the wash (or even have the colours run) then better now than after you've embroidered and sewn the fabric up, and risk puckering of your designs and/or colour bleeding into your designs from the fabric .. right? Just my opinion :) xXx

2 comments

by chenille 18 Aug 2012

Thank you SEW much!!
Hugs, Nadyne

by danababes 19 Aug 2012

You're welcome :) xXx

Nadyne, generally a water repellant/stain resistant finish will not need washing. You just clean them by using a damp rag and blotting the stain. If you feel compelled to wash it, but are afraid to, why not cut off 1 piece that will be the size you will need, for one of your projects that you have in mind, and give it a good wash!

1 comment

by chenille 18 Aug 2012

Thanks. This is what I usually do but I wasn't sure.I may as well give it a go!
Hugs, Nadyne

I'm not sure, because I haven't actually found or used any of this fabric. But, if you're lucky enough that it has a stain resistant finish, I think it would be excellent for table runners, placemats, things that might get spilled on. I don't think I'd wash it first, because that might make the finish less effective. If it's decorator fabric, is it supposed to be washed at all? Sometimes they say not to; I do anyway. If it lives in my house, it goes in the washer, shrink or not. Did you get it at JoAnn's, or somewhere you could ask what the cleaning instructions are? Good luck with this, hope somebody has a better answer for you. Hugs, Marji

1 comment

by chenille 18 Aug 2012

Thanks Marji. Actually I got it at a garage sale.There was 3 meters ,60 inches wide (I think that's 150cm. ..) I still can't get used to metric!! :-)
Hugs, Nadyne

PS It was only $5 !!