Fabric care
Natural fabrics such as linen and cotton have an authentic feel, and have been used for many thousands of years. A characteristic of natural fabrics is that there may be imperfections in the weave unlike mechanically perfect fabrics. This is caused by the spinning and weaving process, and even the best fabric will sometimes have some irregularities.
We have used a linen mix for our screen printed fabric yardage, as this is less prone to creasing than 100% linen. Linen fabrics are considered sustainable as they are highly durable and long lasting.
How can I look after my screen printed fabric yardage?
In order to preserve the integrity of the print, this fabric should be machine washed on a delicates cycle at 30 degrees, or may be hand washed. Avoid harsh detergents with bleach or brighteners.
When making items, fabrics should be washed before pattern cutting or measuring. This is because washing can cause up to 5% shrinkage of natural fabrics, due to their natural fibres. For smaller scale sewing projects we recommend a single pre-wash at 90 degrees to relax the fabric fibres. Normal washing instructions should be followed thereafter, and fabric should be washed on a delicates cycle at 30 degrees.
Our advice is to avoid tumble drying, as this can also cause shrinkage, but if you do, use the lowest, coolest setting possible.
After washing, the dry fabric can be ironed on the reverse side, using a high temperature setting on your iron. You can also place a protective layer of fabric between the print and the iron if you wish to iron on the print side. Moving the iron will help to avoid scorching the fabric.
Dry cleaning is advised when using this fabric for curtains or light upholstery, as this helps to maintain the stiff texture of the fabric.
A fire retardant interlining is recommended when using for upholstery.