On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 20:47:29 -0700, Weronika wrote: >Another question - if I put linen lace on a T-shirt or other clothing, >can I machine-wash it after that, at least if I use heavy thread?
If possible it is better to match the thread content of the thread to the fabric, so that they shrink at similar rates. On a cotton T shirt use cotton thread rather than linen. Cotton lace is softer and more draping than linen so more suited to a motif on the front of a T shirt; linen is better for edgings where holding its own shape is a virtue. I have a cotton thread motif on a T shirt which I have chucked in the machine coloured washing for 4 years now. I use normal detergent for colours, no bleach, and dry the T shirt on a line or a hanger, not in the dryer. I've never bothered turning it inside out. The lace is going to outlast the T shirt fabric. I will snip the tacking stitches holding it on and transfer it to a new shirt when the fabric goes. If you are making lace for a garment, then wash the garment and the finished lace (separately) before sewing them together. I did read someone advising to wash the thread before making the lace, but quite apart from the difficulty of doing that I don't see how it is any better than washing the finished lace. Lace does shrink quite a bit when it is washed, so allow for this when making it. -- Serendipity is looking in a haystack for a needle and discovering the Farmer's Daughter. Julius H. Comroe. Steph Peters [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm> Scanned by WinProxy http://www.Ositis.com/ - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
