I have recently embarked on an exciting new journey into the world of natural dyeing and experimenting with organic materials like wool fleece, bamboo velour and fleece fabric. There’s something so satisfying about working with natural fibres, knowing that the end result will be sustainable, and beautifully unique. However, like most creative endeavours, there have been a few learning curves along the way!
The Washing Experiment
As part of the process, I wanted to make sure everything was clean before starting the dyeing process. I also wanted to check that the fabric didn’t shrink in the wash. I had some lovely organic bamboo velour and fleece fabric and raw wool fleece ready to go, so I thought, why not wash everything in the machine? Seemed like a time-saver, right? Well, it worked perfectly for the bamboo velour and fleece fabric, which came out soft and fresh, and now it’s drying nicely on the line. But the wool fleece? That was a completely different story.
The Wool Fleece Mishap
Washing the wool fleece in the machine didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. The wool, which started out nice and fluffy, was reduced to about half its size after one wash. Wool and washing machines don’t exactly get along well—lesson learned! The heat and agitation caused the wool to felt, shrinking it down dramatically. When I compared the shrunken wool fleece to an unwashed piece, the difference was so striking. The top piece, after washing, was much smaller than the bottom one that had been untouched.
It was a great reminder that wool needs gentler handling, and while the bamboo velour and fleece fabric handled the machine wash well, the wool fleece will be getting a different treatment from now on.
Lessons Moving Forward
This experience has taught me an important lesson about natural fibres and how they respond to different processes. Wool is incredibly delicate and needs to be washed by hand, with minimal agitation, in cool water to avoid shrinking and felting. I’ll definitely be avoiding machine-washing wool fleece in the future, and I hope this tip helps anyone else who’s experimenting with natural fibres!
Despite this little setback, I’m excited to move on to the next stage of natural dyeing. I’ll be working with these lovely organic materials, creating natural colours that highlight the beauty of each fibre. Stay tuned as I share more about this natural dyeing journey, the ups and downs, and what I learn along the way!
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