Textiles Talk

Washing Rayon/Linen

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (OneMTHead) writes: Betsy: Sorry to disappoint you but I did wash a piece of clothing which was a rayon and linen blend; the label even said ok to hand wash in cold but for best results dry clean.  I guess I should have paid more attention to that "best results" part.  The pants shrank about 2 to 3 sizes!!  I never have any luck washing anything rayon or rayon blend and I try to avoid buying clothing made from it. YYMV, Meg in CA This may sound odd, but I have been known to buy rayon shirts and skirts several sizes too big, intending to machine wash and dry them.  The fabric shrinks and becomes somewhat thicker.  It feels absolutely luxurious, IMHO!

  Things do have to be ironed, but once that first wash/dry cycle is over, I’ve never had it shrink further. What niether of you say here is if you dry them.  It is not so much washing these things that cause them to shrink as it is the drying.   Anyway I really like rayon and have bought a lot of it both ready made and for things I’ve made for myself.   So I work and feel it pays to have someone else to wash and dry this stuff.   Ruth Anne — Ruth Anne She who dies with the most needlework stuff (finished or not) WINS!

I don’t know about Meg, but I do machine dry (regular cycle) my rayon clothes.  I’m sure it is the heat that shrinks the material and gives it the texture I like.  (I do admit, though, that I have one shirt I either have to wear under a sweater or with the sleaves rolled up because the sleaves shrunk too much).  Anyway. Valerie S. Rake

Response:

Anne M Schroeder) writes: What niether of you say here is if you dry them.  It is not so much washing these things that cause them to shrink as it is the drying.   Anyway I really like rayon and have bought a lot of it both ready made and for things I’ve made for myself.   So I work and feel it pays to have someone else to wash and dry this stuff.  

I NEVER, EVER, EVER put rayon in the dryer…ever… ~~~ Venecha ~~~

Response:

Sorry, Ruth Anne, but those dreaded pants weren’t dried.  I noticed the shrinkage before I had popped them into the dryer.  I appreciate everyone’s love of rayon, but I’ll take cotton anyday–you *know* it’s going to shrink! Meg in CA

Response:

This is an interesting topic.  I have washed both by hand and machine numerous "rayon garments" and  rayon/ramie and rayon/linen blends.  None have ever shrunk.   I would have assumed that rayon – being a synthetic – wouldn’t shrink.  I *believe* the reason for the dry cleaning instructions on ALL RAYON garments is rayon’s propensity to ravel profusely – so care must be taken with it (gentle cycle or hand wash).  It also doesn’t wear well.  Ironing is a breeze.   Ramie and linen may seem to have shrunk a little (in my experience) but when worn, stretch out again.   Would appreciate some more knowledgeable thoughts on this.  This probably belongs in r.c.t.sewing – and I think a thread was there on this subject for quite some time recently. Dianne

I have owned a few "washable" rayon blends.  However, I also owned one gorgeous, dry clean only dress I got at a clearance center for $12 (orig $90).  My hubby washed and *gasp* dried in the dryer, came out fit for a 9 year old (started as a size 12 adult)! I have successfully machine washed several dry-clean only rayon garments since, but never had the guts to risk the dryer.  Heat can definitely adversly effect synthetics.  They all feel like plastic to me <g Suz

Response:

I would have assumed that rayon – being a synthetic – wouldn’t shrink.

Actually rayon is a plant fiber so it is classified as a "natural" fiber like cotton (plant) silk and wool (animal). –marina

Response:

Back in high school I worked in a fabric store. We were alwyas instructed that IF the customer wanted to run challis (100% rayon) through the dryer, they should buy 33% more and pre-wash, because it would shrink up to that much. And since no one ever came in to complain, I’ve always assumed this was true. I never sewed with it though, as even it is a little on the slippery side for my sewing skills! Audrey

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I was shopping this weekend and saw a shirt with a front pocket. The cloth was woven and looked like aida cloth.  The pocket and collar are great for doing cross stitch.  The material is 85% Rayon/15% Linen.  It said dry clean only.  I asked the salesperson if she knew whether this could be washed in cold water and then laid flat to dry.  She said not this blend.  I was just wondering if anyone out there had ever washed this blend before. Betsy Pursh Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA

Response:

I was shopping this weekend and saw a shirt with a front pocket. The cloth was woven and looked like aida cloth.  The pocket and collar are great for doing cross stitch.  The material is 85% Rayon/15% Linen.  It said dry clean only.  I asked the salesperson if she knew whether this could be washed in cold water and then laid flat to dry.  She said not this blend.  I was just wondering if anyone out there had ever washed this blend before. Betsy Pursh Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA

RAYON!!!!!   EEEEKK! My ex-SIL had given me several of her maternity outfits when I became pregnant, one of which was a lovely Victorian-style cabbage rose print jumpsuit.  Since she had taken out all the labels, I had no way of knowing how to launder this outfit, so I washed it in the washing machine. It shrunk 4 inches in length and just closed over my tummy.  It was only then that I discovered that the fabric was rayon and should have been dry-cleaned.  BTW, I could still wear it because I am 5′4", ex-SIL is 5′9" and I didn’t gain as much weight as she did during pregnancy. Stephanie Cowans

Response:

This is an interesting topic.  I have washed both by hand and machine numerous "rayon garments" and  rayon/ramie and rayon/linen blends.  None have ever shrunk.   I would have assumed that rayon – being a synthetic – wouldn’t shrink.  I *believe* the reason for the dry cleaning instructions on ALL RAYON garments is rayon’s propensity to ravel profusely – so care must be taken with it (gentle cycle or hand wash).  It also doesn’t wear well.  Ironing is a breeze.   Ramie and linen may seem to have shrunk a little (in my experience) but when worn, stretch out again.   Would appreciate some more knowledgeable thoughts on this.  This probably belongs in r.c.t.sewing – and I think a thread was there on this subject for quite some time recently. Dianne

Response:

Betsy: Sorry to disappoint you but I did wash a piece of clothing which was a rayon and linen blend; the label even said ok to hand wash in cold but for best results dry clean.  I guess I should have paid more attention to that "best results" part.  The pants shrank about 2 to 3 sizes!!  I never have any luck washing anything rayon or rayon blend and I try to avoid buying clothing made from it. YYMV, Meg in CA

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (OneMTHead) writes: Betsy: Sorry to disappoint you but I did wash a piece of clothing which was a rayon and linen blend; the label even said ok to hand wash in cold but for best results dry clean.  I guess I should have paid more attention to that "best results" part.  The pants shrank about 2 to 3 sizes!!  I never have any luck washing anything rayon or rayon blend and I try to avoid buying clothing made from it. YYMV, Meg in CA This may sound odd, but I have been known to buy rayon shirts and skirts several sizes too big, intending to machine wash and dry them.  The fabric shrinks and becomes somewhat thicker.  It feels absolutely luxurious, IMHO!   Things do have to be ironed, but once that first wash/dry cycle is over, I’ve never had it shrink further.

What niether of you say here is if you dry them.  It is not so much washing these things that cause them to shrink as it is the drying.   Anyway I really like rayon and have bought a lot of it both ready made and for things I’ve made for myself.   So I work and feel it pays to have someone else to wash and dry this stuff.   Ruth Anne — Ruth Anne She who dies with the most needlework stuff (finished or not) WINS!

Response:

This is an interesting topic.  I have washed both by hand and machine numerous "rayon garments" and  rayon/ramie and rayon/linen blends.  None have ever shrunk.  

I haven’t shrunk them either but I don’t put them in the dryer!  They hang dry either outside in the shade or on a door jam (depending on the season).  Rayon is a very sturdy fabric but it very fragile when wet.  The linen will shrink if dried in a dryer.  But, I have washed "pure" rayon and never had a problem.  I am too "cheap" to ransom my clothes every week ! Mary

Response:

I would have assumed that rayon – being a synthetic – wouldn’t shrink.  I *believe* the reason for the dry cleaning instructions on ALL RAYON garments is rayon’s propensity to ravel profusely – so care must be taken with it (gentle cycle or hand wash).  It also doesn’t wear well.  Ironing is a breeze.  

Technically, rayon is a natural fabric, not a synthetic…it’s made from cellulose.  Besides its tendency to ravel, it isn’t always colorfast, so bright colors fade, and bright color prints sometimes "blur".  I’ve never had any problems with rayon not wearing well….I’ve got some rayon stuff that’s nearly 10 years old.  Washing it on the gentle cycle helps. Some rayon shrinks, some doesn’t.  If you don’t put it in the dryer, it won’t shrink as much.   The only time I put rayons in the dryer is when  have fabric lengths to pre-wash….that way the fabric shrinks before I make it into anything jenn — Jenn Ridley

Response:

Premade clothing made from rayon or linen (or both in this case) I would be **VERY** careful washing, they tend to shrink.  Knowing this in advance you could buy the shirt several sizes too large and wash it before doing any stitching to see how it will fit. (I just cut out a dress last night from a piece of rayon fabric:  I bought the amount a yardage listed on the pattern envelope.  I prewashed it in cool water on delicate cycle in the machine and hung it to dry.  Even after shortening the bodice & skirt several inches each I was barely able to fit the pattern pieces on the fabric.) Beth O.

: I was shopping this weekend and saw a shirt with a front pocket. The : cloth was woven and looked like aida cloth.  The pocket and collar are : great for doing cross stitch.  The material is 85% Rayon/15% Linen.  It : said dry clean only.  I asked the salesperson if she knew whether this : could be washed in cold water and then laid flat to dry.  She said not : this blend.  I was just wondering if anyone out there had ever washed : this blend before. : : Betsy Pursh : Carnegie Mellon University : Pittsburgh, PA : RAYON!!!!!   EEEEKK! : My ex-SIL had given me several of her maternity : outfits when I became pregnant, one of which : was a lovely Victorian-style cabbage rose print : jumpsuit.  Since she had taken out all the labels, : I had no way of knowing how to launder this : outfit, so I washed it in the washing machine. : It shrunk 4 inches in length and just closed : over my tummy.  It was only then that I : discovered that the fabric was rayon and should : have been dry-cleaned.  BTW, I could still wear : it because I am 5′4", ex-SIL is 5′9" and I didn’t : gain as much weight as she did during pregnancy. : Stephanie Cowans

Response:

Filed under: Linen Fabric

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