Prewash Xmarks PV tartan?

**Tartan Tess** · 27th January 12, 07:42 AM

I am going to be making a kilt with the Xmarks PV tartan. It is 65% poly and 35% rayon with a Teflon coating.
Do I need to pre wash it? Dryer? I remember something about NO fabric softners with teflon coating. I am pretty sure that modern fabrics don't need pre washing anymore but I want to make sure.
Thanks Tess

**Mickey** · 27th January 12, 08:18 AM

Steve sent a small note with mine telling me to wash it separately one time as the blue will bleed out, but that it could be washed after making a kilt out of it, so I would say no, it doesn't have to be prewashed.

**sydnie7** · 27th January 12, 10:08 AM

I prewashed the lengths I have worked with (bought a bunch of the "not kilt selvedge" run) and am glad of it. The blue rubbed off so easily as I handled it just in cutting, prior to washing, that I'd have had blue hands and worries about it discoloring other surfaces as I worked with it.

Put it through the dryer as well, can't remember if I tossed in a dryer sheet -- probably did, it's a habit. No ill effects although I can't say if the run I got is T-coated or not.

**Burly Brute** · 27th January 12, 10:42 AM

It's neat knowing that the yardage of cloth that I have is a kin to the stuff you guys all have. Ok, so I am showing my true colors as a foolish man when I ask this, but can I just put 5 or so yards in the wash machine, or do should I hand wash? I don't want to ruin it is basically what I am asking.

**Tartan Tess** · 27th January 12, 10:48 AM

If it is a man made fabric, I will wash it in my machine in cold water and hang to dry before I sew it.
I being brave or foolish will do the same with wool sweaters on gentle cycle, but if it is fabric it is different because if it shrinks you can deal with it.
If it has hours and hours of sewing on it and I am not sure what the fabric will do, I will always hand wash cold and hang to dry.
Mickey has a good point about colors bleeding.

**Alan H** · 27th January 12, 10:49 AM

The X Marks tartan in PV is made by Fraser and Kirkbright, not Marton Mills. Pretty much all of the other polyester-viscose tartans are made by Marton Mills, and their stuff is teflon coated. I'd be surprised if Fraser and Kirkbright did that.

It can't hurt to pre-wash, right? And put it through the dryer, once, too.

**Burly Brute** · 27th January 12, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Alan H

The X Marks tartan in PV is made by Fraser and Kirkbright, not Marton Mills. Pretty much all of the other polyester-viscose tartans are made by Marton Mills, and their stuff is teflon coated. I'd be surprised if Fraser and Kirkbright did that.

It can't hurt to pre-wash, right? And put it through the dryer, once, too.

How does one keep the blue from bleeding into the other colors? Maybe that doesnt happen, but keep in mind that I am a young, newlywed male who has a lot to learn...

**Tartan Tess** · 27th January 12, 10:53 AM

I think this tartan has been on hold for a few years. Maybe Marton mills did a run once eh?
I agree Alan, I would rather beat it up before I sew it.
Burly Brute just wash it alone so you don't have to worry about the blue bleeding onto your best shirt or anything else of value. Or wash it with towels or something that wouldn't be a crisis if the color morfed onto the other items.

**Canuck** · 27th January 12, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Alan H

The X Marks tartan in PV is made by Fraser and Kirkbright, not Marton Mills. Pretty much all of the other polyester-viscose tartans are made by Marton Mills, and their stuff is teflon coated. I'd be surprised if Fraser and Kirkbright did that.

It can't hurt to pre-wash, right? And put it through the dryer, once, too.

Alan, I believe the last batch of xmarks tartan was indeed woven by Marton Mills

**auld argonian** · 27th January 12, 11:12 AM

Synthetics don't shrink in the wash...the theory that I heard is that the fibers never really absorb any water; it's only the spaces between the fibers that the water occupies and when the water is gone, the fibers are basically untouched.

Have a tweed sport coat from a clearance sale at Old Navy...$9.00! sized small, medium, large, ex-large...bought a large and it's a bit loose so, having nothing to lose, I threw it in the washing machine and then tossed it in the dryer with the idea that it might shrink enough and if it didn't, it was 9 bucks...it's a wool/poly blend and it BARELY shrank...a tad but not much. It also came out of the dryer looking ready to wear...didn't have to take an iron to it.

So...synthetics have that goin' for them.

Not being a stichin' magician, I wonder about the thread used to sew something shrinking after a wash while the fabric stays the same...would seams pucker up?

Best

AA