Hands up if your delicate handmades have ever perished in the wash! I've lost count of the times my carefully stitched clothes have come out mangled beyond repair, no matter how gentle I set the spin cycle on my powerful washing machine.
It normally happens to items with a lot of hand-stitching or bias-bound edges, which probably says more about my sewing skills than my washing machine! Nonetheless, it's pretty devastating and I was determined not to let it happen to my lovely Afternoon Blouse.
Enter the humble mesh washing bag! My mum has always used one for her sheer tights, bras and the like, but I stupidly never thought of using one to protect my me-mades. You just place your item(s) in the bag, zip it up and chuck it in the washing machine with the rest of your load.
It works an absolute treat and I no longer dread investigating freshly washed laundry for unsightly rips. It's the small things in life, eh!?!
Do you use washing bags? What other simple tricks have transformed the way you sew/care for your handmade wardrobe?
On another matter, I have lucky giveaway winners to announce!
A copy of The Great British Sewing Bee: From Stitch to Style goes to Moody Cat Crafts and the Simplicity goody bag goes to The Crafty Pinup. HUGE congrats Kirsty and Abi...I'll be in touch shortly to arrange delivery!
I have a couple of mesh bags and they are great for undies and me-mades. The ones that I have are not huge so for jumpers and bigger items I use old pillowcases secured at the top with a hair band. Because they are well washed and/or pale colours they don't run and if the fabric does then no loss. :) Xx
ReplyDeleteI absolutely depend on my mesh laundry bags. In addition to tights and bras, mine are used for my favorite polyester blouses and sometimes for lightweight machine-knit cardigans, if it's a large load where I'm afraid the sleeves will be pulled out of shape. I don't have any delicate me-mades to worry about yet, but when I do, they'll definitely get their own bag in the wash.
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky my LG washing machine I bought about 5 years back, has a hand wash cycle for dedicates. The matching LG dryer has a freshen option, where you place a rack in the dry and lay your lightly worn garment on. It uses steam to freshen the item that doesn't need a full wash. However, I must admit I use mesh bags mainly to wash my bras. I find they tangle in the wash, so I put 2 to 3 in a single bag and make sure they are clasped. Since then no more tangling.
ReplyDeleteI use mesh bags for more than just washing delicates. The bags are great for storing slippery fabric like silk and lycra, and for holding all the bits, including fabric, for current sewing projects, or thise in the queue. I also spend 2 or 3 nights a week away from home and have 2 bags in my suitcase for sorting dirty delicates by colour, when I get home I just throw the bags in the wash.
ReplyDeleteIF it can't go in the dryer, it goes in a mesh bag. Consequently, I have a lot of them and some big ones. I just can't count on the other laundry do-ers to remember not to put Xxxxx in the dryer, and I've cried too many tears over shrunken or fried clothes. Because every thing goes in the washer at my house.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder, I have some of these bags but don't use them anywhere near as often as I probably should!
ReplyDeleteI use it for bras or delicate pieces, and I will take your advice and use it for garmets with a lot of hand stitching
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I'm so excited!
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I put my handmade bras in mesh bags to stop the wires and the bra hooks catching in the drum holes. Waiting for sunshine to photograph my dress. Jo x
ReplyDeleteI have 5 mesh bags I use them as you do for blouses bras etc but I also use them for washing fabric I can fit 2-3 metres in each bag saves them from unravelling and knotting up
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