Pre-laundered garments are made from fabric that has been washed before manufacturing, resulting in better size and shape retention and less fading. Some people prefer them due to lower chemical presence, but not all chemicals can be avoided. It is suggested to wash fabric before sewing to ensure the finished product retains its desired size and shape. Look for the “preshrunk” label when purchasing pre-washed cotton garments.
Pre-laundered garments are garments made from material that has been laundered prior to the manufacture of the garment. T-shirts are common clothing items made from pre-washed fabric, as are some collared shirts, blouses, and other types of clothing. While many garments are not made from pre-washed fabric, many are, and there are several advantages to purchasing pre-washed garments.
One of the biggest advantages of pre-washed garments is size and shape retention. Items made of pure cotton or a high percentage of cotton will shrink when first washed. Pre-laundered garments are more likely to retain their size and shape because any shrinkage of the material occurred prior to manufacturing. Similarly, pre-washed fabrics also tend to fade less, which means they retain their color better and are unlikely to bleed when first washed.
Many people are more confident in buying pre-washed garments due to the lower chance of chemical presence in the fabric. While a pre-washed garment may have fewer chemicals in the fabric, it does not guarantee that no chemicals were added during or after manufacturing. Some chemicals, such as flame retardant compounds added to infant and children’s pajamas, are added during manufacturing as required by law under the jurisdiction of the manufacturer’s location.
Just as some manufacturers make items out of pre-washed fabric, making household items out of pre-washed fabric also has its advantages. In fact, many clothing and home linen patterns suggest washing the fabric before sewing. This helps ensure that the finished product will retain the size and shape that you want.
When shopping for clothes, a pre-washed garment is usually identified by its size and the care label sewn inside. The word “preshrunk” generally accompanies 100% cotton garments if the fabric used to make the garment was prewashed. When purchasing a garment made with cotton without any indication of prewashing, consider purchasing a size slightly larger than normal to allow for shrinkage, and take care when washing and drying to avoid excessive shrinkage and fading.
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