Preparation for Sewing
If you're planning to launder your finished piece down the line, it's worth pre-washing your fabric before you cut into it, cotton can shrink more than you'd expect on its first wash, and pre-washing means your measurements stay true once it's made up.
Laundering
Most woven cottons are happy on a machine wash, cool to warm, with a normal or gentle cycle depending on the weight and weave. Lighter shirting cottons do best on a gentler cycle to keep them looking crisp for longer, while heavier weaves can generally take a slightly more robust wash.
Shirting Cottons & Lightweight Wovens: these finer cotton fabrics benefit from a little extra care to keep them looking smart and feeling smooth. Wash on a cool temperature using a gentle cycle, ideally with similar lightweight fabrics, to minimise creasing and reduce wear on the fibres. Avoid overloading the machine, as lighter fabrics can become more wrinkled when packed in tightly. For best results, remove promptly after washing and either hang to dry or give a light press while still slightly damp to maintain that crisp, fresh finish.
Denims: wash denim inside out and on a cold cycle to protect the indigo and reduce fading, and always wash denim with other denim or dark colours, that famous dye loves to migrate onto anything pale sharing the drum with it. Denim also doesn't need washing nearly as often as you'd think; the occasional wash (or even an airing instead) helps it keep its character and colour for longer.
Drills, Twills & Heavier Weaves: these tend to be the workhorses of the cotton family and can generally handle a slightly warmer, more standard wash than shirting cottons. That said, if yours has any colour depth to it, the same inside-out, like-with-like approach used for denim is a good habit to borrow.
Drying
Line drying is kindest to all woven cottons and helps avoid unnecessary shrinkage. If you do tumble dry, use a low heat setting and remove while still slightly damp, this is especially worth doing with shirting cottons, as it makes ironing far easier.
Denim prefers to dry away from direct, strong sunlight, which can accelerate fading, inside out, on the line, is the sweet spot.
Ironing & Steaming
Shirting cottons iron best while still slightly damp, on a hot cotton setting, and take a steam very well if you're after a crisp finish. Drills and twills can generally handle medium-high heat too. Denim is best ironed inside out, or with a pressing cloth, to protect that indigo colour from direct heat.
Laundering
Most woven cottons are happy on a machine wash, cool to warm, with a normal or gentle cycle depending on the weight and weave. Lighter shirting cottons do best on a gentler cycle to keep them looking crisp for longer, while heavier weaves can generally take a slightly more robust wash.
Shirting Cottons & Lightweight Wovens: these finer cotton fabrics benefit from a little extra care to keep them looking smart and feeling smooth. Wash on a cool temperature using a gentle cycle, ideally with similar lightweight fabrics, to minimise creasing and reduce wear on the fibres. Avoid overloading the machine, as lighter fabrics can become more wrinkled when packed in tightly. For best results, remove promptly after washing and either hang to dry or give a light press while still slightly damp to maintain that crisp, fresh finish.
Denims: wash denim inside out and on a cold cycle to protect the indigo and reduce fading, and always wash denim with other denim or dark colours, that famous dye loves to migrate onto anything pale sharing the drum with it. Denim also doesn't need washing nearly as often as you'd think; the occasional wash (or even an airing instead) helps it keep its character and colour for longer.
Drills, Twills & Heavier Weaves: these tend to be the workhorses of the cotton family and can generally handle a slightly warmer, more standard wash than shirting cottons. That said, if yours has any colour depth to it, the same inside-out, like-with-like approach used for denim is a good habit to borrow.
Drying
Line drying is kindest to all woven cottons and helps avoid unnecessary shrinkage. If you do tumble dry, use a low heat setting and remove while still slightly damp, this is especially worth doing with shirting cottons, as it makes ironing far easier.
Denim prefers to dry away from direct, strong sunlight, which can accelerate fading, inside out, on the line, is the sweet spot.
Ironing & Steaming
Shirting cottons iron best while still slightly damp, on a hot cotton setting, and take a steam very well if you're after a crisp finish. Drills and twills can generally handle medium-high heat too. Denim is best ironed inside out, or with a pressing cloth, to protect that indigo colour from direct heat.
Storage
Fold your fabrics and finished garments to store, hanging can pull heavier cottons like denim, drill, and twill out of shape over time, particularly around seams. Keep everything somewhere cool and dry, and steer clear of plastic covers where you can; cotton likes to breathe just as much as you'd expect.
