Fabworks Fabric Care Guides

At Fabworks, most of our fabrics are sourced from leading manufacturers across the UK and Europe as end-of-line, surplus, and small-run pieces. This means each fabric is unique, often one of one and limited in quantity, and produced in a range of yarn types, weights, finishes, and constructions.

Because our fabrics arrive without full mill-provided care instructions or technical details, we offer best-practice guidance based on our extensive experience working with fabrics and natural fibres. All advice is intended as a helpful reference rather than a guarantee. We always recommend testing a small sample before laundering, particularly for fabrics with delicate or open-weave constructions. Click here to learn more about Fabworks Souring Sustainable Fabrics.

Read on to learn more about each fibre and best practice care from our knowledgeable Fabworks Team.

Caring for your Wool Fabrics

Wool is naturally resilient, warm, and beautifully structured, but like all premium textiles it benefits from thoughtful handling. Whether you're tailoring a suiting weight, shaping a boiled wool jacket, or working with a soft flannel, treat it as you would your most prized tailored garment, refreshed and aired rather than routinely washed, so it keeps its structure, handle, and longevity for years to come.

Preparation: test wash a swatch of your fabric if you are unsure how to launder before using your final fabric. Only pre-wash your fabric before cutting if the finished piece will be laundered later
Washing: dry clean where possible, or hand rinse gently in cold water using a wool-friendly detergent
Drying: never tumble dry, as this causes shrinkage and felting. Lay flat on a towel, gently reshape, and leave to air dry away from direct heat
Storage: fold or hang with space to breathe, protected from moths with cedar or lavender

Follow the link below for full care instructions and washing guidance.

Learn more about caring for woollen fabrics

Caring for your Woven Cotton Fabrics

Cotton is naturally breathable, durable, and endlessly versatile, but like all premium textiles it benefits from thoughtful handling. Whether you're sewing with a crisp shirting cotton, a hard-wearing denim, or a sturdy drill or twill, gentle care will help preserve its structure, colour, and character for years to come.

Preparation: test wash a swatch of your fabric if you are unsure how to launder before using your final fabric. Pre-wash your fabric before cutting if the finished piece will be laundered later as is likely with woven cotton fabrics.
Washing: machine wash cool to warm on a gentle or normal cycle depending on weight; wash denim inside out and with like colours to protect against fading.
Drying: line dry where possible; if tumble drying, use a low heat setting and remove crisp cottons while still slightly damp.
Storage: fold rather than hang to avoid pulling heavier weaves out of shape, somewhere cool, dry, and away from plastic to allow natural fibres to breathe.

Follow the link below for our recommended fabric guidance.

Learn more about caring for woven cottons

Caring for your Linen Fabrics

Linen is naturally durable, breathable, and resilient, but like all premium textiles it benefits from thoughtful handling. Whether you're sewing with a breezy dress linen, crisp shirting weave, or rustic artisan blend, gentle care will help preserve its structure, charm, and easy lived-in beauty for years to come.

Preparation: test wash a swatch of your fabric f you are unsure how to launder before using your final fabric. Pre-wash your fabric before cutting if the finished piece will be laundered later
Washing: machine wash gently at 30–40°C, or hand wash delicate weaves in lukewarm water
Drying: Line dry or lay flat where possible; if tumble drying, use a low heat, low-tumble setting and remove while still slightly damp to avoid over-shrinking and to make ironing easier.
Storage: fold in a cool, dry, breathable space, away from plastic

Follow the link below for full care instructions and washing guidance.

Learn More about caring for Linen Fabrics

Caring for your Jersey Fabrics

Jersey fabrics are prized for their softness, stretch, and comfort. Unlike woven fabrics, jersey is knitted, giving it natural flexibility and drape, but also meaning it benefits from slightly different care. Gentle handling from the very beginning will help maintain its shape, stretch, and appearance, keeping your handmade garments looking their best for years to come.

Preparation: Pre-wash your fabric before cutting if your finished garment will be laundered. If you're unsure how your jersey will behave, test wash a small swatch first to check for shrinkage, stretch recovery, or any twisting.
Washing: Wash inside out on a cool, gentle cycle with similar lightweight garments. Avoid overloading the machine, as excessive agitation can encourage distortion and unnecessary wear.
Drying: Reshape while damp and lay flat to dry where possible. Avoid tumble drying, particularly for jerseys containing elastane, as heat and agitation can affect stretch and encourage twisting.
Storage: Fold rather than hang, especially for heavier jerseys, to help prevent stretching. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Follow the link below for our recommended fabric guidance.

Learn more about Caring for Jersey Fabrics

How to wash test a fabric sample

Before washing or laundering your final fabric, cut a small swatch and test your intended method first.

1. Cut a swatch roughly 15cm x 15cm from your fabric
2. Measure and note its dimensions
3. Wash and dry using your intended method
4. Re-measure once dry and compare to your original measurements
5. Check for any shrinkage, colour change, or texture change before committing your full length of fabric

A Helpful Guide, Not a Guarantee

This guide reflects our best-practice recommendations based on experience, but every fabric is unique, and results can vary depending on fibre content, weave, and finish. We'd always encourage testing a swatch first, and if you're ever unsure, our team at Fabworks is happy to help.

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