Cherry Wood Hand Dyed Fabrics

In the dyeing process, we use hot water and a Concentrated Surfactant (detergent) called Synthrapol to remove excess dye. This product suspends dye particles in water that have not bonded to the fibres. It does not change the colour of the fabric. Darker colours have a high dye concentration, so pre-washing our fabrics at home is highly recommended to ensure the colour does not migrate. Cherrywood has already been washed 4 times with Synthrapol before it leaves our studio. Please follow the directions below to make sure everything "behaves."

FIRST TIME Washing (Prewashing):

We encourage you to prewash all of your Cherrywood in a full load of WARM or COLD water with 2 teaspoons of Synthrapol. If you see a large amount of colour in the rinse water, a second wash may be necessary. Synthrapol keeps those released dyes from reattaching to other fabrics. If you have a front-loading machine, you may need to wash it more times or use a laundry tub. Similar colours may be washed together as long as you use Synthrapol, but it is wise to keep very dark colours separate from very light colours while prewashing. Super dark colours may need to be washed several times if there are concerns (depending on your water). We have tested Colour Catcher Sheets by Shout: they work well but may leave a lint residue on the fabric. There is no harm in using both products at once.

SUBSEQUENT Washing (Finished quilts, garments, etc.):

Wash finished projects in Synthrapol in COLD water for the first several times. Complete the COLD cycle. This is a good practice to ensure the dyes behave. Synthrapol is an inexpensive product to have on hand to use whenever washing hand-dyes and batiks.

Drying and Pressing:

Remove fabric from the dryer when slightly damp and press with a dry iron. If dry, lightly mist with water and iron to remove wrinkles. DO NOT let finished quilts/garments air-dry as this may cause wicking (the dyes are pulled from one fabric into the next if they dry too slowly). It is recommended to dry projects in the dryer. Use steam, or lightly spritz with water and use a dry iron when pressing Cherrywood garments to keep them looking crisp.

• Cherrywood is preshrunk. It has been washed a minimum of four times and dried in a hot dryer before it is sold to you. Be sure to pre-shrink any other fabrics that you are combining with Cherrywood in a project.

• Cherrywood is colorfast. As with ALL textiles, keep Cherrywood out of prolonged harsh sunlight, and it will retain its rich color.