How to soften linen fabric - FAST!
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- čas přidán 23. 06. 2019
- Hello,
I made a linen top the other day and discovered a great shortcut to making the fabric soft. So here it is.
The blog post I originally learnt this technique from is here: www.maddiemadethis.com/2018/0...
Thanks for watching!
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Works brilliantly! Did this on a pricy linen dress that was terribly stiff. Soaked for 24h and then washed with a vinegar rinse to neutralize the soda. So soft! You can do it more than once to go softer if you don't get it as soft as you like on the first try.
Yay! So happy I can now soften my linen fabrics for my sewing projects, thanks!
Wonderful video tip!! I didn’t know anything about this! Now I will not be afraid to make more linen garments! Thank you!
I’m so pleased to have this information! I’ll try it ASAP ❤️
Thanks for posting this :) I will certainly give this a go whenever I get around to trying something with linen.
Thank you for this! I look forward to trying this method.
Good tip. I've also used a tip from Peggy Sagars of Sillhouette patterns and that is to add a can of original Coca Cola to the washing machine. No soap. Run a normal wash cycle. Works on denim and any stiff fabric. I tried it on linen and denim and worked great both times. X
Considering that for whatever reason i can't open the link to maddie made this, i am so so grateful for your video!
Thanks sew much for the softening tip!
Great tip... and I also use wool dryer balls in the dryer to help too
Oooo I'm going to try this, thank you.
Thank you for this tip. I love the breathability of linen but I don't like creases or ironing. I will be trying this!
I made cloth napkins that are a bit scratchy and definitely need softening. Am giving this a try, thank you! You are adorable, and I love your haircut :)
Great tip Jo. I have recently found your channel from Whitney at TomKat Stitchery. Much to catch up on and I love your video's. Thank you so much for sharing your tips and tricks about fabric care with us. Also, love your Live video's. Watching from Massachusetts, USA. Stay safe and wishing you and your family my very best.
I have linen fabric that feels like cardboard so haven’t made anything. Paid a lot of money so hoping your luck transmits to my luck. Can’t wait to try. Great thanks.
Thank you so much for that great tip!
As a “Yank “ I love listening to you speak! Thanks for the tip, I’ll give it a try with “baking soda “ !
Brilliant idea
Thank you that sounds rather easy to do I have dress shirt as of now that needs major softing. ☺🙌
Thank you for this video! I have a mid-weight linen dress that I sewed on the bias, and while it drapes nicely, I'm feeling impatient for when the fabric will become softer and even more drapey.
Thank you for this, I have two lovely linen blouses that I don't wear very often as they are a bit stiff. I shall be doing this today.
Great idea..does the bicarbonate effect dark colours?..do you use warm water..thanks
Great idea! I’ve always just tumble dried to soften linen - will give this a go next time
It worksd, thank you!
Great tip!! Thank you!!
Very helpful video ❤
Thank you. This is very useful 🧵
Thank you for this tip! ❤
Well Thank you, you’re a lifesaver
Hope you had success and if all else fails, just wash wash wash the fabric - Good luck!
Brilliant!
Great content. Thank you!
thanks
Great job
Just did this to two of my linen dresses...they are horribly scratchy and brand new. Hoepefully this works!
Thank you for the tip!❤️
It's taken me far too long to reply - but thank you!
🤩🙏 brilliant - thank you!
thankyou so much for this. i really need this
Thanks for your comment
Thank you! Just bought linen sheets and they are super scratchy!
I use bicarb soda in my washing machine with detergent when I wash my bed linen. And white vinegar as a softener. Try that
I usually use bicarb in every wash when I wash my white linen bedding. You’ll be good.
I tried vinigar and water soaking 2 days my pj's are still scratchy. I'll soak em in bi carb now for 2 days and do what the other comment suggests bi carb in washing machine.
see how it goes.
Have they softened up now?
Were they cheap? And how are they now?
From what I've heard, for proper linen they comb out all the short fibres and thus retain only softer longer fiber.
Perhaps for cheaper ones they don't do this, which may give a rougher feel to the fabric.
.
Great tip Jo, I'll be giving this a go 👌😁💝😘
Great tip, can’t wait to try. I made a Stevie top in Linen and far to sticky out, so this is great, thanks 🙏 I
Your a love , thank you !
Super helpful video! I hope the reason you haven’t been posting isn’t because you’re not doing well. Hoping you’re well and looking forward to any fifties videos you may decide to post. :)
I had a linen shirt that wasn't just creasy but it was uncomfortably stiff and scratchy. As an experiment I put it on the washing line during a period of rain and gusty winds to see if the constant rinsing, flexing and flapping would soften it. And.....it barely made any difference, so I'd follow Joey's advice instead.
After you soften fabrics you MUST neutralize the alkalinity of the softening agent you're using. Especially with linen because linen is constantly taking in and giving off moisture from the air and whatever baking soda remains in the garment after softening and even after rinsing will continue to eat the fibers as linen never dries completely.
This is the same thing that happens when you use baking soda instead of shampoo. It's awesome, initially, but then your hair starts to break so,when you use baking soda, be sure to give a good final rinse squeeze out the water and then rinse with a light citric acid solution. Vinegar and lemon juice don't seem to work but citric acid works great.
I Have several disintegrating pieces of linen clothing from washing with homemade laundry detergent before I figured out what was going on so, learn from my mistakes as my 30 year old all time favorite linen shirt is paper thin and subject to tearing at the slightest stress. It's ruined. The same thing happens with all natural textiles but linen, due to its affinity for moisture, is particularly vulnerable. It's exactly as if the textiles sit around in a weak but continually active drain cleaner solution all day.
Same for your hair - if you're using baking soda as an alternative to shampoo. It's awesome initially, but it just keeps eating away at your hair if you don't neutralize the alkalinity of it that rinsing leaves behind.
Would a second short soak (like a few hours or even less) with some distilled or apple cider vinegar help neutralize, as you suggested in the shampoo/rinse method?
@@boadiceameridionalis3732 It is reported that other substances don't work with borax so I would not use them. You could try them BUT, if it's true and they don't work, by the time you find out it will be too late. I wouldn't take the chance. Coincidentally, I found a favorite organic cotton t-shirt and an old linen tank top in the bottom of a drawer, day before yesterday, and they're both trashed. I can easily put my finger right through both of them - they can't even be patched - so I am both extra pissed off at my stupidity AND extra adamant on this topic today. There's just no going back when it happens.
@@hootiebubbabuddhabelly Okay, now I'm confused as to how borax comes into it, but okay. Thanks.
@@boadiceameridionalis3732 Borax is also alkaline and used like the baking soda and with baking soda in those homemade alternatives to shampoo and laundry detergent.. Whether it's baking soda or borax, if you don't neutralize it's just going to be left actively eating away at natural fibers like a weak drain cleaner - hair, cotton, linen, hemp, wool - it doesn't matter. That's what drain cleaner does. It eats the stuff that clogs one's drains and also strips the skin's natural acid mantle.
Thank you =) Does anyone know if this is safe to do with vibrant/bright coloured fabric?
Great tip! Thank you! Any advice for sewing with crinkle rayon? Maybe also titled rayon viscose? I am wanting to make a jumpsuit, but am wondering if the fabric is too flimsy for a garment such as this...
thank you good to know
l will try it on cotton as well
A great tip! Thank you!
Do you think this will work on some batik quilting cotton I have? I am definitely going to use it on several linen item I have. Thank you!
I'm so happy I found this. I bought a linen dress and it is unbearably itchy and stiff I hope this does wonders
Just wanted to check, did it make any difference ? I am in the same situation and wondering if I return it or try the trick ..
@@daphneesorelcoupal4631 Did you return or try the trick? I'm in the same boat - itchy linen!
@@jasmintuffahagutierrez2028 i did not do the trick yet- but what I did is that right after washing the dress, I put it at the lowest temlerature possible for 20 mins in the dryer and it wotked, for my dress at least. But I just want to say that they recommand not putting linen clothing or fabrics in the dryer but I did it anyway, in hopes it would soften it (just like It's the case for denim). I'm very sensitive to itchy fabrics and i enjoy wearing my dress now. It s of course not as light and soft as a cotton/linen blend, but I don't regret keeping it :)
@@daphneesorelcoupal4631 Thanks for the details! Glad it worked out for you! I'm still undecided cuz the jumpsuit can't shrink AT ALL or it would be too short :-S :-)
Hi Joanne. GREAT TIP. thankyou so much. Will definitely be passing that on ! The cut is lovely on the top. Did you have a pattern you could share ?
It looks like the Kabuki Tee from Paper Theory. I think it’s called the Block Tee now.
Nice top. What pattern did you use? Glad you made this video. I just bought lots of linen.
Thank you for this tip. Do you start off using hot or cold water?
Thanks for the quick tip!
Do you know if baking soda will soften other stiff fabrics as well?
Can this be done with cotton poly blend?
After soaking in the water and soda, did you launder as usual? Hang dry? Use the dryer? Iron it? Thanks for the tip, I soaked a batik and just laundering it now and have two linen pieces soaking, fingers crossed 🤞🏻
Would this work on calico?
THANK YOU!!!! I AM GOING TO TRY THIS RIGHT NOW! Let you know how this goes, using it for Pillow cases!
How did it work?
How did it go?
Thanks for your comment
Does it work on cotton?
I would love to know the pattern.
can this be done on 100% cotton fabric too?
Thank you🫶🏻
You're welcome, I hope it works well for you
I assume the cloth has to be moist with a little water ?
Hi Joey, Do you think I can use B soda as a pre-wash for my new fabric before pattern cutting, to soften it, does this also effect the colour 'Red' of the dye used for the Linen?
It will certainly work on linen before sewing, that's a good time to do it. As for the effect on a dyed colour. I wouldn't think so but I would test a small offcuts first just in case
Good tip ,try this one its brilliant ,add a can of coke to washing machine no soap ,and not coke light the original.The more you wash the softer the fabric gets.All fabrics ,tip from Peggy Sagers at Silhouette patterns.
Hi, do you know if this process will help linen shirts that are too tight and small? In terms of softening and stretching it out again?
No, I don't think it would help in that case - sorry
You’re darling ❤️
So would you say. 1)wash and dry your fabric to pre shrink it. 2)make the garment 3) soften it 4) wear it proudly ?...🤩
This didn't really work for me. I soaked in my washing machine instead of a bucket. Is that why it didn't work? ✌🏻edit: it did work!! My dress is soooo much softer now!!! Thank you so much 💕
Thanks for this information. I tried to soften a white linen shirt - small tub of cold water + 1/2 c baking soda. I left it for several hours, but it didn't work at all! Did I not leave it in long enough? I'm going to try again and leave it overnight
If inn doubt, just wash it wash it and wash it, the more use linen gets the softer it gets, and if you can;t or don;t want to wear it while it's softening washing is a good substitute
Thank you for the tip. I really want to make linen pants but get annoyed with the wrinkles. I will try this. Do you think it would work with denim? Again, thank you. I enjoy your videos very much.
I will try the baking soda first and let you know. I forgot about the coke i heard that a while ago and forgot. Old as the hills. Thanks again
Is this a temporary measure? I want to get some linen sheets. I’ll get the washed ones but o want to get the as soft as possible and not scratchy.
Not temporary, it's a way to fast forward a bit. The very best way for linen to be soft is for it to be used and washed and used and washed, but that takes lots of time...
Not so much stiff but more scratchy!
Wash wash and wash if you can
Do you make your garment before or after softening it.
You can do either, it doesn't make any difference, although you should definitely at least wash the linen before you sew it up, cause your garment might shrink in the first wash otherwise 😬
If anyone is wondering if this works, it does. I'm now using the method on a 2nd hand linen shirt I bought that had some sort of fabric additive from the factory that made it the stiffest, scratchiest thing ever adn slightly water repellant. It's been slow going because of how stubborn the coating is (the first time I did this on some dresses and all it took was one long soak, it was great). When it comes off it sort of gets stuck to the sides of bowl I'm using. It's weird lol
Glad to hear it's working and I love your persistence 💪🏻
💖
Do you recommend softening the linen before sewing, or after the garment is complete
Joey Sewy Thank you! I was just wondering if softening the fabric before sewing made it harder to work with at all or if it is not a noticeable difference. Does it still press well? One of the reasons I like working with linen is because I can finger-press the seams and hems. Is that effected? I suppose I can always just soften the garment after sewing, I’m just curious :)
Joey Sewy thank you! This is very helpful to know!
I'm wondering how the baking soda works this way to soften. Does it break down fibers? Also how much does linen shrink? I have new linen pillowcases and they already look small, so I'm afraid to wash them at all.
I bought linen pillowcases and have washed them all in cold water with detergent. Hung to dry. Didn't seem to shrink at all. The instructions say cold to warm water, tumble dry low, but I don't have a dryer, and would not want to chance it if I did. I was all my clothes in cold water and hang them, and they last forever.
Thanks for your comment
Info around 2:40
Thanks, great hack! How much water to baking soda?
.
Great hack, by the way! Wonder if it works for starchy cotton...
You can tell it's linen because it wrinkles from lying on the table.
Will this work if the fabric is linen/cotton blend? Will it not ruin the cotton?
No, the cotton should be absolutely fine, cotton is a tough fibre
Does this decrease the longevity of the garment?
no, it has no effect on longevity that I have ever found
Would this work for polycotton?
Not as far as I know, but repeated washing of poly cotton will help
@@MakeYourLifeBetterwithJoCook Repeated washing is something that will happen eventually anyways. It's like trying to dye one's hair grey and someone saying "it'll get grey eventually" Lol.
Does this work on stiff stretch denim, just to soften it?
No I don't think it'll work any faster than just washing will. Making up the garment and then wearing it in is the only.option I know of with denim (unless you have access to a factory with acid washes etc)
@@MakeYourLifeBetterwithJoCook Thank you so much!
My linen sheets are so stiff after i used sodiumpercarbonate. I already soaked it in soda overnight and washed them, using vinegar as a softener but it didn't fix the problem. Is it ruined now or should i repeat the process?
If they're still visually ok (and the bicarbonate shouldn't have affected that) then they're not ruined. Yes you could try it again. Or I recently heard from a reliable source that you can soak linen in fullsugar Coke at least overnight (and wash thoroughly afterwards obviously) but the acid in the coke helps break down the stiffness. So that's something else to try I haven't given it a go myself yet but I'm definitely going to
Guessing this will work for linen duvet cover? Leave in for 24 hours still? Or longer?
Nice vid. Thanks
I use bicarb soda in my washing machine with detergent when I wash my bed linen. And white vinegar as a softener. Try that
I usually use bicarb in every wash when I wash my white linen bedding. You’ll be good.
you are very pretty
Thanks for your comment
Thank you so much! Would linen duvet covers and sheets be included in this? I don’t know if size has much to do with this.
I need to soften a duvet cover, too, did you try it?
Amanda Alton I haven’t yet! But I can let you know as soon as I do!:)
Did you ladies try this? I just bought linen covers today (husband gets over heated when he sleeps so we are trying this out!) and they are scratchy
@@amandaalton107 me too. I think I’m going to wash my duvet
@@amandaalton107 yes I use bicarb in most my washes when I wash my white bed linen
Does this work for cotton too?
Joey Sewy thank you
I can't wear it, its too prickly on my arms. Is there a treatment. The bicarb is not doing it? I soaked it in a bucket with a heap of bi carb for days. Help. I have 2 dresses I bought online at $100 each. And I have very sensative skin.
I now realise I should have got a linen blend. I feel rotten I have wasted this money.
How are the items now ? If not better maybe you could line them with another fabric.
Does this work on clothes that lost softness??
No I don't think it will do that
Thank you for this. I have some fabric which I bought for curtains. It was sold as corduroy but it is way to stiff for curtains and creases easily. Would it work for this do you think?
@@MakeYourLifeBetterwithJoCook thank you
Thanks for the tip. The top looks lovely. Have you done a tutorial for it? If so, could you send the link, please? If not, would you consider doing one? Best.
@@MakeYourLifeBetterwithJoCook It does; thanks a lot. If it's not too much trouble for you, I'd love to see come close-up shots of your top and its sleeves. Thanks again.
(Am curious, too, about the read stitching on the front!)
Baking soda will harm cloth colour??
Not that I know of
Does this work for denim. Your video came up when I searched “how to soften denim?”
🐯
Would this work on denim?
No, I don't think it would make any difference to denim. Denim gets softer through use and washing it always reverses a bit of that softness, although over time that reversing reduces and the softness comes back more quickly once you wear the garment. This method wouldn't influence that process at all
Thank you, Joey. :-)
Will this work for satin? if you bought a cheap satin and you want it supper soft?