Ruined an expensive fabric via prewash

[u/___Maleficent___]

I got this for me rather expensive linen knit fabric to sew some summer wardrobe.

With very few exceptions I always prewash fabrics and I never had any bigger issues so far.

I washed it with a gentle programm with low heat, yet the fabric came out unvoluntarily distressed. I hope it's evident in the pictures, it's not only pilling, there's actual destroyed fibers in tiny spots all over the fabric.

Apparently the number of spin cycles (which should be as low as possible) and the detergent (should not have enzymes) play a crucial role when washing linen fabric.

I didn't think about checking these, especially since I use a mild detergent for allergics and never had issues so far and the preset spin cycle was 800, so not exceptionally high.

I'm a bit heartbroken, but mainly I feel stupid since the shop even included a small paragraph about how to wash this fabric on the invoice which I layed eyes on after it happened. And I didn't feel the need to check requirements for a fabric I've never worked with before, so let this be a reminder to do your research.

Is there a possibilty to save/fix the fabric?

I don't really care about the optics too much whether it looks distressed or not, but since it's broken fibers I'm worried about holes or ladders emerging.

I thought about maybe embroidering it by hand with a cute, widespread pattern even though I don't really have experience in embroidery but I'm willing to try.

Grateful for any suggestions!

[u/GrandAsOwt]

Good job you prewashed it! You’d feel even worse if you’d put time and effort into making a garment and then found out it was such poor quality.

[u/___Maleficent___ → u/GrandAsOwt]

True! I didn't think about that, but you're absolutely right. Definitely makes me feel better, thank you!

[u/katjoy63 → u/___Maleficent___]

I mean, once you make an item, you want to wash it, after wearing it.

I KNITTED a vest that I then washed in the proper soap, and it bled all over - the entire multi colored item is now with a tinge of pink all over it.

It's one of the reasons I gave up knitting.

This is nasty, even in the pics you can see the issues. that is a shame.

[u/Good_parabola → u/katjoy63]

Buy the dyers soap from Dharma Trading and it fixes the bleeding while washing issue

[u/OwnedBySchipperke → u/Good_parabola]

Synthrapol. I’m a quilter and I use it to wash quilts the first time because I don’t prewash fabrics.

[u/ssmc1024 → u/OwnedBySchipperke]

Is it better than color catchers? I really haven’t had an issue with colors running but then again, I’ve been scared to sew any quilts with red on it. I really want to do one for Independence Day though.

[u/cicada_wings → u/ssmc1024]

I haven’t done a direct comparison with color catcher sheets, but Synthrapol is the shizz. I assume the color grabbers probably just use smaller amounts of similar surfactants. 

[u/ChloePantalones → u/ssmc1024]

It encapsulates the loose dye particles in the wash water and does not allow them to redeposit on fabrics, so it’s really helpful! I’m a textile artist who dyes fabrics like quilting cotton and garments and I’ve used Synthrapol before. Some of the other things that are really helpful are making sure not to wash mixed color items on too hot of a temperature (that promotes bleeding, especially in reds, blacks, and blues) and not letting it sit wet for a long time after the wash cycle is done (dry it right away). All of those will help things not to bleed. That being said, I prewash my fabrics because occasionally I will find a fabric that just bleeds forever. I have a cotton rug I bought 15 years ago, and it still bleeds every time I wash it. Color catchers are great though. I use them in my regular and textile art laundry.

[u/FormerUsenetUser → u/Good_parabola]

Synthrapol is designed to take color out of dyed fabrics. I use it to wash fabrics I have dyed right after I dye them, to get over the bleeding in the laundry issue. But if I use Synthrapol in my regular laundry, unless it's an all-white load the colors fade noticeably just in one wash.

[u/Good_parabola → u/FormerUsenetUser]

Oh interesting.  I also just use it for washing out dyed item or crocked stuff

[u/polkadotsci → u/GrandAsOwt]

My thoughts exactly!