McCalls 7086

Silk care instructions

Correct care will insure that you silk products will remain looking lovely for years.

A few important rules need to be observed as silk is a natural fibre and cannot be treated in the same way as a synthetic fibre.

Please pay special attention to the following instructions:

• Never spray silk with perfume or deodorant
• Never bleach silk.
• Never expose silk to direct sunlight for long periods of time. It will fade and can be damaged.
• Don't spray silk with water while ironing.
• Don't treat individual stains with water.
• Always iron the wrongside only.
• Never wring dry

In contrast to the widespread opinion that silk can only be dry cleaned, silk products can be washed by hand without being damaged. If you've bought fabric it's easy to test wash/iron a scrap and then you'll know for sure how best to launder your finished garment.

1. Use a mild hand washing/laundering product or one specially formulated for delicate silk fabrics.
2. Soak silk in lukewarm water for 3-5 minutes. (If silk is dark or printed, do not let it soak. Just quickly wash it in cold water.)
3. Gently move the fabric during soaking from side to side. (Do not wring dry!) Handle wet silk with great care as it is very delicate.
4. After a maximum of 5 minutes remove silk from water and rinse the fabric with cold water. If you can still feel the detergent gently rinse again.
5. Wrap silk in a dry towel to remove the remaining liquid. Use several layers when using dark or printed silk as occasionally a little colour may run.
6. Gently smooth and straighten the silk garment. Allow it to reach a 'slightly damp' stage and take out the iron.
7. Silk should always be ironed from the backside.
   Check your iron's setting!
   Don't iron silk too hot!
   Always remember that silk is a protein structure much like human hair. Heat will damage it.

Care instructions for other fabrics and garments.

1. Silk garments that you've made from our fabric. If you haven't test washed a scrap and don't feel brave enough to wash by hand then dry cleaning is the only answer.
2. Garments made by you or us from genuine vintage fabrics. As there isn't a 100% guarantee that we can identify all the fibres in some vintage fabrics, then dry cleaning is the safest option. Again, if you have a scrap to test (we can send one to you if you've had a garment made by us, just ask) and it behaves itself, then it's up to you. Be careful though!
3. Ironing. Take great care. If you're not 100% sure of the fibre content of the fabric start with a very cool iron and slowly, if necessary, increase the heat and start in the most hidden place just in case!