Monday, August 20, 2012

Help!!! I think I may have washed out my denim design?!?!?

Today I purchased a gorgeous animal print stretch denim from Jo-Ann's today with the intention of making a cute top which I'll reveal later. In preparation to work with the fabric, since it was cotton, I naturally washed it for pre-shrinking. After washing it I pulled it from the  machine and to my surprise and dismay I didn't see the animal print design anymore. I was shocked!!!! The design was really subtle to begin with.........(see the pic---it's barely noticeable here but in good lighting you can see the animal print fairly well........
 (Animal print denim photo courtesy of Joann.com.)

 and I hadn't paid much attention to how the design was created (it appeared to be somewhat embossed).  But let me tell you that I nearly went into sheer panic when I no longer saw it. I figured I hadn't washed it correctly so I frantically checked the Joann's website to find that I'd washed it fine (I used the light cycle instead of the delicate one but that wouldn't have made a big difference). I figured all was lost and put it in the dryer for a while. By that time I was convinced I'd washed it out???? I retrieved it from the dryer a few minutes later and began to see what appears to be the design, reappearing. I've laid it on the drying rack and am hoping for the best. I won't know until the fabrics completely dry if the pattern will return in it's totality. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Strange, huh??? Have you ever experienced anything like this with a fabric???? Have you had any pre-treatment woes???

12 comments:

  1. That's bizarre. Never had this happen to me but, I have to say, on my computer I can BARELY see the animal print design. If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known. I suspect it will return to the extent it was there to begin with.

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    1. I sure hope so K.Line! This whole ordeal makes me at least happy I used a 50% off coupon on this. Hopefully all will be well in the morning once its dry!

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  2. I can't see the design at all. I once washed a cotton fabric I'd bought for a jacket to find the colour washed out completely but left behind a kind of snakeskin like effect. I changed my plans and sewed it into a pair of skinny jeans that I still wear and love several years later!

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  3. My daughter-in-law had a designer coat that had this denim as lining in the upper back. I can vouch that it is a really cool, subtle fabric.

    When she took her coat to the cleaners last winter the print virtually disappeared. She was heart-broken and considered suing the cleaner. I'll be sure to tell her about your experience - it looks like the problem is with the fabric rather than with the cleaning method.

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  4. Magic denim!!! Maybe this fabric is the chameleon of the denim world...

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  5. The Case of the Disappearing Design by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle :-)

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  6. Hmm.. I don't see any pattern on it either. Must have been subtle... I think it will show up again. I have seen this before though. Don't panic - let us know tomorrow!

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  7. The case of the disappearing animal print, indeed! I can't see it either, but I believe you :) Has it come back now its dried? Fingers crossed!

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  8. I once bought a wrinkled knit with a metallic floral design on it. Washed, it was a flat black fabric, no wrinkles, no print.

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  9. Hey Victoria! Sorry to hear about your mishap! This happened to my bff about a year ago and she was very warm about it :) Since she is a beginner sewer, I am glad it didn't detour her from sewing. However; she was glad that she got in from a Five and Dime store.

    I know that you will be able to still add your wonderful fashion statement to this fabric. You could also add some embroidery designs if all is lost once it's dry.

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  10. I bought two 1-yard pieces of glitter knit from the red tag section from JoAnn's a few years ago. When I prewashed one piece, I learned that water and glitter fabric do *not* mix. It looked like a fairy sneezed in my laundry room. I don't know what happened to the other piece; I probably gave it away.

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  11. All is not lost now. I have been here before and it is devastating since you have already made the garment in your head. You really have to watch some of JoAnn's fabrics. They will take it back if your design is not still on it. Good Luck

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and for following me on my 10,000 Hour Sewing Challenge:)

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