03-31-2009, 12:33 PM
Hot water makes the fibers in wool coil up more tightly, which makes the fabric thicker (*fuller*) and makes it lose dimension in length and width. If you want nice, thin tunic material, you ought to just buy the already dyed color you like, and dry clean it, or rinse it in mild soap and cold water.
If you don't use hot water for RIT, it won't set, and will fade more. If you do use hot water, the fabric will "shrink".
If it were my tunic, I wouldn't make the clavi from fabric I'd dyed. It is guaranteed to do something, and most likely something you won't like. I pretty much always go ahead with hot water before I sew it up. It's a compromise I feel comfortable with. But the fabric will get thicker, no doubt about that.
If you don't use hot water for RIT, it won't set, and will fade more. If you do use hot water, the fabric will "shrink".
If it were my tunic, I wouldn't make the clavi from fabric I'd dyed. It is guaranteed to do something, and most likely something you won't like. I pretty much always go ahead with hot water before I sew it up. It's a compromise I feel comfortable with. But the fabric will get thicker, no doubt about that.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
