Prewash or no prewash?

[Mermaid Menanna]

Just a quick question for those who have made spandex tails...
Prewash the fabric or not before getting started? Will it make a difference when it comes time for painting?

[Mermaid Wesley]

Uhhhhhhhhh...... *thinks* I didn't with mine. I rinsed it in the tub before painting it though. So I went: sew, swim swim swim, rinse, swim some more etc, rinse, paint, swim swim swim happy mermaid.

[Gem Stone]

ive never prewashed but I've also never swam in them before they were completely finished. I'm weird that way

[OceanWhisper]

^^^ That's what I'm planning with my first tail :D I have my shell top ready, but until my tail is complete, I don't want to swim with it or the top :) Lots of monofin practice, though :D

[Azurin Luna]

I always prewash every fabric I get... Once had a horrible problem when I didn't... it shrunk 3 sizes so my dress wouldn't fit any more. Since then I prewash everything. Sometimes there is also some stuff used to keep the fabric looking nicer which can cause problems when painting your fabric.

[Elle]

I prewash natural fabrics (and blends) as they can shrink. Pure synthetics dont usually have that problem.

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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Prewash plain spandex as it leaks color. Found that out after I got home after my swim and washed my tail. Purple puddles all over the balcony!

[Mermaid Menanna]

Jaffa, was your first swim in chlorinated water? I was really hoping to not have to prewash since I can't put the fabric in my washing machine, would have to wash it by hand. I have 5 yds worth, which will make for quite a job. Maybe I will cut a small swatch from it and test it, get it wet and see what it does. If I get color in the water then I guess I won't have any choice. If I don't, then I think I'm going to chance it and skip the prewash.

Thanks everyone for your input.

[Azurin Luna]

You could cut à little more then the length you need and wash that if you want to wash it.

[PearlieMae]

PREWASH!!! :doh:

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Yes. It was in a chlorine pool. But after the initial leaking, the color doesn't run anymore. Its faded a little but its still a fairly bright color.