Silk Lining, pre-wash?

[Primrodo]

I hope someone can help me

I recently got some Japanese Silkk lining for my Anakin costume, but was wondering, does it have to be prewashed? I mean my other costumes with the fairly nice, yet cheaper lining have never needed pre washing.

Any thoughts?

[Primrodo]

Ok I tried washing a swatch and it didn't shrink at all, does this mean I am safe without washing or I should still?

[Leda EmBorr]

I didn't pre-wash my silk, but I did prewash the cotton gauze. When I handwashed my tunic, it turned out ok, nothing happened to the silk, but the gauze shrunk a bit more. It stretched again when I wore it though.

So... my concern would be with the gauze (if that's what you're using) and not the silk. If you do prewash it, don't put it in the dryer, and use cold water and mild soap.

My 2 credits

[Nova Darklighter]

If the silk has a very tight weave, it probably won't shrink, and you probably don't have to, but it won't hurt it, and unless you plan on dry cleaning, it's going to get washed eventually. As Leda says, you might need to worry more about the tunic fabric than the lining. But does the lining have the silk smell? If so, you might want to wash it anyway.

[Primrodo]

Its Imported Japanese silk, and has no real detectable odour. My ontact told me a few minutes ago that I shouldn't so i am ok with that.

I have prewashed the fabric I am using for the outer tunic, a textured cotton stuff...closer to the DAG swatch than the previous incarnations...

It was just so frustrating to find NOTHING through Google about what to do...

Thanks Leda and Nova, ever my fabric guides! Cold water washing sounds good to me

Thanks!

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

For any costume that I'm going to be putting in my wash (and I will because I don't want any dry-clean only costumes) I always pre-wash the fabric. I don't see any reason why not to.