Do you wash your gifts before you give them?

[crochetbycharlene]

Just curious. I made a scarf for my son's homeroom teacher and my hands were sweaty, so I'm washing it.

[Mom w/a Motif]

Most of the time I do wash them. Especially if it's a baby item...

 

Tina

[Dextersmom]

I wash items before giving also. I want to know that all my ends are going to stay put

[sunnywolfgar]

yes, I do. the stuff they put in Red Heart Yarn comes out and becomes sooo soft after its dried.

[Yammy]

It depends, sometimes I do sometimes I don't the deciding factor is who is getting it and what type of yarn I used as well. If I make something out of RH then almost always I do, it feels so nasty until its washed.

[jessc031778]

I usually don't wash an item, unless I already know what detergent the recipient uses. There are so many skin issues in my family, that I know that just having a different soap used on something can cause a reaction...and some folks, if you tell them you already washed it, won't wash it themselves before wearing/using it. So, I usually just finish the item and tell them that it will be softer & less stiff once it's washed, but that I didn't know which detergent they use. Never had anyone complain about it.

 

Jessie

[afswife]

i always wash them first in woolight

[MeMe]

i generally wash before i give them as a gift because i love the smell of the fabric softner and they r soooo soft after they come out of the dryer

[PBLKNP]

I wash things I give away after I first take a magnifying glass and scan the entire surface for Franklin hairs--my cat loves to shed all over my projects --no matter how careful I am, his fur still manages to get on them.

[xampx]

I dont usually, although I washed swap items when I found out my partner had an allery to cat hair, and I am washing my wool mix Christmas presents because they smell 'sheepy' lol

[croschet03]

I never used to wash my gifts before giving them up, but I had read post here a while back about washing, so I have started. Everything is so soft after being washed and dried.

Val

[craftybutterfly]

Always. If they are washable, not something that would felt.

[ErinLindsey]

I usually only wash a finished project if I was sick with a bad cold or a flu while working on it.

 

Most of the time I just throw it in the dryer with a dryer sheet to soften it up.

[Phoenix]

I don't pre-wash, partly because people react differently to different detergent and partly b/c I'm in an apartment building with no working washer/dryers. Hauling laundry to the laundromat is such a pain when you can't drive in the dark, so I usually don't bring along projects that need to be washed by themselves.

[Sbg4evr]

I always do.

[Kiirs]

Seriously?? Red Heart is capable of becoming soft?? I've got so many skeins of it but never considered using it for clothing items because it's so harsh and scratchy and bad for my skin.

 

And I have never washed anything I've crocheted...I've been afraid that if I do, it will ruin the gift/project. Does it all need to be done by hand?

[coolhockeymom]

I was everything only because I have pets and they aways seem to find a way to get Hair in the gifts and so many people have allergies I would feel terible if they got sick from something I made

[ErinLindsey]

Seriously?? Red Heart is capable of becoming soft?? I've got so many skeins of it but never considered using it for clothing items because it's so harsh and scratchy and bad for my skin.

 

And I have never washed anything I've crocheted...I've been afraid that if I do, it will ruin the gift/project. Does it all need to be done by hand?

 

Red Heart will soften if you wash it, or even if you just toss it in the dryer with some towels and a dryer sheet (you dont always need the dryer sheet)

[PoisonApple]

I have to wash everything. I smoke, and most of the people I make things for don't so I wash it and bag it for gifting in the laundry mat with a few dryer sheets tossed in the bag for good measure.

[craftybutterfly]

I agree, Red Heart REALLY does soften up quite a bit actually, once you wash it. Its like there's this "coating" on it or something. And I find that the more you wash it, the softer it gets. Toss it in the washer, and right into the dryer. Voila' ! Thats one of the best things about RH. Very durable in the washer and dryer. Great for kid stuff like hats, mittens, sweaters. It will hold up to just about anything my kids put it through. And it washes clean!

 

I'm a smoker too, so at the very least, I toss it into the dryer with a softener sheet. And I too toss a dryer sheet into the package with the item. Never once had anyone complain.

[JennyLoLo1]

I just did today, and didn't like the out come. The scarf that I making for my mother came out mapped.

[quiltmum66]

No I dont wash it before.

 

Kerstin

[unicorn37757]

I try to wash most of my items, especially baby ones, I usually use one of those detergents that are safe for people with allergies:hook