Washing Tweed fabric - I think before sewing with it

[Deathraystare]

Hi My friend is asking this as she looked online and the information is not clear or contradictory.

Can anyone help? Anyone used Tweed? I think she wants to wash it before sewing it (? shrinkage or something??) Not sure.

It depends on what the actual fabric composition is, you can get 'tweed' that's 100% pure wool to 100% polyester or cotton or linen or a mix of all sorts. Cut off a good sized piece and try a few methods, see if it survives water or steam or if it will need to go the dry cleaners' (mine takes uncut lengths of fabric, not all do).

Really if it is proper tweed, which is 100% wool, it is not washable.

Don't wash wool. If it's a blend, hand wash it.

I've washed 100% tweed on a cold, wool cycle and got away with it. But it's a gamble.

I used to cut out a square, draw around it, then wash it and see what happens...that way you don't mess up all the fabric.

I think you can steam non washable fabric so at least it doesn't shrink unevenly if you press it or get caught in a shower. Presumably the finished item would be dry clean anyway?