Taking care of your fabric properly will help your finished garments last longer and look their best.

Before starting your project, we recommend pre-washing your fabric. This removes finishing treatments from manufacturing and allows the fabric to shrink before sewing.

For woven fabrics, it’s also helpful to overlock or zigzag the raw edges before washing to prevent fraying.

Most fabrics we stock can be machine washed on a cold or warm gentle cycle.

While many fabrics can technically be dried in a clothes dryer, most fabric brands recommend line drying or tumble drying on low heat to reduce shrinkage and help fabrics last longer.

If you purchased your fabric from Maaidesign, the exact fibre composition and care advice are always listed on the product page. This guide provides general care recommendations for common fabric types.

Bamboo Jersey

Machine wash cold or warm on a gentle cycle with similar colours.
Line dry recommended or tumble dry low.

Iron inside out.

Brushed Sweater Knit

Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with similar colours.
Line dry recommended or tumble dry low.

Wash inside out if possible to help preserve the brushed surface.

Coated Cotton

Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with similar colours.
Line dry only.

Avoid tumble drying or ironing directly on the coated surface, as heat may damage the coating.

Corduroy

Machine wash cold with similar colours, ideally inside out.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Avoid high heat to protect the pile.

Cotton

Machine wash cold or warm with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Cotton may shrink slightly on the first wash, which is why pre-washing is recommended.

Cotton Elastane / Stretch Cotton

Machine wash cold or warm with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Avoid very high heat to help preserve the elasticity.

Cotton Fleece

Machine wash cold or warm with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Wash inside out if possible to help preserve the soft fleece backing.

Cotton Lyocell Drill

Machine wash cold or warm with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Make sure to fully open up the fabric (give it a shake) before putting it in your washing machine to avoid streaks.

Cupro

Gentle machine wash cold or hand wash.
Line dry recommended.

Avoid high heat when washing or drying, as cupro fibres are delicate when wet.

Denim

Machine wash cold with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Make sure to fully open up the fabric (give it a shake) before putting it in your washing machine to avoid streaks.

Some colour transfer may occur during the first few washes.

Double Gauze

Machine wash cold or warm on a gentle cycle.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

The crinkled texture will soften and develop more character after washing.

French Terry

Machine wash cold or warm with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Washing inside out can help preserve the surface of the fabric.

Gabardine

Machine wash cold or warm with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Linen

Machine wash cold or warm on a gentle cycle.
Line dry recommended or tumble dry low.

Linen softens beautifully with washing.

Linen Blends

Machine wash cold or warm with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Pre-washing helps relax the fibres and improve drape.

Ponte

Machine wash cold with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Avoid very high heat to help maintain the structure and stretch of the fabric.

Rayon / Viscose

Gentle machine wash cold or hand wash.
Line dry recommended.

Avoid high heat as rayon fibres can weaken when wet.

Ribbing

Machine wash cold or warm with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Avoid high heat to help preserve elasticity.

Smooth Operator/ Woven Bamboo Blend

Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with similar colours.
Line dry recommended or tumble dry low.

Tencel / Lyocell

Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle.
Line dry recommended.

These fibres have a smooth surface and benefit from gentle washing.

Terry Towelling

Machine wash warm with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Viscose Linen

Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with similar colours.
Line dry recommended.

Avoid high heat when washing or drying to prevent shrinkage.

Waffle Knit

Machine wash cold or warm with similar colours.
Line dry or tumble dry low.

Wool

Hand wash cold or use a wool cycle with wool detergent.
Lay flat to dry.

Avoid agitation and heat to prevent felting.

Wool Blends

Cold gentle wash or hand wash.
Lay flat to dry.

Treat gently to maintain softness and shape.