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Laura Lynn Banner SponsorSep 30, 2005

Hey everyone!

I have an odd question about washing mohair in Woolite.  Haven't done it yet myself, but was thinking about trying it.

But the other day I was on some website somewhere (sorry, can't remember which one!) and they mentioned that using Woolite on mohair MIGHT cause problems with color???  That just doesn't make sense to me!  I mean, I use this on ALL my wool sweaters... and other delicate fabrics.  WHY would it possibly cause problems with color on mohair?

Has anyone else heard this?  Or.. more importantly... does anyone have good or bad experience washing mohair in woolite?

Thanks!

Eileen Sep 30, 2005

This  makes no sense to me, Laura! I've washed all sorts of things, woolen and otherwise, in Woolite, and never had a problem. Is there any reason why mohair wouldn't hold a dye as well as any other kind of wool?

Laura Lynn Banner SponsorSep 30, 2005

No reason at all!  That's why I thought it was weird....

Daphne Sep 30, 2005

The owner of Edinburgh Imports, Elke Block, was the one who recommended this to me. This is what Schulte, the mill that makes the mohair fabric, said to do. SO........ I'm inclined to believe that it will do the mohair NO harm. In fact, I've done this many times myself in the past few years and see absolutely no change in the color.

I have found there are folks out there who simply don't like Woolite (why??) so perhaps the person concerned with effects on the color was one of those??

Laura Lynn Banner SponsorSep 30, 2005

Hi Hayley!

Yep, it was our converstation about that that prompted me to start thinking about doing that with some of my other mohair... and then I remembered this weird thing.  Really didn't make sense to me so I thought I'd post in case I was missing something 

Daphne Sep 30, 2005

Hi Hayley!

Hi LAURA!  :doh:  :lol:

- Daphne :dance:

Laura Lynn Banner SponsorSep 30, 2005

:doh: :doh: :doh: :doh:

Yes, I meant "Hi Daphne!!!!!"

Sorry, head's all muddled getting ready for the show... speaking of which... WHY are you HERE?    :P

Luv ya and good luck!!

Daphne Oct 2, 2005

It's really no big deal, just picking on ya!  :angel:

Well, THAT show is over. It was a craft show... sold 4 bears and a couple of my mini quilts. I always seem to do better at craft shows than bear shows. Perhaps my bears aren't good enough to stand up to the competition?
(Danni - don't even start on me!!!)

Anyway, it was a beautiful early autumn day here and the show was outside at a park in a quaint little New England town. Live entertainment, good food, crafts and arts for the kids. So much fun!

Now I'm beat from the socializing and fresh air so off to veg in front of the TV!

Daphne

SueAnn Help Advisor, Banner SponsorOct 2, 2005

Great that you sold well, Daphne!!  :clap:  :clap:

Laura Lynn Banner SponsorOct 2, 2005

Well Daphne, you didn't tell ME not to start on ya.... Your bears are adorable!!  glad you found new homes for some of your kids and the show!  And yeah, I figured you was teasing....  :hug:

Daphne Oct 2, 2005

Aw, thanks girls!   :redface:  :hug:

Marie_ Oct 3, 2005

Oh, Thanks for your information  Daphne.  :hug:
I was washing my mohair with some natural shampoo and rinse, I always wanted to use woolite but never did.  :redface:
I will try woolite for my next one.

Hi, Laura ! Thanks for good topic.   :thumbsup:
Marie

Marie_ Oct 3, 2005

Wow Gina, why I never though about kid's shampoo.....
You are clever girl.  :dance:

Thanks/Marie

Daphne Oct 3, 2005

Gina - is it 'fuzzy' at all? Did you dry it? Brush it? Mine is getting fuzzies or loooking like the ends are split/frizzy once I brush it. I know.... DON'T BRUSH IT!  :doh:

Laura Lynn Banner SponsorOct 3, 2005

Hi Daphne,

I just remembered... when I have a mohair that I dye/wash that has a nice wave or something to it... I do not brush it with a brush.  Rather, I use my fingers to kinda brush the mohair back in the direction of the nap.

Daphne Oct 3, 2005

Gina - that'w what I use.

Laura - I'll try that... may be a few good shakes too. Maybe I should try one of my hair brushes with the little knobbies on the ends of the plastic bristles?

Do you girls air dry or put in the dryer?

Laura Lynn Banner SponsorOct 3, 2005

I NEVER use the dryer (anymore --  tried it once....  )  If it's nice out I'll hang it outside.  If not (it IS Chicago LOL!) then I hang it in the laundry area OVER the dryer.  Many times I run the dryer while it's hanging over it, but not always.

Daphne Oct 3, 2005

hmm... i usually do put it in the dryer on fluff, no heat for about 10  mins because when I wash is when I really want to hurry up and start using it so get impatient. i'll try ONLY air drying. i still think that the mohair that is meant to be soft and fluffy like kid mohair most often is should COME that way. it's expensive enough without having to further mess with it. oh well.... nothing is perfect. 

Laura Lynn Banner SponsorOct 3, 2005

Hey there Daphne... yeah, I agree with ya on the kid mohair.... hopefully this is an only time  :rolleyes:

Forgot to mention that I also do the same as Gina, after I wring most of the water out, I lay it flat in a towel and roll it up, squishing along the way.  Gets a lot more water out that way.  I'm usually able to use the mohair the next day (or a few hours on a hot summer day!)

Eileen Oct 3, 2005

I like washing new mohair in warm water and hair conditioner. I think any roughness comes from whatever the mill uses to treat and stiffen the backing. It feels like glue. Maybe some of it leaks onto the fur?

Eileen

Daphne Oct 3, 2005

Eileen, where do you order your mohair from? Just curious.

Eileen Oct 4, 2005

Most of it comes from Intercal, some from Edinburgh, and bits and pieces from eBay.

I've got mohair from Hembolt, Norton, Schulte and Steinlein. Schulte is undeniably the most consistently soft, but among the others, the softness seems to vary a lot, even within one mill's mohair. That's why I'm wondering about the backing treatment. When I wash any of the non-Schultes in hair conditioner and warm water, they come out just as soft as the Schulte, and the backing is definitely less stiff and scratchy.

The piece with the loosish backing was from the Steinlein mill, courtesy of DiscoJoints&Teddies. The fur is thick and swirly curly white--really lovely--on a backing woven of black and white threads. It's sold as 'Polar Bear fur". It looks to me as if the mohair was  woven into the backing in small clumps rather than single hairs, which might explain why the backing weave seems a bit loose. I've given it a good stiff brushing, and it doesn't come out, thank goodness.  :pray:

I wish I knew more about the way mohair is woven onto the backing. and how one mill's process differs from another's.

Eileen

Daphne Oct 4, 2005

I wish I knew more about the way mohair is woven onto the backing. and how one mill's process differs from another's.

Eileen

Me too!!!!
Anything not from Schulte I've had to wash as I'm so used to Schulte's softness. I wonder how the process/finish can be so different. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to hop aboard our private jet and visit each of the mills for a tour?