My dress is a stiffy
May 9, 2012 11:25 AM Subscribe
Can you soften poplin?
I bought a dress that I really like, but it's made of poplin and is super stiff, such that when I sit down the dress pops up in a weird way. I'm considering returning it because if you can't sit in it, what's the point, but I'd love to be able to make it more wearable. Is there any way to make it less stiff? This is the dress.
I bought a dress that I really like, but it's made of poplin and is super stiff, such that when I sit down the dress pops up in a weird way. I'm considering returning it because if you can't sit in it, what's the point, but I'd love to be able to make it more wearable. Is there any way to make it less stiff? This is the dress.
Repeated washing will soften poplin unless it has interfacing layered into it but it will probably fade the fabric.
posted by estronaut at 11:44 AM on May 9, 2012
posted by estronaut at 11:44 AM on May 9, 2012
You have nothing to lose by trying -- if you don't like the result, you can return it then. That's the nice thing about buying from LL Bean.
The stiffness is probably coming from a finish applied to the fabric for just that purpose. What you don't know is whether or not the finish is water soluble. The fabric might feel completely different after washing. Or, since it's 100% cotton but labelled "dry clean," it may shrink significantly. Or both.
I've softened some stiff cotton items by repeated washing, followed by lots of time tumbling in the dryer at low temp -- sometimes with help from a couple of tennis balls or clean sneakers to help beat the stiffness out. Don't know if a nice dress would survive such treatment ...
posted by Corvid at 3:00 PM on May 9, 2012
The stiffness is probably coming from a finish applied to the fabric for just that purpose. What you don't know is whether or not the finish is water soluble. The fabric might feel completely different after washing. Or, since it's 100% cotton but labelled "dry clean," it may shrink significantly. Or both.
I've softened some stiff cotton items by repeated washing, followed by lots of time tumbling in the dryer at low temp -- sometimes with help from a couple of tennis balls or clean sneakers to help beat the stiffness out. Don't know if a nice dress would survive such treatment ...
posted by Corvid at 3:00 PM on May 9, 2012
The description says "Dry Clean." Wash it by hand (or on 'delicate' in the machine) with slightly warm water. Don't agitate it a lot. It's okay to spin it in the machine. Put it in the dryer with some other clothes, low setting, for 10 minutes and then hang to dry.
I've used vinegar to soften stiff fabric; it helps a little. If you use fabric softener in the rinse, use less than the label suggests.
It's really true that Bean will give you a refund even if you completely ruin the dress!
posted by wryly at 3:31 PM on May 9, 2012
I've used vinegar to soften stiff fabric; it helps a little. If you use fabric softener in the rinse, use less than the label suggests.
It's really true that Bean will give you a refund even if you completely ruin the dress!
posted by wryly at 3:31 PM on May 9, 2012
I had a pair of pants made from poplin that just never softened but I was tempted to try something I'd read in a book about Indonesian batik, which was to lay the folded-over damp cloth on a wooden board and beat it with a wooden mallet.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:39 PM on May 9, 2012
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:39 PM on May 9, 2012
Agreeing that they probably put some kind of finish on it to make the pleat crisp. It looks starched in the photo and they might be trying to avoid folks getting the dress in the mail and becoming upset that it doesn't look just like the picture. It's cotton, and unlined. Try just washing it gently and the sizing will probably come out - but the pleat will lose shape. You can deal with that by ironing it back in every time you clean it, and maybe adding some spray starch.
posted by newg at 8:23 PM on May 9, 2012
posted by newg at 8:23 PM on May 9, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for the advice, guys! I washed on gentle and tumbled dry, and it did help somewhat. It's still a fairly stiff fabric, but it softened enough that it doesn't stick up when I sit anymore, which is what I wanted. Thanks again!
posted by odayoday at 1:53 PM on May 10, 2012
posted by odayoday at 1:53 PM on May 10, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Sorry, I thought I included the link. Just in case it didn't work again, this is the dress:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/73651?feat=505950-GN3&attrValue_0=Multi
posted by odayoday at 11:25 AM on May 9, 2012