Frequently asked questions

What can I do with my Colimaçon cloth?

Due to its high-quality technical characteristics, Colimaçon material has a wide range of uses. To give yourself some ideas, watch this animated video and consult our social network.

Download free patterns from our blog?

We’ve put up a blog – “How to upcycle your Baby Wrap” – full of patterns you can make from our cloth. It focuses on Wraps, but the patterns are just as useful for material sold by lengths.

How should I care for my fabric?

Over time, exposure to heat will deteriorate the fibres. To keep your fabric strong, we suggest machine-washing in water no hotter than 40℃. Machine dry and iron only occasionally.

In one handy space HERE you’ll find all the advice you need on the maintenance of our Baby Wraps. You’ll also find all the tips you need for taking good care of lengths of cloth.

What will happen if I wash my fabric in water hotter than 40℃? ( 104 °F)

Probably nothing, provided you don’t do it regularly. Our fabrics are dyed at 80℃ by our dyer. They are fine with occasional heat. We have carried out a “Fabric Crash Test” where we boiled a fabric scrap for two hours. It came out in perfect condition. On the other hand, keep in mind that fabric exposed to high temperatures will shrink.

Does the colour of your fabrics bleed?

Some colours don’t bleed, others bleed a bit. To avoid disappointment, we suggest that you wash each colour on its own, twice.

I’ve heard that to keep colours bright, I need to soak my fabric overnight in white vinegar. Is that right?

Yes and no… but mostly no! Vinegar helps to get rid of excess dye (dye that did not fix to the fabric)… if it’s applied hot. If you want to use vinegar, we suggest washing your fabric for the first time in 90℃ water with a cup of

white vinegar added to the drum of the washing machine. BUT it’s not necessary with our fabrics. Two machine washes in 30℃ – 40℃ water works just as well. ( 86°F – 104°F)

Do your fabrics shrink in the first wash?

Yes, they shrink 8 % in length in the first wash.

Should I wash my fabric BEFORE starting to sew, or AFTER having made my project?

It depends entirely on what you are doing.

If you want to make a sling or a wrap, you don’t need to wash the fabric beforehand (we don’t wash our fabric before sewing our Colimaçon wraps and our Colima-slings). Just don’t forget to allow 8-10 % of extra length to make up for shrinkage during the first wash (for example: if you want to make a Wrap 4.50 metres long, cut your cloth to a length of 5 metres).

If you want to make anything else, and especially if you want to mix colours, we suggest that you wash each colour twice, separately, before sewing. This is for two reasons: the fabric will shrink by 8% the first time you wash it, and the colours may bleed onto each other if they aren’t washed beforehand.

And if I’ve made a project with multiple colours but I forgot to wash the fabrics beforehand, what do I do now?

Some of our designers, who have found themselves in this situation, have used colour catching sheets (they used the French brand Décolor’stop) in the first and second washes. Their projects came out in perfect shape. They put several sheets in the drum of the washing machine to make sure that it worked.

Do I need to use specific sewing materials to work with your fabric?

No, you can easily work with our fabrics with your usual sewing machine, provided it is of decent quality.

How will my Colimaçon cloth stand up to SALT and UV light?

All cotton has two main enemies: salt and UV radiation.

Due to the magnifying effect of humidity (which aggravates the fading cause by UV light), the colours of your cloth will inevitably fade. Beware of the salt + water + UV cocktail, and the daily exposure of items such as curtains to sunlight.

If you have a question, get in touch