Before I forget, if you are coming to the Britex event, make sure you check your registration. The event has been so popular that they are now asking for people to sign up to hear (up to 3) individual bloggers. (There were originally 4 bloggers scheduled and there are now 6.)
You can register through the Britex event page.
Several years ago I heard a tip that you can use Coke to soften denim. In fact, there was a discussion about this on Stitcher's Guild. The results were mixed - it seemed to work well for some lengths of denim, minimally for some, and not at all for others.
I have a 4-yard length of cotton denim that had been machine washed and dried numerous times. It was still a bit "crispy", so I decided to give this technique a try, using my "old fashioned" top-loading washing machine.
I acquired 3 12-oz cans of regular Coke. I set the machine for the smallest load, and selected the warm temperature. I did not use any detergent. Once the machine filled, I added the Coke. I tossed in the denim and let the machine agitate for 5 minutes. (I set a timer.) I then opened the lid of the machine, interrupting the cycle, and went to work, letting the fabric marinate.
When I returned home about 10 hours later, I closed the lid on the machine, letting the process complete. After the load finished, I put the fabric into the dryer.
(I first smelled the fabric and did not detect any soda smell. I then licked the fabric and it did not taste at all like soda, so I did not wash it again.)
The fabric was not softened in any way.
This was a bit disappointing, but I would try it again (with a different fabric) since I hear it does work in some situations.
Have you tried this technique?
Did it work?
