Preparation for fleece when making a cozy?

[Kookookchoo]

Hi, just wondering, but do you need to prepare the fleece in any way if you're going to use it to make a cozy? Like if you're using it for bedding, you would need to wash it multiple times to get rid of the waterproofing, so I was wondering if you had to do something like that for cozy fleece? What about other fabrics, such as cotton?

Thanks! (Sorry if this is a kinda dumb question. :P )

[Catahoula]

I've wondered that myself, but I think the most logical answer would be to treat it the same way you would if you were using the fleece to make a liner. If the piggy wees on its bed you wouldn't want it to puddle and end up with a wet piggy.

As for other fabrics, my only suggestion would be to do at least one wash and dry for 2 reasons.

1) To allow for any shrinkage before you sew your accessory

2) I've heard that fabric bolts are dusted with some type of chemical. If that truly is the case then it would be healthier to wash it first.

[spy9doc]

I agree with Catahoula. Some fleece will shrink, some won't, but you never know. Assuming that you are using two different patterns for both sides, one may shrink and the other one not and will result in one side being wrinkled. I don't bother washing the fleece multiple times before sewing it. Unless you make several cozies, you will wash it frequently in order to have a clean cage anyway.

One odd observance.......Chester won't go near a cozy or cuddle cup if it hasn't been washed. He apparently hates the "new" smell. He has recently developed a preference for his cozy and almost won't use the cuddle cup........perhaps because we are now into winter.

One thing you may want to consider. Even with a middle layer of batting in the cozy cup, it will eventually lose it's shape and not stay open. Chester now sleeps on top of it as much as inside. I'm planning to sew a bit this weekend, and am going to try a suggestion by another member......that of incorporating a bit of boning around the opening to help to keep it open. She also sews tunnels in the same way with boning in both ends.

Do come back and share your results.

[Kookookchoo]

Ok, thanks very much for the advice!

Yeah, I washed the cotton fabrics already, but have yet to buy the matching fleece for the cozies. And I plan to get boning to keep it open.

Another question, how often do you wash cozies? Do you wash it once a week when changing the cage, or more frequently?

I'll let you guys know how it turns out!

[Catahoula]

I think it's a wash on an as-needed basis. Depends on if your piggies make it messy.

[spy9doc]

Agreed. My boy constantly uses his cozy, so I switch it out at least twice a week. Again, depending on whether he seems to have had an "oops" in it. And, the sniff test usually works.

[trexgorawrrrrr]

I suggest washing and drying any fleece you are using to make into a cosy the 3x.

For fabric like cotton, I would say to wash and dry it one time to get the shrinking out of the way.

As far as how often to wash, I suggest doing it with your cage changes. Pigs use them all the time, and pee on them just as much as the fleece in the cage. I clean my cage about every 4-5 days, and I was all the cuddle cups and everything else that's being used at the same time to keep things fresh.