How to Soften Tulle

Tulle, a netted fabric, is a common choice in the construction of formal gowns as well as for making tutus and wedding veils. Tulle is a fitting option for adding puff to the skirt of a dress or making a full-bodied tutu because of its stiff quality. When it comes to a wedding veil and some other projects, though, you might want a softer feel to the tulle.

Things You'll Need

• Washing machine
• Laundry detergent
• Liquid fabric softener

Instructions

1. Place the tulle in the washing machine. Add the appropriate amount of laundry detergent and fabric softener to the machine for the size load the tulle makes up.

2. Set the machine to the proper load size and to either a hot or warm wash cycle. Run the washing machine. Run the tulle through the machine a couple more times, with only fabric softener.

3. Dry the tulle in the dryer.

Tips & Warnings

• Tulle, like most fabrics, comes in different weights. Lighter weight tulle tends to be softer to the touch than heavyweight tulle that has a more scratchy feel. Both kinds can be softened, but only to a certain extent, so keep this in mind when choosing a tulle.

• Repeat the process again if you would like to soften the tulle further, but be warned that each time a fabric is run through the washing machine it breaks down the fibers of the fabric, which shortens the fabric's lifespan.