Frequently Asked Questions

All Sherri O Designs products are made and/or dyed by me (Sherri) in my Silver Spring, MD studio. Some (all felted pieces, linen napkins and table runners, all waffle linen/cotton items) are made from scratch by me. Some (all aprons, flour sack tea towels and napkins, silk scarves, pillow covers, and shower curtains) are purchased from outside sources and then dyed and finished by me in my Silver Spring, MD studio.

Sacks for flour and grain used to be made from lightweight specially woven cotton. These sack were prized for their durability and softness and were often repurposed to make towels and clothing.

Today's flour sack towels were never really flour sacks. They are made with new 100% cotton fabric that is woven like the old sacks. You will find a lot of variation in the quality of store bought flour sack towels. Some brands are quite thin, some are very linty or wrinkle excessively.

I've tried several different suppliers of blank white towels to find what I think are the best: thin enough to dry fast, but thick enough to be absorbent; soft but not linty, neatly hemmed and mostly square.

Yes! All Sherri O products are made to last, using natural fibers and low-impact non-toxic dyes. Some items, like the cloth napkins and towels, reduce waste by replacing disposable arternatives.

My cotton flour sack towels and napkins are made from fabric that is both GOTS certified (organic) and OEKO-Tex certified (free of toxins and harmful chemicals and it's production causes no air, noise, or water pollution).

Many items are made from linen. Linen is particularly eco-friendly as it doesn't require the irrigation or pesticides that cotton does. All the linen used to create my products is OEKO-Tex certified to be free of toxins and harmful chemicals and it's production causes no air, noise, or water pollution.

Orders are shipped in padded paper envelopes or 100% recycled poly mailers without excess packaging or plastic. Shipping is made carbon neutral through contributions to innovative companies that pull carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the atmosphere and store it.

No! If properly cared for, your Sherri O products will not fade or bleed in the wash.

Not only can you toss the napkins and towels in the wash with like-colored items, you can use them straight away without washing first. All cotton and linen items are rinsed, soaked, and washed extensively after dyeing to remove the excess unbonded dye. The remaining dye is bonded to the fabric on a molecular level. It will not fade with repeated washing.

Dyes used on the felted wool and silk items is not quite as color-fast. These more delicate items should only be hand washed in cool water. With a little extra care, these special pieces will hold their color for years to come.

Absolutely! I use my flour sack napkins for every meal, every day. You can use the same napkin through several meals, changing them out only when they are dirty. Napkin sets with different patterns or colors make it easy to remember whose napkin is whose. The napkins take up very little space in the wash and require no special soaking or ironing to come out looking great. Check out this blog post for a closer look at everyday use of cloth napkins.

It depends on the fiber content and the process used to dye your item.

100% cotton flour sack tea towels and napkins, aprons, pillow covers, shower curtains, and table cloths: Machine wash with like colors in warm or cool water with your normal detergent. Tumble dry low. May be ironed with steam, if desired.

100% linen napkins, towels, and scarves; linen/cotton waffle towels, blankets, and scarves: Machine wash cold and tumble dry low or air dry hanging or flat. To avoid excessive wrinkling (100% linen) or shrinking (linen/cotton waffle) remove items from dryer while still slightly damp and finish drying hanging or flat. May be ironed with steam, if desired.

100% silk, felted wool and silk: Hand wash in cool water with a touch of mild detergent or baby shampoo and rinse thoroughly. To best preserve the rich colors, add 1-2 tbs. of white vinegar to the wash water and final rinse. Roll in a towel to remove excess water, and dry flat or hanging. If desired, iron the back side of the scarf on low with steam or while slightly damp. 100% silk may be dry cleaned.

Most items are washed in the hotest water and machine dryed several times by the time you receive them, so you don't have to worry about them shrinking in the laundry. The exceptions include linen/cotton waffle items and felted scarves.

Linen/cotton waffle will tend to shrink up on the edges if dried completely in the dryer. If this happens, dampen the item by spritzing with water, stretch and reshape the item, and allow it to air dry.

Felted wool and silk scarves will shrink beyond repair if washed in the washing machine or if vigorously scrubbed and washed by hand in hot water.

Ironing can be avoided by removing items from the dryer promptly and smoothing out the wrinkles while they are still warm. Personally, I never find my cotton napkins and towels need ironing. Over-dried linen will be most prone to severe creasing. Hanging linen to air dry is the best way to prevent creases. Linen items will become softer and less prone to creasing with each wash.

If you want a perfect crisp finish, these natural fibers will require ironing with steam.

Absolutely! Contact me with the details of your project, and I will give you a price quote and estimated delivery time.