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Dead Chicken Hats
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Dead Chicken Hat costumes are all one-offs and are made from a variety of fabrics. Some are modern, easy care and some are not. So while most garments may well be just fine in a washing machine, I cannot guarantee their well-being in any way and have to say that you wash garments at your own risk. I'd go for surface washing as much as possible or a gentle hand wash if you must, and I particularly don't recommend the tumble dryer!
Bear in mind that many trimmings, even modern ones, don't fare well when immersed in water. Some fabrics may run, some may shrink. Metal and leather fastenings, particularly, should not be washed. Dry cleaning might be safer, but I don't know. Ask your local supplier.

In times B.W.M. (Before Washing Machines), people didn't wash their clothes as much as we do now, and when they did they didn't have modern detergents with optical brighteners and biological stain removers. So their clothes were proabably a bit, well, grubby. Depending on the period and the wealth of the person you are portraying, you might like to consider not washing your costume that often. Some styles, such as the Biblical shepherds, are even pre-dirtied for you, so you shouldn't wash these at all!
Of course, if your three-year-old daughter spills fluorescent pink paint down her Biblical robes then it's OK to try to stop her looking like a Hebrew Barbie. Just be careful what cleaners you use.

Starching and ironing, however, date from antiquity, so if you're portraying a well-off person in certain periods, you might want to starch those collars and cuffs. Find the right iron setting for your fabrics. Start with cool and work up the temperature scale until the creases disappear. Don't start with the linen setting. And don't answer the phone while ironing. I did once and I burnt my ear!
If you're hiring a costume, it must be returned in a clean, wearable state. Cleaning is your responsibilty. Any stains, tears or other damage will be chargeable. Please remove personal accessories before returning, but if you inadvertantly leave diamonds in any pockets be assured that I will look after them carefully until you want them back!

We stand by the workmanship of every garment. If we sewed it wrong, if the sleeve just falls off or if the clasp won’t, then let us know and we will fix it. But ... if you let your dog chew it, if you run a sword through it, if you toss it in a corner sopping wet and let it mildew or if your washing machine eats it, then tough, you're on your own. Treat your costumes well and you will have them for years; abuse them and they will fall apart, and it won’t be our fault. Having said that, you’ll then have a very authentic beggar’s costume. Enjoy!

Additions and corrections are welcome, accompanied by referenced sources, to seamstress(at)deadchickenhat(dot)com.

All mistakes are entirely of my own invention, and I claim world-wide copyright on them.

Dead Chicken Hats Biblical Greek Roman Medieval Tudor Stuart Character Glossary Gallery Free Patterns Free Leaflets Videos and Tutorials - NEW! Why The Fish? Fun Stuff Real Chicken Hut About Us About our Costumes Garment Care Fabric & Construction Refunds and Returns Hiring We Don't Sell That, But... Shipping Privacy Policies & Terms Contact Us See-Saw Maths Just What Is A Dead Chicken Hat, Anyway? .	Dead Chicken Hat costumes are all one-offs and are made from a variety of fabrics. Some are modern, easy care and some are not. So while most garments may well be just fine in a washing machine, I cannot guarantee their well-being in any way and have to say that you wash garments at your own risk. I'd go for surface washing as much as possible or a gentle hand wash if you must, and I particularly don't recommend the tumble dryer! Bear in mind that many trimmings, even modern ones, don't fare well when immersed in water. Some fabrics may run, some may shrink. Metal and leather fastenings, particularly, should not be washed. Dry cleaning might be safer, but I don't know. Ask your local supplier.
		In times B.W.M. (Before Washing Machines), people didn't wash their clothes as much as we do now, and when they did they didn't have modern detergents with optical brighteners and biological stain removers. So their clothes were proabably a bit, well, grubby. Depending on the period and the wealth of the person you are portraying, you might like to consider not washing your costume that often. Some styles, such as the Biblical shepherds, are even pre-dirtied for you, so you shouldn't wash these at all! Of course, if your three-year-old daughter spills fluorescent pink paint down her Biblical robes then it's OK to try to stop her looking like a Hebrew Barbie. Just be careful what cleaners you use.
	Starching and ironing, however, date from antiquity, so if you're portraying a well-off person in certain periods, you might want to starch those collars and cuffs. Find the right iron setting for your fabrics. Start with cool and work up the temperature scale until the creases disappear. Don't start with the linen setting. And don't answer the phone while ironing. I did once and I burnt my ear! If you're hiring a costume, it must be returned in a clean, wearable state. Cleaning is your responsibilty. Any stains, tears or other damage will be chargeable. Please remove personal accessories before returning, but if you inadvertantly leave diamonds in any pockets be assured that I will look after them carefully until you want them back!
		We stand by the workmanship of every garment. If we sewed it wrong, if the sleeve just falls off or if the clasp won’t, then let us know and we will fix it. But ... if you let your dog chew it, if you run a sword through it, if you toss it in a corner sopping wet and let it mildew or if your washing machine eats it, then tough, you're on your own. Treat your costumes well and you will have them for years; abuse them and they will fall apart, and it won’t be our fault. Having said that, you’ll then have a very authentic beggar’s costume. Enjoy!