Fresh from the loom
Loomstate is one of the many terms you come across when you first encounter the world of winding. This simply means that the winding is brand new and unused - it comes straight from the loom (loom in English). A wrap in loomstate must be washed before it is used.
Why does loomstate matter?
A wrap in loomstate will not feel "right". When a fixed winding is woven, the many threads on the loom are separated and stretched out very tightly, so that the loom works precisely and there are no tangles in the threads. This means that threads that would normally be airy and soft can feel stiff and hard, and that fabric in loomstate will feel more loosely woven than it is actually designed to be.
Security
A wrap in loomstate is delicate. There is a myth that the loomstate windings are so delicate that they can be torn by hand. Fortunately, it doesn't fit. The substance is still very strong. On the other hand, it is true that the fabric is more loosely woven and the threads are compact and separated. The threads can therefore slide apart more easily and cause what is called "thread shifting". Thread shifting is not dangerous in itself, but is a weak point that can develop into holes. Holes can cause the fabric to crack.
Likewise, a winding/ring loop in loomstate is also more likely to get pulled threads - single threads that have been pulled out of the weave. Pulled threads are also not dangerous in themselves and can easily be pulled back into place, but threads that stick out are at higher risk of breaking.
As a sling or coil in loomstate is delicate, you should never use the carrying tool until it has had its first wash.
Carrying properties
In addition to safety, another important reason to wash your wrap/sling in loomstate is that the fabric's "personality" and carrying properties do not come into their own until the first wash. It is impossible to accurately assess how it feels to wear a wrap by trying it on in loomstate.
Wool fibres, which are fully stretched out and stiff in the loom state, will contract with a wash and achieve their elastic bounce, becoming soft and fluffy.
Many types of silk contain glue residue from the silkworm, straw from the pupa and sometimes even small twigs. This can make the silk stiff and prickly. These impurities are typically also washed out in the first wash.
Linen and hemp, which are often very stiff in the loom state, become noticeably softer already after the first washing in the machine, where they get a little "beating".
Cotton threads are often very tightly spun, and will "unfold" after the first wash and grip the neighboring threads better.
A winding is also typically both wider and longer in the loom state. GSM (weight per m2) will therefore also be lower in a fixed winding in the loom state and therefore cannot be accurately measured before the winding has been washed. Nordic Slings provides the approximate gsm of our ring slings and fixed winders after washing.
Impurities
Last but not least, there is surplus color and a lot of dust (microscopic fabric fibers - weaving creates an insane amount of dust) from production in most wraps. The first wash will also help wash this out.
How should I wash?
You must wash your wrap according to the materials it contains - always wash after the most delicate fiber, regardless of how small a part of the wrap it is. For example, there is no difference in the care of a wrap with 10% wool and with 100% wool. You can read about how to wash your carrier here: Washing your carrier