How To Wash Your Cross Stitch Piece

magpire

I always wash mine, I think the stitches lie better after being washed and it makes the colours a bit brighter.

I use a little shampoo and about a quarter of one of the laundry sheets that catch dye so Ive never had a problem with the colors running. I just swish it about in a sink of cool water, let it soak for a few minutes and rinse in clean water.

lizgo6x

Thanks for the tips, great

breezy127

Wonderful.  Thanks for the tips.

CIBELES

I think to make a job well finished, has to wash and iron very well
jobs are more attractive

Spookytooth

I always wash and iron any projects made with DMC and Anchor threads.  Press on the reverse using a thick white towel underneath for padding.  If you are in any doubt about the colour fastness of your thread, e.g., hand dyed, stitch a separate sample of a few stitches and take a damp paper tissue and dab it.  If any colour comes off on the tissue, wash the sample gently.  If ALL the colour comes off, either dont wash, or complete the project less the problem threads, wash it and then add the specialist threads.

N.B. If you are framing your work yourself, use acid free mount to make sure your hard work is not going to rot!  And if using a professional framer, make sure he does the same.

red1

I always wash the pieces, when you consider the amount of handling they have had as you have worked them, that is a lot of natural oils from you hands (however regularly you stop to wash your hands). All fabrics have fillers in them - that is what makes them feel stiff when you start working them - and you need to get rid of that too.

Most threads are colour-fast these days.
I wash with a wool-wash solution in water that is about 35 to 40 degrees. I wash, rinse & condition and then roll the item in a towel before rushing to the ironing-board and ironing it dry on the linen setting, face down on a soft dry towel so the crosses plump out. My only concession to that would be putting a hankerchief between the work and the iron if there are metallics in it.

I wouldnt wash hand-dyed fabric without doing a test first.

If the stitching has been applied to clothing or linen then it just goes in the wash with everything else.

pwaddles

Thank you so so much for this valuable information.

chaos557

I have always just done a quick swish in soap and luke warm water.

I have not used hand dyed fabric before, but if I did I would probably do a bit more search on how to wash it without it bleeding

karriboo

I always wash but by hand never in the machine. I use a delicate liquid and after rinsing squeeze never wring the excess water out then roll it in a towel and press down on it several times. After I lay it flat on a towel run an iron over it from the back to smooth the wrinkles and leave it over night and its ready for framing.

For those that are worried about colour fastness Have you tried Dye Magnets? Quilters put these sheets in with their quilt tops and any run away colour is trapped by the magnet sheet before it can get on the fabric. A thought.

Bluejay

magpire replied at 2012-8-26 01:57
I always wash mine, I think the stitches lie better after being washed and it makes the colours a bi ...

Thats exactly what I do too. :)