The Cross Stitch
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a) If you are worried about your thread colours running when you wash your work, try doing a test run first. Make a few stitches in each colour on a scrap of material that's the same as what you've stitched on. Wash gently and look carefully for signs of any colours running. If they do, continue to rinse thoroughly until the colour runs clear. Try washing with cooler water, and try adding a little salt to the water to see if this makes a difference.
b) If you have an antique sampler, or a piece of work which you think might be valuable, play it safe and don't wash it at all. You may ruin it, and decrease its value. It's best to seek professional advice from a textile restorer before attempting to clean it in any way. Look in the telephone directory for local restorers, or contact one of the major auction houses who may be able to recommend someone to you.
c) Ironing is a must if you want your work to look professional. But do make sure your iron is clean before you start. Any marks on the base of your iron can ruin your stitching. Invest in an iron cleaning cloth, they are available from most hardware stores and only cost a few pounds.
d) Don't be tempted to use fabric softener in your final rinse, it'll make your work go all floppy and will make it very difficult to mount.
e) Any stains that are not removed with normal washing can be obliterated with a drop of liquid detergent and a little know-how. Rub the washing liquid into the area, leave it for two to three minutes and rinse the whole piece in tepid water. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear.
f) Remember, once a piece of clothing has been stitched on, the washing instructions on the label become invalid. So keep pretty embroidered babygros and bibs for special occasions. They'll be ruined in the washing machine and you don't want to have a pile of hand-washing to do every single day!
g) Pet hairs are incredibly resistant to normal washing techniques you'll just have to go at your fabric with a pair of tweezers, picking individual hairs off by hand.
h) If you have a large project that you've been working on for months it's likely to have collected a lot of dust. Give your stitching a quick once over with the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner before you wash it.
i) When your project is wet after washing, this is the best time to pull it back into shape. If you have stitched with even tension you shouldn't need to block your work to get it straight. But if you do need extra help it's best to ask a professional - your local framer can probably help.
j) Bits of lint can easily be removed with a strip of sticky tape. Wind it around your hand with the sticky side facing outwards and gently pad it against the fabric. Don't go near the stitching though, it will make the threads fluffy and ruin the neat appearance you've worked so hard to achieve.
Page updated 20th January 2001 by d@gilbert.freeserve.co.uk
