Tips for Cleaning Cross Stitch

I got this in a newsletter I get occasionally and thought maybe some of you would find it interesting.



Tip 1: Cleaning Your Cross Stitch

If you machine sew around the edge in a zigzag stitch, it won't unravel when you wash it. Soak it in liquid soap and gently rub it. Rinse well and press with iron while still damp. If this doesn't remove the hoop ring, use a little white vinegar on the mark itself and then rewash like before. Using a hoop is fine; just never leave it on when not stitching. Also, if you roll your material in-between stitching times, you will not get any folds or creases in the material. I always sew around my material before I start to cross-stitch keeps it from unraveling. I have tried using masking tape on edges but find this makes threads unravel when you remove the tape. Hope this helps you...Margaret



Tip 2: What To Do About The Cross Stitch With The Stain And Hoop Wrinkles

My name is Kat I live in Aurora, CO. You gently hand wash you handy work, using Woolite. By doing this by hand, you can prevent the knots and fraying that happens in the washing machine. I do this after I have finished all of my projects, to remove the hand oils that have inevitably collected on the fabric and thread. When you are satisfied the stain is as gone as it is going to be, rinse your project well to be sure ALL the soap has been removed. Let it hang dry for 15 to 30 minutes (I use a pant hanger over the doorway) you will want the fabric to be damp but not wet. Turn on your iron, no steam on a wool setting, put down a towel, and put your project face down onto the towel. Press, being careful not to catch any of your traveled thread. This will also help lock your knots and slow the threads from pulling out. You might start adding an extra one or two inches when you cut your fabric, to allow for fraying, so after you have pressed the wrinkles out, you can then trim the frayed edges and mount into a pillow, quilt or picture frame as you desire.



Tip 3: Ironing Pattern Pieces

Regarding ironing tissue pattern pieces: My mother always taught me to do this and it is well worth the effort! Something else I do is make sure that when the piece is folded up and ironed, the label is facing out. That way, when I want to reuse the pattern, I do not have to unfold all the pieces to find the ones I want.