Some help with stains & creases!!

[Rachee]

Hello,

I am just about to finish a medium sized (big for me - biggest I've ever done ) a baby sampler with white aida. I have done it using a hoop and took the hoop off today and found it had left a slight browish stain in a circle shape around the stitch also I have tried to iron where the hoop was but cannot get the line of the hoop out and it looks really silly. I need to stitch the name of the baby along the top but it will go right through the hoop line and I dont want to do the name until I have sorted the stain and the crease .... HELP!!!

Sorry this has turned into a long post in short

I need to get rid of hoop shaped stain and

Hoop shaped crease around the outside of my stitch

Thank you for reading !!

[Midge]

Have you washed it?
The stain and creases will probably go then.

[Lizzy]

Hi and welcome, like Midge says wash it.
Soak it in warm water with a gentle detergent and keep swishing it about. Dont rub it though. Rinse it well then roll it in a towel to remove excess water the let it dry naturally.
When using a hoop I always remove it when Ive finished the days stitching and I move it about to avoid a hoop mark. Hope it works for you

[Rachee]

Thank you for your swift replies, is it safe to wash it? I have never washed a cross stitch before - it wont make the colours run or anything would it? I have been having a problem with a red shoe staining the white next to it so tried running just the red thread under cold water. But would be terrified to wash it after I've spent months doing it - would it really be ok??

What would I wash it in also I use a powder to wash my clothes would that work or would I need something specialist?

Ahh I am so scared to wash it, is there any chance it could ruin it???

Sorry I sound like a wreck its just taken so much time and effort - as I'm sure you understand - to finish it!

[agi]

I always wash my stitching. If you used good thread like DMC or Anchor, or the like, they don't run, it is absolutely safe.

(I have had problem with some Puppets perle thread once. Also, hand-dyed threads tend to run.)

[mags]

I always wash mine too, I only use DMC or Anchor and they are fine. Just do it gently, with the water not too warm/hot.
Speciality hand dyed threads might run, Mabel will be the expert on this.

[Rose]

I also have washed everything I stitched except the perforated paper. I have never had anything run so far knock on wood. I usually just toss it in to the wash with my gentle washed items. I then hang the item out on the clothesline I pull out as many wrinkles as I can and let it dry. Then into iron it from the back side with a thin damp clothe some times and if I really want it stiff I will use a bit of starch.

[Lizzy]

Try washing some of the bright col threads to see if they run. If they do run I dont know what else to try. I only use good quality threads like DMC and Anchor and can honestly say I have never had colours that run.
Mind Ive done lots of kits that wernt stitched in my ususal threads and they havent run either..I wash everything.

[Daesania]

I've always washed every thing i've made. i suggest not using powder detergent as that can leave residue if not rinsed properly. I suggest a small amount of liquid detergent in a large bowl of water.

[Rachee]

Thank you so much for all your replies - you all seem so lovely.

I will give the washing a go, I'm still scared though!?!?! I have used DMC threads, so fingers crossed thank you all again

[Becca]

I wash mine in some warm water with a bit of washing up liquid, and that seems to work fine. I've never had any colours run but they say if you do just keep washing it and it will end up clean.

[Midge]

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Serinde]

There is also a new product on the market called Soak. It's a no-rinse wash, where you immerse the piece in water a bit of this and 15minutes later you take it out and press the water out in the usual way. Never tried it myself.

[Kute Kitty]

The only way I've found to get stains out was really really hot water - the last time I had to wash stains out was a Winnie the Pooh that I did with DMC threads, there was no problem at all with any colours running, it was all fine and now looks lovely if I do say so myself!

[Jilly]

I also hand wash and Iron.. I often iron the piece dry after rolling and squishing most of the main wetness out in a clean towel.. I iron on quite hot too
Has anyone else noticed that if you iron on the back, the stitches stand proud of the fabric, and if you iron on the front, the stitches become flat with it, may be useful for different situations

[wendywombat]

I wash by hand in warm water using washing-up liquid. Rinse well, then roll wet fabric up in a clean towel. If it's not too sunny then I put it on the line to dry to just damp then iron right side down on a clean fluffy towel.

I have also washed very grubby things in the washing machine in a pillow case. No problems at all! Cross stitch is more robust than you think!!!

I also hand wash and Iron.. I often iron the piece dry after rolling and squishing most of the main wetness out in a clean towel.. I iron on quite hot too
Has anyone else noticed that if you iron on the back, the stitches stand proud of the fabric, and if you iron on the front, the stitches become flat with it, may be useful for different situations

Yes you're right Jilly, nice plump stitches!!

[KayleighLouise]

I rinse out the kitchen sink and use warm water and washing up liquid. Then i towel dry it afterwards and iron it on the front once then the back and then it makes the front stitches stand out really nice

[Lizzy]

I always iron mine slightly damp and face down on a white fluffy towel so it doesnt flatten the sts. If its not dry I iron some more and the sts do stand out and look plumpy
Ive never dared iron it on the front but I'll try anything once

[nettie]

I only use DMC threads and have never had a problem with colour runs. I always wash by hand and have even wrung it a little bit to get excess water out then leave flat inside a folded towel to dry and I iron it still inside the towel. Never had a problem!

[Kute Kitty]

I have a birthday cake band that I made last year using aida band and Anchor variegated thread, every time I use it (which has been quite a lot lately, we've had a spate of birthdays) I just toss it in the washing machine with the rest of the laundry and iron it afterward as normal and it's never been a problem. If I'd known more when I made it I think I would've worried more, it isn't even backed, apparently the stitches are very well secured! It comes out looking like new every time, and it's always very well-received!