Washing Aida to make it softer

[gyork]

Another one of my silly questions, I have just opened my Pinnochio kit and the Aida is soo still cannot fit it on the hoop, will it be easier/softer if I wash it, if so what's the best option, cold water hand wash/cold water machine wash ??

Thanks guys

[Mystonique]

Washing will soften it but I don't use a hoop or frame when it s that stiff - I let the fabric hold itself until it goes floppy, then I use a frame.

[Rose]

Either wash will soften the fabric. but just remember if you put it in the machine then you will need to finish of the edges or it will fray.

[Corey.G]

What I do when I start with fresh Aida is I take it and scrunch it up and flatten it out a bunch of times and twist it and just work in the fabric a bit. Kind of like if you scrunch up paper long enough it feels like Kleenex. This tends to work great for me.

[Sarah]

I started my first ever large project 9th feb (its a work in progress) and the aida was so stiff it was like card! I didn't know I could wash it so I sprayed it with water (I used a plant spraying bottle type thing) just to dampen it and then left it to dry and found although it is still stiff it did soften enough to put a hoop on. Now its been in and out of a hoop about a zillion times its nice and soft anyway! X