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Hi

I am not too keen on hiding my work behind glass (yes yes I know its see through but you know what I mean!!)...

I am about to start making some pictures to put on the wall. They are of Witzy the duck from Suzy's Zoo. I am going to do 3 or 4 (for a nursery).

I like the canvas look, so I was thinking of buying a stretched canvas (they are cheap) and just mounting my aida over the top when I have finished. But I was worried about them getting dusty and dirty.

I've just read that you can scotchguard (waterproofer spray) the finished work and this will protect it. Which makes sense!
Has anyone done this? Results??

Thanks

I use starch. It always worked for me and It makes it easy to wipe or blow the dust off. Other than that it doesn't affect the piece. Plus it helps to get the wrinkles out when you iron it.

Yeh? I always though starch was used to make things easier to iron, and a bit stiffer..
I didnt realise it repels stuff!

I'd be inclined to use spray starch, too. (Now you understand a fundamental Victorian laundry trick: enough starch repels most boarders!!) Anyway, I think you will be surprised just how many years have to go by before your stitching will begin to look dirty. The trick is to frame it in such a way as to allow relatively easy access to the back. Then, in ten years, you can take it out of the frame, unlace it, wash and so forth, relace and reframe. Hey presto!

Scotchgard will slightly darken the colours, and I've used it, sparingly, for tapestry seat covers (which will get grubby). It's ok, but I wouldn't make a habit of using it.