A Guide to Washing Cross Stitch Projects | Caterpillar Cross Stitch

[@CaterpillarCrossStitch]

Thanks for being here Caterpillar Crew! Please like and subscribe and don't forget to claim your 10% off discount code for your first order by tapping here: eepurl.com/giThcT Sally and Ford x

[@lyndasmith593]

Great information I didn't know all of this. Good to see Nugget having his little bath. I have two birds and I love to watch them taking their baths.

[@CaterpillarCrossStitch]

Thank you for watching!

[@Tiki11127]

Thank you Ford for your method of washing a project. I'm finding that there are as many ways to wash a project as there are stitchers. I appreciate your no-fuss technique. It certainly leaves no excuse not to wash the project! You rock!

[@SonovaStitch]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@debbiebarnett1920]

The jumper design is cute!

[@CaterpillarCrossStitch]

I think so too!

[@vickyciulla8325]

i had never been brave enough to wash! my finished piece but the wrinkles just fell out and it looks perfect.

[@CaterpillarCrossStitch]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@elaineashley1958]

Just watched the previous video and will try using the lint roller to get the dust off. Thanks! What about yellow stains from age?

[@lorenaariasbuentello5926]

As always, wonderful tip. Thank you. I just finished my project and I have to wash it now, so this was perfect timing!!

[@CaterpillarCrossStitch]

Amazing, thank you for watching!

[@diannemurfitt878]

Thank you once again for a very informative and easy to follow video. I always learn something new from you!

[@SonovaStitch]

Glad you find my prattling useful! Thanks for watching!

[@CaterpillarCrossStitch]

Thank you for watching :)

[@LynnSteiner-g3y]

What do you recommend when fabric or floss is not colorfast?

[@CaterpillarCrossStitch]

We wouldn't recommend it being washed if that was the case.

[@angelahomicz1813]

Would you wash older projects the same way? I have some that are 30 years old and d yellowed.

[@CaterpillarCrossStitch]

Yes with a very gentle soap

[@feidie64]

Thank you! Your videos are so helpful! I love your little parakeet! It looked like he/she was trying to take a mini-birdbath in your hand. What's his/her name? ❤

[@SonovaStitch]

That's Nugget! We got Nugget as a tiny baby, too young to reliably sex, so we decided then to use they/them and just stuck with it once they were older. The only way they will take a bath is if I hold my hand out to use as a bird bath! They have one foot that has a little bit of deformity and I think don't feel stable on the sink or a plate or the like. They appear in videos on the channel quite frequently!

[@SWEETDFAN17]

Thank you for this video. I have recently framed two projects without washing it first 😢 I use a gentle powder to wash projects (except for the framed last two). I dilute the powder in the water and double rinse to make sure no powder is left behind. I'm working on a large full coverage where the fabric is 3' x 2'. I have a small kitchen sink. Would it be okay to wash it in the bathtub if I first clean the bathtub really well?

[@SonovaStitch]

Absolutely! Having a clean work space and preparing your place to set it down is what matters, along with using the coldest water your tap can provide. Thanks for watching!

[@cherylrichards8951]

Could you also feature a way of washing for those of us who live in drought conditions and feel guilty wasting that much water? Also, what about using silk threads.

[@SonovaStitch]

I live in a desert state with frequent drought conditions. We just broke a decade-long drought last year actually, but to be totally honest, domestic water use is a minuscule portion of water usage. The vast, vast majority of water usage is by agriculture and industrial users, and they just try to trick home consumers into thinking they can do something about it so they won't go after the real culprits. BUT! In virtually all areas, water that goes down your sink like this is not consumed! It will go to a treatment plant and then eventually be used to water farmland or one of those big wasteful golf courses. Thanks so much for watching!

[@cherylrichards8951]

I would agree, except I live in an area where our only water source is rainwater. There's no way for us to acquire water from another location as we live on an island.

[@maniacporshe8583]

You've done metallic, variegated and satin. What about glow in the dark dmc thread for Halloween or spooky stitches? 👻

[@SonovaStitch]

I will absolutely do that! I've done a couple projects with glow in the dark thread (one with a ghost that glows and one with a secret message that appears in the dark). I'll make a video with the tips I've learned! Thanks for watching!

[@CaterpillarCrossStitch]

Great idea! Thanks for watching!

[@elaineashley1958]

I just pulled out an old, framed piece which has dust on it. How strange to find this video made this morning!! Should I vacuum it before washing it as long as the attachment is clean? Or blow it with a can of pressurized air?

[@SonovaStitch]

I see from your next comment you saw my prior video and got an answer on that one. I've tried the vacuum before and the lint roller just works better altogether! Pressurized air would probably drive the dirt and dust further down into the fabric. For the yellowing, you could try using a laundry pre-treat like oxyclean and a soft toothbrush, but it may not be something on the surface; it might be chemical changes in the fabric itself which may or may not be removable.

[@mlewis8579]

I didn’t know this, thank you. One thing I learned the hard way is, don’t put your thread in your mouth to thread it… I did this and have some tea stain on my project !

[@SonovaStitch]

I do recommend at least swallowing the tea first!😆🤣

[@SonovaStitch]

Thanks for watching!

[@cynthia8022]

Help! I just washed an old sampler I purchased and the red dye has run and isn’t coming out! What should I do? 🥹🥲🥲🥲

[@CaterpillarCrossStitch]

We're sorry to hear that :(