How (and Why!) to Wash and Press your Cross Stitch Projects

Learn how to easily wash and press your finished cross stitch to make it look top notch.
I'll discuss the benefits of washing and pressing plus those few situations when it might be better to skip this!
00:00 Start
02:00 Why wash and press cross stitch?
03:07 What if you are storing the project?
03:54 How I store cross stitch projects
04:50 When to NOT wash cross stitch
06:19 How to test for colour run
07:13 General tips on washing
09:02 The washing process
14:00 The pressing process
*JOIN MY EMAIL LIST*
Peek behind the scenes, get exclusive pattern discounts and a free pattern!
subscribepage.io/catkin-and-l...
*BROWSE JOYFUL CROSS STITCH PATTERNS*
I sell cute colourful designs suitable for beginners and more experienced stitchers in my Etsy shop
catkinandlillie.etsy.com
*FIND MORE STITCHY GOODNESS*
Browse blog posts on all sorts of topics, resources and some cute free patterns on my website
www.catkinandlillie.com
*PATTERNS SHOWN*
Halloween BOO:
catkinandlillie.etsy.com/list...
Floral Signpost:
catkinandlillie.etsy.com/list...
*LINKS MENTIONED*
Ecover washing up liquid:
www.ecoverdirect.com/products...
MUSIC
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Path To Prosperity [Full version] by MusicLFiles
Free download: filmmusic.io/song/11657-path-...
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: filmmusic.io/standard-license

[@blee032]

I usually wash my finished pieces. It does fluff up the threads and makes it look professionally done. I love listening to you. Thanks

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you 😊 Of course it makes me happy to hear you find washing your pieces makes them look awesome 😄

[@elizabethmurray4821]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I wash my pieces (where appropriate) with Johnson's baby shampoo. I like the way you iron your piece with a pressing cloth. I am never quite sure of temperature settings with my iron, so go lower than I would normally. Once again thank you for teaching me your tricks.😀

[@catkinandlillie]

Glad you enjoyed the tutorial 😄 I always think it's best to go cooler rather than hotter and you can always turn it up a little as you go.

[@janetrothwell4448]

Great video! Haven’t had a finish yet but will definitely rewatch when I have something to wash & press.

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you and I hope you get your first finish soon 😄

[@Jasmine-ur1sl]

Thanks for this tutorial. I wish I had seen these wonderful tips before the calamity which happened two years ago in the washing of one of my favorite pieces. I will most likely NEVER EVER wash another completed project again! Since that awful experience, I simply more diligently wash my hands every other hour when working on a project and only gently press completed pieces if hoop marks are severely obvious. Otherwise I've learned to accept minor creases in my pieces. Cheers from the Midwest of the United States.

[@catkinandlillie]

Oh dear, it sounds like you had a really terrible time if it put off ever washing ever again. If you prefer not to try washing your work again, you could still try spritzing the fabric with cold water, as I did in the video, before you press it as this does help to remove creases. I'm glad you enjoyed the tutorial though 😄

[@VulcanStitcher1701]

I'm learning so much from you! Thanks for all these videos :) I have a project I finished a while ago and now I know how to wash it! Keep up the amazing work

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you, and it's brilliant to hear my video will help you wash your first project 😄

[@clotheslinecraftscaroline2446]

Great helpful video. I usually iron my pieces but have never washed them and as a result have been frustrated by creases from qsnaps that won't come out. Have a pile of pieces ready to frame so will give it a go. Thank you very much.

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you 😊 I'm glad this was helpful to you and good luck with washing your pieces...I hope it helps with those stubborn creases 😄

[@Tricia123B]

Novice here, thank you for tips

[@catkinandlillie]

You're welcome and thank you for letting me know my tips are helpful to you 😊

[@sunnykat2762]

Excellent video! I have used Dawn dish detergent… if it is safe enough to put on a bird that got oil on it from an oil slick, it won’t hurt our stitch work.

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you and I believe quite a lot of stitchers use Dawn; it's a popular choice 😃

[@TheStitchingOwl]

Lovely to find you on flosstube and Etsy! This is the method I was taught by my mother…when tea towels had worn to thin but not through we grabbed them for pressing cloths. One thing I believe in is preventing heavy creases by ironing the fabric before stitching and then rolling it rather than folding between stitch sessions. It isn’t as convenient to carry the stitch in progress around but it helps in the final stages.

[@catkinandlillie]

Lovely to have you here! 😄 An old thin tea towel is perfect for ironing! I have tried rolling my WIPs and it's definitely good for avoiding creases. I think I mostly haven't done it because, as you say, it's a little less practical; I like my projects all inside a bag. I do fold my fabric in different places each time though so they don't get hard creases worn in. I was wondering about pre-ironing my fabric before I use it and storing it in rolls because storing it folded for a long time can leave quite stubborn creases. I've yet to find the time to sort that all out 😂

[@TheStitchingOwl]

@@catkinandlillie I cover pool noodles that I have cut down in cotton pillowcases and then wind my new fabric around those. I have a noodle for each count. If I pre iron I can start a project as inspired rather than stop to iron.

[@catkinandlillie]

Great ideas, thank you 😄

[@marnec9275]

I used to wash all my cross stitch UNTIL I had a Halloween project that had weeks dye works thread color Fiesta (red,orange,yellow). As I started to lower the fabric into the sink to handwash, I saw the red started to run onto a lime green that was next to it. I immediately pulled it out and caught it in time. It is on the bottom of the project. I know it's there but I don't think anyone else can tell. I've never had this problem with DMC, so those projects get washed. I also iron all projects and use Mary Ellen's Best Press on my linen projects to help get wrinkles out. I also use a piece of fabric over my scroll bars (like a grim guard) that has magnets on either side to be able to hold onto my project. This has helped tremendously.

[@catkinandlillie]

Oh noooooo!!! That is a real horror story but it sounds like you avoided most of the potential problem. That sounds like such a good idea to have fabric where you hold your project, and now I'm wondering if there's a way I can do that for my stitching in hand 🤔

[@marnec9275]

Brand: Woodandcat Universal Grime Guard with magnets Cross stitch Needle Minder Embroidery Magnet Protector Cover for qsnap any size & hoop needlepoint I bought this on Amazon and I think this would work for stitching in hand www.amazon.com/Universal-magnets-Embroidery-Protector-needlepoint/dp/B07ZL42CM4/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?crid=1U47IE5KDOOBG&keywords=grime+guards+cross+stitch&qid=1695399838&sprefix=grime+guar%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-16#

[@catkinandlillie]

Oooh, that might work! I am also now wondering if I could make one as I have magnetic sheets I could cut to size and add fabric...I'll have to experiment 😄

[@CatsAreTheBestPeople-mm1fo]

Oh dear, I've been going about this all wrong. 😳 (No huge disasters, yet 🤞) 4:37 Quick suggestion: maybe if storing a lot of work like this for a long time, label what design it is once wrapped up, or finding the one you want down the track might be fun...

[@catkinandlillie]

You know what I'm going to say...not wrong just different 😜 That's such a good tip about labelling projects too; thank you 😄

[@rivknit5557]

Thank you for your tutorial Can you show us how you manage to have such a clean back?

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you 😊 I was planning a video with tips for a neat back so watch this space! It might be a little while though as I have a lot of video topics lined up, including lots of requests 😂

[@patriciatufts4969]

Thank you for your tutorial. It mostly confirmed what I have been doing all along which is a relief. I have just finished a wedding sampler and there is a lot of metalic thread in it. I checked on line for the best wat to press it and I hada towel under it and a cottonpress cloth over it but still have wrinkles on it. Maybe my iron wasn't hot enough and maybe I should have dampened it first as it was completely dry after washing it. I am afraic of ruining this wedding sampler so if you could help me on this matter, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank yoju.

[@catkinandlillie]

How lovely to be making a wedding sampler to gift 😄🩷 It's certainly a tricky one to press if it has lots of metallic thread. Ideally you want to go as hot as you can without affecting the metallic thread. I definitely think spritzing with water to dampen the fabric will help although I would try to minimise how much water gets on areas with metallic thread. I also think I would take a small piece of the metallic thread, put it on a towel and put the press cloth over it, start the iron on low and press the thread, then see if you can slowly turn the heat up a little more and a little more to test it. I still wouldn't go too hot, but then you'll know it's safe to use that same heat setting on your sampler. I hope this helps and let me know how you get on! Kat x

[@karenkent4406]

I have always washed my cross stitch pieces. I have never had an issue but I always use DMC floss. Your process is like mine except I use a wash specifically made for cross stitch.

[@catkinandlillie]

I didn't know there were products specifically for washing cross stitch! What is the name of the product you use please?

[@debrastory7875]

I have two pieces not finished yet, the first is a full coverage with parked threads and I have noticed a couple of dirty marks and the other is a sampler with DMC and not a hand dyed fabric that has some marks on it, My question is do you think I should wash them now? It will still be sometime before they are finished.

[@catkinandlillie]

Hmmm, that's a really great question and I'm not entirely sure because I've never been in this situation. I think if I had dirty marks part way through a piece I would give it a wash just so they didn't have chance to set in and be harder to remove later. For the full coverage if the marks are outside the finished area and will not be seen once framed I wouldn't bother.

[@wheeliegirl0]

I love your video. I have a question. I have a 35-year-old Crosstitch teddy bear that was made for my son from a good friend who is since passed the teddy bear has old on it brown and color. Is there anyway to clean this safely?

[@catkinandlillie]

Oooh, that's a really tricky question and I'm not sure I have the answer but I'm thinking if it's really bad anyway then you don't have a lot to lose by trying some very gentle cleaning. You could try putting it fully into a bowl of water with just a very small drop of washing up liquid...Ecover Zero if you can get it. I'd use just very very slightly lukewarm water... definitely not too hot. Leave it to soak for 15 mins and see if it's any better. At that point you might get away with extremely cautious rubbing of any especially dirty areas with a cloth but perhaps not on the cross stitching itself. I'm not sure of the best way to dry it though...perhaps just hold it above a sink until no more water runs out then pat it dry with a towel to take the worst off then let it air dry. I'm definitely no expert in this though so please be sure you are ok that it might not work or might cause unexpected damage if you do try to clean it. Do let me know how it goes if you try anything!

[@wheeliegirl0]

@@catkinandlillie you are so so kind for giving me this great advice. I will definitely try it and give you an update. Thanks for taking the time. I really really appreciate it.

[@andreawilliams4276]

I have several cross strich pieces that are over 20 years that have never been framed. They are yellowish. Will this method help with brighten it up?

[@catkinandlillie]

I don't know for sure if it will help but there's a good chance that it might and you certainly won't hurt them with a gentle wash. If you do give it a go then let me know the result because I'd love to know if it works in case anyone ever asks me again.

[@lulalula238]

I started a project with out washing the fabric first, now I am half way and the fabric its so hard to work on. Can I was it now and continue my project once its dry and press? Im already like 7k stitches in..

[@catkinandlillie]

I would say, yes it would be fine to wash it if you want to soften the fabric and make it easier to work on. As long as it isn't one of the things that are best not to be washed like hand dyed fabric or threads, or if it's gridded and the grid would wash out! You might also find this video helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpiVdJlmhZKaj5o

[@marionanthony1530]

When floss tubers show their work each episode , they have ironed the project again and again . Can this continued ironing, course problems? As always this floss tube has great information. PS I am no typist, thanks to spell check. Even on this small and easy word comment.

[@catkinandlillie]

Thank you; I'm glad you enjoyed the video 😊 I noticed the same thing that some flosstubers iron the projects before showing them. Not everyone does and I am certainly not going to! I am not sure if it would cause any problems but I prefer not to expose my stitching to heat way more than is necessary, just in case. I will be showing my WIPs in all their crumpled glory until they are finished 😂