You may ask yourself what should I do with my cross stitch, and most people would be surprised to hear that washing is not a compulsory step, although for some it is. There are a few important factors to bear in mind when deciding whether to wash your cross stitch or not. If you keep these considerations in mind, you should be able to get your cross stitch looking as good as new.
The first factor is how often should you wash it. When cross stitching you need to look at every time you make a new project. If you are using a grid, you need to see if any of the pieces have moved around. Most of the time you will notice the stitches in your artwork but if you have a grid and some pieces have moved then you will have to keep an eye on it.
Should you wash your work? There are several situations where you will need to follow this rule, although most of the time you will be fine. As well as when it starts to look bad.
In general you will want to look after your cross stitch for many years. It can be useful to have a cross stitch that is especially suited to wash, and this can be bought at a reasonable price.
If you are starting to get tired of your work then you should wash your cross stitch. If you want to keep your work then you should buy a fresh piece to replace the old one.
Stitching up new projects should not be a problem. You will only need to wash your cross stitch when you are ready to wear it again. Most stitching projects you need to get rid of in order to clean your own hand stitches.
Washing your work when you are finished will help avoid damaging your stitching. The only thing you will have to do after finishing your project is to tie off your existing knots and to follow the instructions on the package of the thread and needle you used.
You should not have a major problem with washing your work when you have already started stitching a new one. If you have mixed colors then this will need careful handling as you do not want to damage your work. Washing your cross stitch regularly is important as this will help prevent warping.
Washing your work is very important if you have areas that are a lot darker than your main color. Even if you have a light or dark line between two colors this will cause your finished work to look off, so it is important to check your colors on a regular basis.
If you use a tumble dryer the yarn will retain its shape a lot better. This is especially important if you are using a very heavy yarn.
The type of materials differ from different places. For example, a flat-weave yarn will lose its shape more quickly than a woven yarn so it will need more care.
One of the most important considerations is whether you should wash your cross stitch or not. Follow these simple guidelines and you should be able to enjoy your cross stitch for many years to come.
