How to wash and iron cross stitch: clean and crease-free
After weeks in your hands, every piece is a little grey, creased and marked by the hoop. A wash and the right ironing make it look like new.
Before washing: check the colours
Branded threads are generally colourfast. Hand-dyed threads and strong reds can bleed. When in doubt, dab the back with a damp white cloth. If colour comes off, wash only cold and very briefly, or not at all.
Washing your piece in 5 steps
- Fill a clean bowl with lukewarm water and add a little mild detergent without bleach.
- Put the piece in and let it soak for about 15 minutes. Move it gently, do not rub.
- Rinse with clear, cool water until no more suds appear.
- Do not wring. Lay it flat on a towel, roll it up and press the water out gently.
- Unroll and iron while still damp.
Ironing properly
Put a thick, light-coloured towel on the ironing board and lay the piece face down on it. Iron from the back at medium heat. The stitches sink into the towel and keep their shape instead of being flattened.
Never iron directly over the front. It flattens the stitches and can melt metallic thread.
What to avoid
- Washing machine and tumble dryer: the edges fray and the fabric distorts.
- Hot water: it makes colours bleed and fabric shrink.
- Soaking pieces with beads or metallic thread: better to dab them carefully.
- Framing while damp: let it dry completely first, otherwise mould can form behind the glass.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to wash a cross-stitch piece at all?
Not necessarily, but it is worth it. Skin oils and dust are invisible at first and turn yellow over the years.
How do I get rid of hoop marks?
By washing and ironing damp from the back. In future, take the piece out of the hoop after every session.
What if a colour has bled?
Keep rinsing straight away under cold running water until the water stays clear. Do not let it dry while colour is still coming out.