# Cross Stitch Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cross-stitch-question/12959 "2000-01-21T16:13:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cross-stitch-question/12959/1 "2000-01-21T16:13:00Z")
I’ve been working on a rather large (9X17) and complicated Noah’s Ark cross stitch project for a few years now. It’s for my soon-to-be-born niece/nephew’s nursery and will be one of the first projects I’ve actually completed. After several years of being carted around and worked on sporadically, I’m going to need to wash it before framing. Anyone kno how I should do this? My guess would be by hand with Woolite and air dry flat. Thanks y’all. I promise to scan and get it up somewhere when it’s complete. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisCTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ChrisCTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisCTP)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cross-stitch-question/12959/2 "2000-01-21T16:37:00Z")
My mom the Cross Stitch Queen says to hand wash in cool water with Dreft (baby detergent) and air dry flat. * * * “…being normal is not necessarily a virtue. It rather denotes a lack of courage.” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cross-stitch-question/12959/3 "2000-01-21T16:37:00Z")
Actually, somewhere in the back of my head I’m vaguely recalling (or else I’m having a False Memory ;)) that Woolite should NOT be used on this stuff. Can’t honestly remember for sure, though, but I’d check it out before I tried it. :: pause :: Okay, I went and pulled the instructions for one I’m working on right now. Here’s what it says: > [@](#): > > Use a mild dishwashing liquid in lukewarm water to hand wash your design. Cold water washes made for fine washables and wool garments may actually cause the thread to bleed. Rinse in lukewarm water until the water is clear. Roll the design in a towel and squeeze well to remove excess water. Lay your design flat to air dry. Remember that this is a natural fabric and may shrink slightly when washed. > > To press your design after it has dried, lay it face down on a towel. Use a dry iron on a medium temperature setting and press lightly so you don’t flatten your stitches. Hope this helps! -Melin ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cross-stitch-question/12959/4 "2000-01-21T16:47:00Z")
**Chris** and **Melin** , you guys rock! Thanks bunches! ---
**Author:** ![kellibelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kellibelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellibelli)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cross-stitch-question/12959/5 "2000-01-21T17:01:00Z")
So, what are your framing plans? I love cross sttching, I am about to start one with a cat on it, he has a feather hanging out of his mouth as he sits beneath an empty bird cage asking : " What bird?" Cracks me up everytime I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Suzeanne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Suzeanne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suzeanne)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cross-stitch-question/12959/6 "2000-01-21T21:12:00Z")
First off … are there any “strong” colours in it? Black and red have a tendency to bleed (as do some of the darker redder browns) and if you didn’t set the floss beforehand, you could have problems. Cold water, mild dishwashing liquid, and a splash of vinegar _should_ keep it from running if they weren’t set. Rinse with cold. NEVER wring the work. To dry, take several towels and lay them flat. Lay the piece on top of them, and slowly ROLL it full length. This will suck most of the water out of it. Let it dry flat (a sweater dryer, the screen type that lays flat in a bathtub works great). Don’t even think about trying to iron wrinkles out if the piece is still dirty or has skin oils on it, they’ll darken as the piece ages and look awful. If you got it clean, then ironing it UPSIDE DOWN on top of a towel or two for padding will help remove any lingering hoop marks. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cross-stitch-question/12959/7 "2000-01-21T22:22:00Z")
I’ve been needlepointing since I was a little tyke & blocked several pieces. Blocking is a necessary step with needlepoint: you wash the piece, then stretch it evenly while it is drying. I don’t know if it is necessary for cross stitch One option you have is to let the framer do the cleaning. Make sure that you have a very reputable framer. If you clean it yourself, make a test swatch with threads from your piece. Wash & dry the test swatch first, that way you’ll know if it’s going to run. I’ve always used dish detergent(like you’d do with delicates if you don’t use woolite) and never had any problem. Rinse thoroughly. Dry flat if you’re not blocking. Here are instructions on blocking: [http://www.needlepointfun.com/sbdir.htm#art2](http://www.needlepointfun.com/sbdir.htm#art2)