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Washing Floss or Yarn
On 9/21/06 2:40 PM, "Fred" wrote:
Does anyone here wash their floss or yarn *before* they start stitching? It would seem to be the most reasonable way to make sure that the colors would not leach out later when the design is stitched and washed. Sometime ago I think that someone mentioned that washing before use makes the floss or yarn a bit kinky and causes it to tangle more. Truth or fiction?? I do know people that wash some floss - you have to be careful laying it out to dry so that it doesn't get kinky. Of course, you could just lay it out to damp dry, and then put a thin press cloth over it, and iron. The only time any of my regular stitching pals (local) wash is if it's a piece with either a lot of reds, or a good amount of overdye that they fear is going to need washing at the end. One of my friends washed some dark overdyes specifially to soften the gradation of color. Personally, I don't. If it's kinky - you can always use thread heaven, which I use anyhow with my overdyes. I use Anchor floss which I'm told is very color fast and have never washed it before use or after. I'm not sure what the other brands that are on the market are like. I'm a fairly clean stitcher so I have never had to wash a stitched needlepoint that was done with yarn. I use Anchor as well. FWIW, Weeks dyes on Anchor floss, and I'm pretty sure that NN does as well (or did). At the shop, we wash pieces all the time, and have not had any running problems - as long as they're just floss or yarn. I don't know anyone that washes yarn first. I'd really hesitate to do that - especially if it's any kind of blend. I know that when I knit, I now wash the woolens with Eucalan - which doesn't really get rinsed out, as it's good for the fibers. When we block NP, it's pretty wet to start, and haven't had any problems. I've washed some older pieces - no problems - yet. You just made me think of one of our very nice customers. She came in, wanted to do something a little different with some Irish saying sampler she was about to start. So, I talked with her, and she decided to do a big section in overdyed green floss. I'm sure I told her to check the tags, that it wasn't colorfast, etc - as we do her framing and she's one of the regulars that washes her stuff before bringing it in. Evidently I wasn't emphatic enough. The shop owner calls me up a day I'm not working - "guess what, ---- finished the sampler, and she WASHED it - the whole thing is full of green dye runs" Followed by our debate on my instructions, customer listening, and us giving her a new piece of fabric.... Ellice Fred http://www.stitchaway.com Don't backstitch to email just stitchit. The closer you get to perfection the harder it is to achieve. W.I.P. - "Fiddler on the Roof", "Oriental Maiden". |
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#2
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Washing Floss or Yarn
Does anyone here wash their floss or yarn *before* they start stitching?
It would seem to be the most reasonable way to make sure that the colors would not leach out later when the design is stitched and washed. Sometime ago I think that someone mentioned that washing before use makes the floss or yarn a bit kinky and causes it to tangle more. Truth or fiction?? I use Anchor floss which I'm told is very color fast and have never washed it before use or after. I'm not sure what the other brands that are on the market are like. I'm a fairly clean stitcher so I have never had to wash a stitched needlepoint that was done with yarn. Fred http://www.stitchaway.com Don't backstitch to email just stitchit. The closer you get to perfection the harder it is to achieve. W.I.P. - "Fiddler on the Roof", "Oriental Maiden". |
#3
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Washing Floss or Yarn
"Fred" wrote in message ... Does anyone here wash their floss or yarn *before* they start stitching? It would seem to be the most reasonable way to make sure that the colors would not leach out later when the design is stitched and washed. Sometime ago I think that someone mentioned that washing before use makes the floss or yarn a bit kinky and causes it to tangle more. Truth or fiction?? I use Anchor floss which I'm told is very color fast and have never washed it before use or after. I'm not sure what the other brands that are on the market are like. I'm a fairly clean stitcher so I have never had to wash a stitched needlepoint that was done with yarn. Fred http://www.stitchaway.com I`ve only had to wash thread a couple of times - once when the pup found it and dribbled on it and once when I spilled coke on it - in both cases it kinked and tangled afterwards. I`ve never had any problems at all washing ( stitched) Anchor. However clean a stitcher you are I find that a mild wash, good rinse, and pressing on the back on several thicknesses of towelling, bulks and evens up the stitching no end, much improving the appearance. Pat |
#4
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Washing Floss or Yarn
"Fred wrote Does anyone here wash their floss or yarn *before* they start stitching? It would seem to be the most reasonable way to make sure that the colors would not leach out later when the design is stitched and washed. Sometime ago I think that someone mentioned that washing before use makes the floss or yarn a bit kinky and causes it to tangle more. Truth or fiction?? I usually take a bit of any floss that is bright or deep red through maroon, wet it, and see if any colour runs. If it does, I rinse the floss in cold running water until no more colour comes off, but most of the time the thread is okay. I can't recall that the thread was particulary kinky after, but then, I seem to buy quite a bit of self-knotting thread at the best of time. Dawne |
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