Embroidery Tips: Care of Work

Wrap up your work between times in a clean old towel or apron. This habit will often save your piece from having to be washed after finishing, and will help preserve its new look for some time.

Washing and Ironing:

• Use warm water and pure soap flakes. Do not use detergents or bleaches. Wash by squeezing gently.
• Rinse thoroughly in warm water, squeeze by hand and leave until half dry.
• Iron on the wrong side, placing the work face down on an extra thick blanket so that embroidery is not flattened out by the iron. Use a moderately hot iron and press heavily. A damp cloth placed over the work will prevent any possibility of singeing. On right side iron the hems only.

Source:
Coats & Clark’s Book No. 144
Learn How to Embroider (1963)

Tipnut’s Notes:

I’ve had good success with washing embroidered tablecloths and dishtowels with a good splash of color safe bleach in the washing machine. I wash them separately from the rest of the laundry and use regular laundry detergent. I wouldn’t be brave enough to try machine washing precious embroidered work or using color safe bleach, but for dishtowels and everyday tablecloths, I’ll chance it to clean the towels from germs and bacteria picked up in the kitchen.

More Embroidery Tips:

Crochet & Needlework Tips, Embroidery Pattern Transfer Tips – Vintage Notes and Embroidery Tips: Beginnings & Finishings

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