30 year old crewel - help to clean

I just found some crewel work that I did when I was a young girl. It has been at my mother's house, and she has gas heat. The gas has stained the material. Would I be able to wash this or should it go to the dry cleaners? Thanks

Reply to
Chance2
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sorry - i have no knowledge of this whatsoever...

it's just that I can't see the word "Crewel" without thinking of the horribly punny title of a Piers Anthony book from the 80s - "Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn."

:P

do let us know what you end up doing and how it works out. must be kinda fun to rediscover a piece like that. all my stuff from my youthful needlework efforts are things I did for family or friends.

Reply to
KCat

If this is classic crewel - wool yarn on linen ground - you may wash it as any other embroidery. Cool water, mild detergent, let it soak a while then drain out the water. Rinse in clear water and see what has transpired. Do not wring or twist, just pick the fabric out and let it drain (a colander is useful for this). I have been known to soak "rescue" items from estate sales for up to a week, changing the water every day. To dry it, roll it up in a towel, squeeze the towel, then lay the embroidery on a flat surface to dry.

Of course, if this is 70s stuff - acrylic on cotton was sometimes used - and if this treatment doesn't work, you might try a tiny test with OxyClean.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

Shake it first and wipe with a wet cloth , than prepare a very mild water with some hair shampoo and dip it in for several moments than take out , dip in take out several times ,, rinse in cold water , look at it and if it hasn`t improoved , and colors haven`t run soak it in same soapy water+ dishwashing material for several moments. rinse WELL,,, let leak in sink , If you have a ceramic or tiles wall, in bath room push it to the tiles till it stays , flatten on wall and let it dry like this. mirjam

Reply to
Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

If there is any reason to suspect that the colours in the wool will run, test a corner. If all is well, wash gently in soapy water, rinse till the water is clear. Roll in a soft towel then place the piece on a board and stretch* out to shape in the normal way.

Leave to dry. Take off the board and press gently. I think you would find dry cleaning would not produce such a nice result. Usually the wools provided even in a kit are colour fast, but not always.

(*Stretching - placing on suitable surface, I have 1/4 plywood covered with gingham mac tac. I staple the edges down along one line of the gingham, then pull tight to the other side and staple. I continue until it is nicely stretched in all directions. Stretching is very important for crewel, it's quite amazing how wonderful it looks after the stretching is finished, it's the big moment lol )

Reply to
Lucretia Borgia

An alternative way of blocking crewel (assuming, of course, that it is traditional wool on linen) is to lace it onto stretcher bars before washing. Stretch it very tightly making sure the material is square, then wash in cool water with mild soap (Ivory or Orvis) and rinse until the rinse water is clear enough to drink. Set aside until dry. Check for cleanliness and wash again if needed. Don't take it off the bars until you are satisfied with the cleaning. Yelling here....DO NOT SEND IT TO THE DRY CLEANERS!!!!!!! 8^>

Crewelwoman

Reply to
crewelwoman

So the piece my sister did for me 30 years ago that is mounted on stretcher bars for presentation could just be washed as is? That would be lovely.

Elizabeth

Reply to
Dr. Brat

Good idea - however I would have reservations if the crewel part went close to the edges. Wet wood can stain linen quite easily.

Reply to
Lucretia Borgia

Exactly right - that's why you lace it instead of tacking. As to Elizabeth's piece, I suggest taking it off the presentation bars (they will have stained the linen), lace it to larger bars, wash, dry, and remount on acid free board with a bit of padding behind it (I wish someone would give me a lovely piece of crewel, sniffle, whine) 8^>

Crewelwoman

Reply to
crewelwoman

I am not fond of lacing so I think I will stick with my method, it doesn't take very long for me to do. I thought you meant to just stretch it between the bars then dunk.

Probably stuck in my rut, but it works lol

Reply to
Lucretia Borgia

Thanks all of you for all of your help. I don't have a board or stretcher bars to use to stretch the pieces. What could I use in the place of them -- or should I go out and get some?

Reply to
Chance2

Certainly not!! If you wash it as I suggested, let it get almost but not quite dry, lay it upside down on two or three layers of towels, then iron it thoroughly (on the "wool" setting) it should come out perfectly. This is how I always wash and iron my cushion covers (pillow tops in the U.S.) and they still look pretty good even though they are in daily use.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

Reply to
Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

Reply to
Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

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