30 year old crewel - help to clean

Posted by Chance2 on August 14, 2005, 8:43 pm

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

Posted by KCat on August 14, 2005, 9:26 pm

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.

Posted by Olwyn Mary on August 14, 2005, 10:43 pm

Chance2 wrote:
show/hide quoted text

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.

Posted by Mirjam Bruck-Cohen on August 15, 2005, 12:31 am

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

Posted by Lucretia Borgia on August 15, 2005, 6:22 am

show/hide quoted text

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 )

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