I washed and ironed my cross stitch. It looks beautiful and I will always do it your way. No wrinkles! I’m so happy. You are my favorite floss tube. I have learned so much from you.
I have been stitching for many years it is a joy to liten to you and refresh my memory.. Busy these days with Christmas pillows etc. It helps these diddifcult days we are agoing through and no end in sight. Will be glad when 2020 bids us adieu!!. Looking forward for you next video. Keep well and safe. Regards, Colette
A couple of months ago, I started my first sampler with overdyed floss before discovering your video, but I immediately washed what I had stitched so far (just the border - all okay) followed by separately washing each new floss and watching for bleeding before using. A couple of them did bleed, and I kept rinsing and soaking until all the bleeding had stopped. Today when I had finished stitching the sampler, I watched your video again and followed the washing guidelines to the letter and had no problems at all - the work is drying on a skirt hanger and I'm so glad I did this before stretching - it is a lovely feeling knowing all the incidental soiling has been removed before framing. Thank you for all your wonderful videos!
Jean, I am so glad I found you on Floss Tube, learning so much. Have dabbled in cross stitch for more than 30 years (I am (90)still enjoy. Thanks and keep Xing.
I will have to say I look forward to everyone of your videos and will watch several repeatedly for the content. Thank you for the teaching of the process. I am rather remote and do not know any stitchers outside of the FlossTube community. Thank you so very much.
Thank you again. I love your best practices idea. People want no rules, but get upset when their projects look terrible and the designers get blamed. Shoddy workmanship shows. Learn something new every day, gain skill, and be happier with your projects! Thanks for sharing your expertise with us. This is like getting a free master class!
Wow! How refreshing to hear someone say my exact thoughts regarding washing cross stitch! And also dmc... Never seen any bleed with dmc. Been stitching for nearly 40 years and everything I have ever stitched has been washed.
Anna of Stitch Roadie just mentioned you on her channel. She has about 10,000 subscribers. She loves you and is super impressed by your wealth of knowledge. No surprise!
Right there with you regarding "best practices"! We have to keep some standards in place for SOME things in this world. It doesn't make you cool or rebellious to ignore knowledge that has been built up by others over time. Allowing yourself to be mentored by someone more experienced will truly enrich your life. Thanks for keeping a standard, it means so much!
I went back and rewatched this twice before washing the wedding sampler that I made for my son's upcoming wedding on 9/11. This video gave me the confidence I needed to put six month's worth of work in the water. :) Thanks for all that you teach us!!
I used to work in a framing dept at Michael's. I always strongly encouraged my customers to wash their needlework before we stretched and framed it. It always shocked me how many stitchers just refused to wash their work. They just didn't think it was important. Then the others are absolutely terrified of washing their work. I did a demonstration in the store one day, and they were amazed at how easy it was and that it didn't ruin their stitchery. Thank you so much for this video.
I found this flosstube just in time. I was uncertain if I should wash my finished piece or not. After viewing this video, I washed and ironed it and it looks great! Thank you, Jean, for providing some really good teaching videos.
I have binged watch all of your flosstube videos and have even went and read some of your blog posts! A big thank you to Anna for the mention in her flosstube. I have learned so much and I enjoy your style of stitching and explanations! Thank you for your time and the thought that goes into your videos and all the answers to questions. I, also, enjoy your little peeks into your journey these past years. I just started my birthday project, Outlander/Alpine Garden Chatelaine, and will be trying many of your suggestions. I am hoping to finish this before my 80th birthday in 3 years, we shall see, it is a complicated project! It will not stop me from joining in on your Hearts Come Home SAL, I have the pattern, some fabric and some Cosmo and will be filling in the missing. I like Cosmo for embroidery projects and I am sure that cross stitch will be just as wonderful. As has been stated in many of the comments, your are a true jewel and I feel like I have met a forever friend. Stay well and happy and stitch everything you love.
Thank you again for another informative video. I so look forward to them. I am not a beginner, but I have gained so much from your experience and expertise. It is such a delight to see my stitching looking better and better.
My stitching relaxes me and has kept me on an even keel during this very difficult year. Your videos are so wonderful and are helping me to be a better more conscientious stitcher. Thank you so much for taking so much of your time answering questions, planning and recording these videos. I so look forward to seeing you and learning from you each week. You are a blessing in my life.
You answered MANY questions! Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge. You are a great and generous teacher and I appreciate your wisdom. I also, understand and wonder what will become the new “ fingernails on a chalk board “! With the use of chalkboard paint being painted on everything, it just won’t sound the same as the slate we remember. In my opinion the vocal riffs that seem to be added to songs today is the new fingernail shudder!
Thank you so much for teaching in detail the best practices for cross stitch. I would much rather learn how to do things correctly. It bothers me when people say it doesn't matter because I know it does. I have stitched a long time but there are some things I have had to try to figure out for myself. Again, thank you.
Thank you for being so brave and honest in saying it’s wrong when people say there are no stitching rules because there are indeed. Your videos are great and I learn plenty from you. Please keep making your much needed informative videos! I’m looking forward to getting all my Cosmo floss. I’ve had to find it in several shops. I finally decided to go with DMC for those I just couldn’t find on my second attempt because shipping would have been crazy had I tried a third online store. I’m sure COVID plus shops now wanting to sell Cosmo but just aren’t able to get all the colors right away has to do with us having to shop around among two to three different shops to get all the colors needed for the SAL. Have a great week and I’m hoping that close-up camera problem gets fixed.
Thank you so much for your videos. I returned to stitching in August 2019. I wanted to be happy with my finished pieces. This time round ,I read and watched and I realised in the past I had not followed best practice. I do agree with you on this, I spend money and time on a project because it calls to me and I love it, I therefore want to do my best by it. I am learning so much from your videos, thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge. From a rainy UK stay safe and well.
I love stitching with your videos. I have done crossstitch for 35+ years and always learn something or have one of my methods of stitching confirmed (like using buried waste knots-my favorite). Can’t wait to see your sampler when it’s completed! ❤️
As I am returning to needlework after several decades, I am finding your videos extremely helpful. I have watched a lot of different flosstubers & I believe you are filling a much needed "instructional" niche. Thank you so much for started this YT channel!
Jean Farish Needleworks I do have one question. You were ironing cotton floss, is it the same wash & iron on terry towels for silk floss (assuming I set temperature lower).
Here's a half answer: I don't use a lot of silk. I have stitched with accents of Caron Collection Waterlilies and I wash and iron it the same way except, as you noted, on a silk-friendly temperature setting. I don't have enough first hand experience to say what would happen if I stitched a whole sampler in silk but I will say this: if I can't wash it, I'm not going to cross stitch with it. I just don't see the point. My knowledge of silk does extend to this: silk is incredibly strong when dry but very weak when wet ... I doubt that would be much of an issue when washing a project with small silk stitches but if I were to pre-wash a skein, I would have to be very careful.
So informative. I live in Australia so feel I need to use Lux Flakes as I don’t know the product Orvus. Thank you Jean for your lesson, have learned so much.
so much useful information; another great video. don't worry about the tech problems, the videos are just fine. I always look forward to the next lesson. Thanks a bunch
I really enjoyed this episode. I often wash my pieces, but I see that I should put more thought into the soap I use to do so. I typically use Dawn dish soap (for nearly everything- xs, embroidery, wool knitted items, etc.), but I've never thought about whether it's the right soap for cotton or linen. It might be fine, but I never THOUGHT about it. Thank you for reminding me to think and be more mindful. (Although, I'll never admit this to my husband. He is famous for saying, "use the right tool for the job" and I didn't think whether I had the right "tool" for this job. haha)
I often hear Dawn mentioned by others. I had a stubborn stain on an almost-done sampler and Orvus was suggested as a solution. That was in the mid-90's and I've used it ever since.
Once again a wonderful video. I always thought that the piece being ironed needed to be dry! Can’t express my thanks again. Love learning all these new to me tips.
Jean, I love your videos and am learning so much! Just a note about Orvus. It is sold as "Fabric Care for needlework" (100% Orvus) in 8oz. jars in needlework shops. I have used it for a number of years and love it!
Thank you for your clear, concise instruction... you are by far the easiest on Flosstube for me to follow. As a self taught stitcher I’m afraid I do many things incorrectly! I hope sometime you can address sequencing, I never really know a good way to tackle a stem with leaves, or some of the letters in alphabets. Thank you, Jean!
Thanks for your kind words. I set up the Hearts Come Home SAL to address many of the "how do I do such-and-such" questions that I get. There just isn't enough time in the regular Saturday episodes!
Jean, I am so glad I found your channel! The segment on variegated thread was absolutely clear and very timely for me even though I'm commenting in 2021. I just started shopping for silk floss to use on an Ink Circles pattern that calls for variegated silk thread, 1 over 2 on linen. It will take me out of my comfort zone but I'm really looking forward to the challenge! (I should add that it's a small piece, about 8 X 8 inches, and that the dyer says her silk floss is colorfast. But now I know how to check that before I begin!)
Hi Jean. I look forward to your videos every week. Thank you for your time and generosity. I have been stitching for over 40 years and one problem has always plagued me. My thread twists. I do give a slight counterclockwise twist of my thread with each stitch, and that has helped a lot, but I still get twisting. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I taught two of my granddaughters to cross stitch this past year and they actually have very little twisting of their thread (one is 8 and one is 10), so it must be something that I am doing without realizing it. Thank you again for all you are doing for the cross stitch community.
That is a chronic problem for most stitchers and I think I have a good "fix" but I will need a camera assistant to really show how to do it. I'm training my daughter, Elizabeth, in how to shoot video for me so maybe we'll get to do it soon!
@@loriginsberg7261 and @Jean Farish Needleworks - I came here to ask the exact same question in the hope that it might get a mention in one of your next videos. Relieved to hear that something is in the pipeline. I try to add a twist in the opposite rotation at each stitch, but end up losing concentration and forget which way I'm supposed to be going. I figure that the answer is practice, practice, practice :( but any tips that you might have Jean would be greatly appreciated. I'm loving the masterclass style of your floss tube videos, plus a few snippets of works in progress. You have the mix just right! Thank you for all of your time and effort. I'm looking forward to the sal :)
Hi Jean, thanks so much for your flosstubes which I find so interesting and informative. Wish you had been my textile teacher at school. I particularly like the fact that you put the subject matter in your title so that it is easy to go back and find the particular flosstube you need, great source of knowledge. Best wishes, Kathy UK xx
I think that when we say "best practices" it is not only a gentler way of directing others as to "the way" to do something but it also carries an inherent reason for "following the rules."
This is the first time I’ve watched one of your videos. I am excited for someone to really help me with my cross stitch. You are adorable and I’m going to go back to your #1 video and watch them all. I’m very excited. I learned about you form Anna on stitch roadies. Thank you so much.
Hello from Oklahoma! Thank you for sharing your time, experience, and love of stitching with us! I began cross stitching many years ago,, and after a long absence, returned to a very exciting new chapter in the land of stitching and floss tubes. I still use a running stitch horizontally and vertically in the middle of my stitching fabric to begin every new project in the middle. Thank you for all of the tips in this video, especially the washing and ironing. In the old days, I washed the completed stitched piece but blocked it on a board (protected surface) to dry and remove all of the wrinkles. I am excited to wash and iron my next completed piece.
Enjoy your videos so much. I purchased the.sal pattern from you and am on the hunt for Cosmo floss and some fabric. I can’t wait to start. You really are a fabulous teacher
Jean, I stitched a red band sampler earlier in the year using DMC 304 and it left a red mark on the fabric in an area that I stitched incorrectly and had to re-stitch two threads to the left. Wow, the back of your work is beautiful.
What you experienced is either "crocking" (when excess dye rubs off) or the fuzz that is left behind with all rip-outs or a combination of the two. Neither should be permanent. I'll talk about this next week ... thanks for the comment!
I'm learning so much from you. I was most interested in what you had to say regarding washing your projects. I actually found myself holding my breath when you washed one of your "in progress" projects. Again, I'm learning things I was never taught. Thank you so much for everything that you share.
Thank you for all your great information on cross stitch...I love the rules that I have always done...even though I was self taught...I am delighted you are here on FlossTube❣️
Jean - I find your videos so inspiring and informative. I have been doing needlework for as long as I can remember, but I always learn something new from you. I watch a LOT of FlossTube while I stitch, and it’s so nice when I see a new update on your channel because I know I’m going to continue to learn and improve my craft. Thank you.
Thank you again Jean for a lovely see-able video. I have never really thought I needed to wash a finished piece of linen because it has got marked but I do think it's a great idea to help get out the wrinkles and creases out. Using a water spray and a hot iron doesn't seem to get the desired results. Will follow your example on my next piece. Thanks also for the variegated thread tips - am just about to start a piece using Gloriana which is subtle and will follow your methods. Thanks so much.
What you said is how I learned to stitch years ago. I have wondered about some of the current info out there, so thank you. I think I'm better doing what I remembered. In the past I was told to use Woolite, so now I will check out Orvus soap. I'm so glad for these videos that keep us well informed.
Hi Jean, thank you again for your inspiring and informative video. It's a joy to listen and learn from you. I participate in your sal to. I can't wait for my flosses and fabric to arrive. 🏵️👋
Thank you for another helpful video. I always washed and ironed my cross stitch projects when I was stitching 20:years ago. I took up knitting 20 years ago (by the way, handknitting experts never recommend Woolite for handknit wool items - they say that Woolite is only good for synthetics and recommend products like Eucalan or Soak). Now that I’ve returned to cross stitching and started using overdyed threads I have been reluctant to wash my needlework projects. I will try your suggestion to test wash the overdyed threads. I do wash and iron any new linen fabric and hang the fabric pieces on skirt hangers rather than keep the linen folded - some of those folds never go away!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and process for washing and ironing your projects. I have been criticised and mocked for the “ridiculously neat” back of my stitching. I began stitching with kits many years ago, and was always concerned that I might run out of floss. I am, therefore,parsimonious with my thread. This makes for neat backs, I also discovered that my threads don’t show through after framing. There is best practice and heirloom work deserves it. Thank you for your comments. You are very generous and helpful.. 🤗🇦🇺🤩
Another great video. Do you always use the same soap. I really appreciated how you gently dipped your fingers in the top of the bottle and that was "a drop". Watching the entire process was very helpful. I'll be watching for the next one. Thanks.
So happy I found you. Thanks to Anna Bates of Stitch Roadies. I just finished binge watching all 12 of your videos and can’t wait for #13. I’ve just recently returned to crossstitch and I have learned so much from you already. I know this is a very basic stitch, but could you please show how you do half and qtr stitches. The diagrams I’ve seen just don’t make sense to me. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge. PS. I am in Statesville NC. Would love to attend your classes, if we ever get back to normal.
Thanks for another great video! I enjoyed your demonstration of stitching with variegated thread. When I use variegated thread, sometimes I get stripes - on a house or a tree or even on a leaf. And that discourages me from using that type of thread. If you would give hints on how to keep that from happening in a future video that would be very helpful. I’m learning so much from you and I really enjoy your videos.
The stripes are inevitable with variegated. The trick is to manipulate them to fit with what you want to achieve. I hope to address more of this next week.
Thank you for demonstrating how you wash your stitching. I've always been too intimidated to do it but you've shown me how easy it can be. What iron setting would you use for aida? Thanks again for your thoughtful episodes!! Best practices...yes!!!!
If it's traditional Aida, it is 100% cotton, so I would use that setting. But there are some blends on the market, so be careful and keep the setting to match whatever fiber requires the lower temp.
Very interesting. Looking forward to the SAL so perhaps I can be more neat. I stitch in hand but my back often seems “ heavy”. What/ where does one find Orvus soap? Also, the info on variegated thread was very helpful. I found a local yarn shop that carries Cosmo thread but did not have the variegated thread numbers you suggested. I picked 2 alternatives but did not know the differences. So now I will look again and see just what I picked out...
I've a question about using variegated floss. If the ends of your variegated floss are light and dark and you start with the light end and finish with the dark end, do you start the next length with the dark end? Thank you for sharing your talent and the clear instructions.
I'm getting ready to finish the first cross-stitch I've ever done with needlepoint silk and wondering how I should iron it....I'm guessing I need to use a pressing cloth but unsure if it needs to be more than one layer of cloth. Would love to know what you advise. Thank you so much for your expertise.
A single pressing cloth should be enough ... I use a kitchen towel called "flour sacking" and use it just for that purpose. The important thing is to use the silk setting on your iron.
Thank you for this informative video on washing and ironing. Will have to get this Orvus soap! My question is: could you show a picture of how you let the piece air dry overnight by hanging it on a hanger? What kind of hanger? Do you stretch it between hanger clips or use clothes pins? Sorry if this seems like a silly question, but air drying is not a skill I currently possess!
Thank you for addressing these topics so clearly. If I might ask a follow up question (which you may address subsequently, I’ve gone back to episode 1 and am watching in serium), what if someone did not wash a cashel linen before beginning to stitch with DMC thread? This would be me, and so far I’ve used whites, greys, and tans. Is is safe to do a soak, rinse, and iron per your demonstration? Preferable to waiting until the end? I’ve put a number of hours in, but just a fraction of the entire design. I’m actually talking myself into doing this, and starting over if necessary. But I’d appreciate your thoughts.
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks thank you for answering my question well after you published this video. I am watching all of your other videos sequentially, learning a lot. The only thing better would be to take a workshop with you, which I hope to be able to do soon.
Hi Jean. I have just found you on floss tube and I am learning so much. Thanks for all of your fantastic lessons. I was just wondering if you can wash aida cloth the same way you demonstrated washing linen?
I have been watching your videos and am very curious about the colored books behind you. I can see they are a "library" of something or other to do with cross stitch. Would this be helpful to us?
Hi Jean! I am new to your channel. I really appreciate your knowledge about the different Cosmo families of threads. Is Cosmo colorfast? I have only stitched my Long Dog Sampler pieces in DMC because I wash them before ironing and framing them. But I would love to use a variegated thread.
Thank you for sharing so much information so graciously. I am a new stitcher, and I am learning so much from your videos. I have started and am well into the stitching of a project using over dyed floss on a medium blue Zweigart even weave. I did not prewash the floss to make it colorfast. Do I still have the option of washing this project, and if so, how should I wash it to prevent colors from running? Again, thank you.
This is what I would do: test each of the colors separately now. If none of them bleed, your worries are over and you can proceed without wondering. I do hear great things about the Color Catchers so if one or more bleeds, stitch a small area on another piece of fabric (white if you have it) and do a test wash. I'll talk more about this next week but in the meantime, this may help: www.jeanfarishneedleworks.com/wordpress/an-ounce-of-prevention/ Good luck!
Thank you so much for providing insight into laundering cross stitch pieces. I have never done that because of all the horror stories. You have dispelled those rumors! From this day forward I will be washing my finished pieces and won't be worried about hand oil discoloration! I usually stitch with a towel close by and wipe hands frequently, as well as washing hands everytime I get out of my stitching spot. Is the soap you use special, I haven't heard of it before?
Here's some info about Orvus soap I bought mine in a quilt shop. Here's the weird thing about Orvus: "This Orvus 52643 Horse Shampoo is a concentrated soap detergent in paste form that is soluble in hot or cold water and easily rinses out. Its nonirritating formula is effective in a wide range of cleaning tasks including washing your horse, cleaning rugs, upholstery and delicate fabrics. This horse shampoo works great on cattle, dogs, cats and sheep as well! Keep your animals clean with this excellent horse hair shampoo." What???? Years ago some enterprising farm wife (apology for the gender thing) figured out that what they used on their horses worked really well on needlework. In fact, it was an Iowa farm wife who first recommended Orvus to me. It is sold in farm supply stores in really huge containers. Large animal veterinarians are also a source if you want a 7 pound container which would last a very prolific stitcher about 100 years :) So what happens is that people buy the big containers and re-bottle it and put their own label on it.My container is 8 oz. and I bought it in 2015; it's still about ⅓ full. I hope this helps!
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks Thank you for the information. Who knew horse soap was so delicate! Now I will be a happy washer woman along with being a happy stitcher!
Hi Jean, So much appreciate your floss tube. Couple of questions please... 1. How do you calculate the amount of each color of floss will be needed for a project? 2. Can you suggest a place to purchase Cosmo and the variegated that you are using in HCHFC SAL? Thanks!!!
The software I use gives me a number of stitches per color and that helps. Most of my designs are single-skein designs so I don't give it a lot of thought. My major samplers are a different story ... Jannet takes 5 skeins of one of the colors! For Cosmo, here are a couple of my go-to sources but have no idea what their supply is like at the moment: A Stitching Shop Denver, CO 303-727-8500 Sassy Jacks Weaverville, NC 828-785-4405 Some stitchers are sharing sources on the JFNSAL Facebook page: facebook.com/groups/jfnsal
When you have time, perhaps you would touch on lighting. I am having a time working on anything smaller than 25 ct. At the moment I’m working with a magnification head attachment which is bit unsatisfactory-I can’t watch TV at the same time. Of course, it makes frogging easier!
Just wondering: if you hang your washed piece before it is completely dry do you need to worry about the fabric stretching? I’m fortunate to have an LNS that carries the full line of Cosmo. Thank you so much for the explanation of the different Seasons flosses. I’m starting to use it and I’m really liking it.
Good question! I iron it until I think it is dry. I hang it up as an extra precaution. I'm glad to hear that you have easy access to Cosmo. Which shop is it?
Here's a half answer: I don't use a lot of silk. I have stitched with accents of Caron Collection Waterlilies and I wash and iron it the same way except, as you noted, on a silk-friendly temperature setting. I don't have enough first hand experience to say what would happen if I stitched a whole sampler in silk but I will say this: if I can't wash it, I'm not going to cross stitch with it. I just don't see the point. My knowledge of silk does extend to this: silk is incredibly strong when dry but very weak when wet ... I doubt that would be much of an issue when washing a project with small silk stitches but if I were to pre-wash a skein, I would have to be very careful.
Hi, Jean! Couple questions today. Where do you find Orvus soap? I looked on Amazon and found a $40 Orvus “paste cleaner” and a $15 Orvus quilt soap, but neither looked like what you had. Second, can you help me out with a variegated floss issue I’m having? If I have to fill in a large, solid area with an overdyed, variegated thread, I end up with “lines” between my rows of stitches every two rows. It’s a tension issue, I think. I stitch each X one at a time and stitch to the right, to the end of the row, then pick up the row beneath and stitch right to left, to the end of the row, going back and forth to fill in the area. But then I see tension “lines” between every two rows, like the spacing between the threads is greater every two rows. I’m pretty sure I know what’s causing it, but I don’t know how to fill in a large area with variegated thread any other way. Help! Thanks for your wonderful videos. (On your close-up camera, does the user guide mention anything about a power-save or energy-save mode you can turn off?)
I Googled it and Joann's has an 8 oz bottle (which is what I have) for about $12. Personally, I try to shop at independent stores before I go to the "big box" stores so try a needlework shop or a quilt shop. BTW, my 8 oz bottle is ⅓ full and I bought it five years ago!
The "close up camera" is my older iPhone and it's a memory issue. On the variegated question ... try stitching in the same manner in both directions. I'm not sure it will solve the problem but it would be worth a try!
I Googled orvus soap and came up with a number of options. Can you tell us more about your container, how many ounces it is, and what the exact title on the front is? I see one online for quilts. Thank you for these wonderful videos!
I bought mine in a quilt shop. Here's the weird thing about Orvus: "This Orvus 52643 Horse Shampoo is a concentrated soap detergent in paste form that is soluble in hot or cold water and easily rinses out. Its nonirritating formula is effective in a wide range of cleaning tasks including washing your horse, cleaning rugs, upholstery and delicate fabrics. This horse shampoo works great on cattle, dogs, cats and sheep as well! Keep your animals clean with this excellent horse hair shampoo." What???? Years ago some enterprising farm wife (apology for the gender thing) figured out that what they used on their horses worked really well on needlework. In fact, it was an Iowa farm wife who first recommended Orvus to me. It is sold in farm supply stores in really huge containers. Large animal veterinarians are also a source if you want a 7 pound container which would last a very prolific stitcher about 100 years :) So what happens is that people buy the big containers and re-bottle it and put their own label on it. My container is 8 oz. and I bought it in 2015; it's still about ⅓ full. I hope this helps!
Excellent video. I do have an additional question about using variegated thread. I understood about pulling the entire six strands and putting two together the same way so the colors match. But what about when it’s time to re-thread? Do you pull the next two from the same group you pulled from and continue as before? And if yes, wouldn’t that mess up the next section making it exactly the same as you just used. I’m probably not making sense but in my novice attempt at studying variegated, I thought I was supposed to use one complete strand of the entire six strand floss before moving on to the next strand so I use the colors appropriately? I’m obviously wrong. Lol. I think I over complicated the process. 😂
PS. And if you cut the floss and put in the thread drop, wouldn’t you not know which group of threads should be used next? So in effect I could pull a section that was close to the same colors as I last used. Don’t you hate newbie questions? 😳
Good questions! It all depends on how much continuity you are looking for. Some stitchers are comfortable with a random repeat and others are looking for more control (for lack of a better word). Let me think on this and I'll see about offering a better answer in the next episode.
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks thank you! As you can probably tell, I’m that person that the left part of the brain is continually playing tug of war with the right side of the brain.
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I washed and ironed my cross stitch. It looks beautiful and I will always do it your way. No wrinkles! I’m so happy. You are my favorite floss tube. I have learned so much from you.
I have been stitching for many years it is a joy to liten to you and refresh my memory.. Busy these days with Christmas pillows etc. It helps these diddifcult days we are agoing through and no end in sight. Will be glad when 2020 bids us adieu!!. Looking forward for you next video. Keep well and safe. Regards, Colette
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching.
Bless you dear Jean......thank you so much. Big hug of gratitude.
🧡🧡🧡
Same to you!
A couple of months ago, I started my first sampler with overdyed floss before discovering your video, but I immediately washed what I had stitched so far (just the border - all okay) followed by separately washing each new floss and watching for bleeding before using. A couple of them did bleed, and I kept rinsing and soaking until all the bleeding had stopped. Today when I had finished stitching the sampler, I watched your video again and followed the washing guidelines to the letter and had no problems at all - the work is drying on a skirt hanger and I'm so glad I did this before stretching - it is a lovely feeling knowing all the incidental soiling has been removed before framing. Thank you for all your wonderful videos!
I love a happy ending!
Jean, tks for sharing how to washing and ironing the finished piece..Happy Stitching. Xoxo. Miriam
You are so welcome!
I will try washing and ironing my work, as you have given me the confidence to do so, thank you for sharing.
Jean, I am so glad I found you on Floss Tube, learning so much. Have dabbled in cross stitch for more than 30 years (I am (90)still enjoy. Thanks and keep Xing.
I'm convinced that it keeps us young!
I will have to say I look forward to everyone of your videos and will watch several repeatedly for the content. Thank you for the teaching of the process. I am rather remote and do not know any stitchers outside of the FlossTube community. Thank you so very much.
Awesome! Thank you!
Thank you again. I love your best practices idea. People want no rules, but get upset when their projects look terrible and the designers get blamed. Shoddy workmanship shows. Learn something new every day, gain skill, and be happier with your projects! Thanks for sharing your expertise with us. This is like getting a free master class!
You are so welcome!
Candra Sowder welcome
Wow! How refreshing to hear someone say my exact thoughts regarding washing cross stitch! And also dmc... Never seen any bleed with dmc. Been stitching for nearly 40 years and everything I have ever stitched has been washed.
I'd love to know what process stitchers use to get DMC to bleed ... I just can't figure it out :)
Same. I got some of the dmc variegated red, 115, and soaked it first just to be safe, but the water was as clear as it always is.
Anna of Stitch Roadie just mentioned you on her channel. She has about 10,000 subscribers. She loves you and is super impressed by your wealth of knowledge. No surprise!
Oh wow! I'll have to check it out.
Right there with you regarding "best practices"! We have to keep some standards in place for SOME things in this world. It doesn't make you cool or rebellious to ignore knowledge that has been built up by others over time. Allowing yourself to be mentored by someone more experienced will truly enrich your life. Thanks for keeping a standard, it means so much!
Thanks for your kind words!
I went back and rewatched this twice before washing the wedding sampler that I made for my son's upcoming wedding on 9/11. This video gave me the confidence I needed to put six month's worth of work in the water. :) Thanks for all that you teach us!!
You're so very welcome!
Again so helpful and nice to sit at a computer screen and learn so much at your own pace. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I used to work in a framing dept at Michael's. I always strongly encouraged my customers to wash their needlework before we stretched and framed it. It always shocked me how many stitchers just refused to wash their work. They just didn't think it was important. Then the others are absolutely terrified of washing their work. I did a demonstration in the store one day, and they were amazed at how easy it was and that it didn't ruin their stitchery. Thank you so much for this video.
Thanks for helping to educate others!
I found this flosstube just in time. I was uncertain if I should wash my finished piece or not. After viewing this video, I washed and ironed it and it looks great! Thank you, Jean, for providing some really good teaching videos.
Glad it was helpful!
Very beautiful cross stitching 🧵 and washing and ironing, thanks for sharing it my talented friend 🌸😍💐
Welcome
Thank you so much 😊
I have binged watch all of your flosstube videos and have even went and read some of your blog posts! A big thank you to Anna for the mention in her flosstube. I have learned so much and I enjoy your style of stitching and explanations! Thank you for your time and the thought that goes into your videos and all the answers to questions. I, also, enjoy your little peeks into your journey these past years. I just started my birthday project, Outlander/Alpine Garden Chatelaine, and will be trying many of your suggestions. I am hoping to finish this before my 80th birthday in 3 years, we shall see, it is a complicated project! It will not stop me from joining in on your Hearts Come Home SAL, I have the pattern, some fabric and some Cosmo and will be filling in the missing. I like Cosmo for embroidery projects and I am sure that cross stitch will be just as wonderful. As has been stated in many of the comments, your are a true jewel and I feel like I have met a forever friend. Stay well and happy and stitch everything you love.
Thanks so much for watching and for your kind comments. Needlework keeps us young, doesn't it?
I have just returned to stitching after many years and have learned so much from you. Thank you so much for your vids. So helpful!
Happy to help!
I learn something new from you every week! Thank you for being such a fabulous teacher and giving so freely and kindly of your knowledge!
You are so welcome!
Thank you again for another informative video. I so look forward to them. I am not a beginner, but I have gained so much from your experience and expertise. It is such a delight to see my stitching looking better and better.
That makes my heart happy!
My stitching relaxes me and has kept me on an even keel during this very difficult year. Your videos are so wonderful and are helping me to be a better more conscientious stitcher. Thank you so much for taking so much of your time answering questions, planning and recording these videos. I so look forward to seeing you and learning from you each week. You are a blessing in my life.
Thanks for your precious comments!
You answered MANY questions! Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge. You are a great and generous teacher and I appreciate your wisdom. I also, understand and wonder what will become the new “ fingernails on a chalk board “! With the use of chalkboard paint being painted on everything, it just won’t sound the same as the slate we remember. In my opinion the vocal riffs that seem to be added to songs today is the new fingernail shudder!
Thank you so much!
Thank you for the tips on washing and ironing. Enjoying the progress on Jane. Happy Stitching!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for teaching in detail the best practices for cross stitch. I would much rather learn how to do things correctly. It bothers me when people say it doesn't matter because I know it does. I have stitched a long time but there are some things I have had to try to figure out for myself. Again, thank you.
You are so welcome!
Thank you for being so brave and honest in saying it’s wrong when people say there are no stitching rules because there are indeed. Your videos are great and I learn plenty from you. Please keep making your much needed informative videos! I’m looking forward to getting all my Cosmo floss. I’ve had to find it in several shops. I finally decided to go with DMC for those I just couldn’t find on my second attempt because shipping would have been crazy had I tried a third online store. I’m sure COVID plus shops now wanting to sell Cosmo but just aren’t able to get all the colors right away has to do with us having to shop around among two to three different shops to get all the colors needed for the SAL. Have a great week and I’m hoping that close-up camera problem gets fixed.
Thanks for your comments and thanks for watching!
Oh thank you so much for your videos....I have been stitching for about a year and have learned so much from you.....Please keep it up. Thank you !!
Thank you! Will do!
Thank you so much for your videos. I returned to stitching in August 2019. I wanted to be happy with my finished pieces. This time round ,I read and watched and I realised in the past I had not followed best practice. I do agree with you on this, I spend money and time on a project because it calls to me and I love it, I therefore want to do my best by it. I am learning so much from your videos, thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge. From a rainy UK stay safe and well.
You make a good point and I may have to remind everyone of this!
This is a washing tutorial I feel confident in following! Thank you
I'm so glad!
I love stitching with your videos. I have done crossstitch for 35+ years and always learn something or have one of my methods of stitching confirmed (like using buried waste knots-my favorite). Can’t wait to see your sampler when it’s completed! ❤️
Wonderful! Thanks for watching!!
As I am returning to needlework after several decades, I am finding your videos extremely helpful. I have watched a lot of different flosstubers & I believe you are filling a much needed "instructional" niche. Thank you so much for started this YT channel!
You are so welcome!
Jean Farish Needleworks I do have one question. You were ironing cotton floss, is it the same wash & iron on terry towels for silk floss (assuming I set temperature lower).
Here's a half answer:
I don't use a lot of silk. I have stitched with accents of Caron Collection Waterlilies and I wash and iron it the same way except, as you noted, on a silk-friendly temperature setting. I don't have enough first hand experience to say what would happen if I stitched a whole sampler in silk but I will say this: if I can't wash it, I'm not going to cross stitch with it. I just don't see the point. My knowledge of silk does extend to this: silk is incredibly strong when dry but very weak when wet ... I doubt that would be much of an issue when washing a project with small silk stitches but if I were to pre-wash a skein, I would have to be very careful.
Enjoyed your visit today. Thanks for the heads up about variegated floss. I always learn something from you. Until next time, be well and stitch.
Thanks so much!
So informative. I live in Australia so feel I need to use Lux Flakes as I don’t know the product Orvus. Thank you Jean for your lesson, have learned so much.
Thanks for watching from down under!
so much useful information; another great video. don't worry about the tech problems, the videos are just fine. I always look forward to the next lesson. Thanks a bunch
Glad you like them!
I am learning SO much from you and your videos. Thank you! I want to learn all the “best practices” for my stitching😊
You are so welcome!
I really enjoyed this episode. I often wash my pieces, but I see that I should put more thought into the soap I use to do so. I typically use Dawn dish soap (for nearly everything- xs, embroidery, wool knitted items, etc.), but I've never thought about whether it's the right soap for cotton or linen. It might be fine, but I never THOUGHT about it. Thank you for reminding me to think and be more mindful. (Although, I'll never admit this to my husband. He is famous for saying, "use the right tool for the job" and I didn't think whether I had the right "tool" for this job. haha)
I often hear Dawn mentioned by others. I had a stubborn stain on an almost-done sampler and Orvus was suggested as a solution. That was in the mid-90's and I've used it ever since.
Once again a wonderful video. I always thought that the piece being ironed needed to be dry! Can’t express my thanks again. Love learning all these new to me tips.
You are very welcome!
Jean, I love your videos and am learning so much! Just a note about Orvus. It is sold as "Fabric Care for needlework" (100% Orvus) in 8oz. jars in needlework shops. I have used it for a number of years and love it!
I have seen about a dozen different way it's labeled once it is packaged in the smaller bottles.
Thank you for your clear, concise instruction... you are by far the easiest on Flosstube for me to follow. As a self taught stitcher I’m afraid I do many things incorrectly! I hope sometime you can address sequencing, I never really know a good way to tackle a stem with leaves, or some of the letters in alphabets. Thank you, Jean!
Thanks for your kind words. I set up the Hearts Come Home SAL to address many of the "how do I do such-and-such" questions that I get. There just isn't enough time in the regular Saturday episodes!
winternightpoem1 welcome
Jean, I am so glad I found your channel! The segment on variegated thread was absolutely clear and very timely for me even though I'm commenting in 2021. I just started shopping for silk floss to use on an Ink Circles pattern that calls for variegated silk thread, 1 over 2 on linen. It will take me out of my comfort zone but I'm really looking forward to the challenge! (I should add that it's a small piece, about 8 X 8 inches, and that the dyer says her silk floss is colorfast. But now I know how to check that before I begin!)
It sounds like a lovely project!
Hi Jean. I look forward to your videos every week. Thank you for your time and generosity. I have been stitching for over 40 years and one problem has always plagued me. My thread twists. I do give a slight counterclockwise twist of my thread with each stitch, and that has helped a lot, but I still get twisting. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I taught two of my granddaughters to cross stitch this past year and they actually have very little twisting of their thread (one is 8 and one is 10), so it must be something that I am doing without realizing it. Thank you again for all you are doing for the cross stitch community.
That is a chronic problem for most stitchers and I think I have a good "fix" but I will need a camera assistant to really show how to do it. I'm training my daughter, Elizabeth, in how to shoot video for me so maybe we'll get to do it soon!
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks I would be forever grateful! Thank you!
@@loriginsberg7261 and @Jean Farish Needleworks - I came here to ask the exact same question in the hope that it might get a mention in one of your next videos. Relieved to hear that something is in the pipeline. I try to add a twist in the opposite rotation at each stitch, but end up losing concentration and forget which way I'm supposed to be going. I figure that the answer is practice, practice, practice :( but any tips that you might have Jean would be greatly appreciated. I'm loving the masterclass style of your floss tube videos, plus a few snippets of works in progress. You have the mix just right! Thank you for all of your time and effort. I'm looking forward to the sal :)
Hi Jean, thanks so much for your flosstubes which I find so interesting and informative. Wish you had been my textile teacher at school. I particularly like the fact that you put the subject matter in your title so that it is easy to go back and find the particular flosstube you need, great source of knowledge. Best wishes, Kathy UK xx
Thanks!
(I love the UK ... I was so sorry when our 2020 cruise around the British Isles had to be cancelled ... hoping to do it in 2022!)
Great video. I totally agree with you about the RULES, yes, yes there are good rules and bad stitching. Have a good and safe week.
I think that when we say "best practices" it is not only a gentler way of directing others as to "the way" to do something but it also carries an inherent reason for "following the rules."
This is the first time I’ve watched one of your videos. I am excited for someone to really help me with my cross stitch. You are adorable and I’m going to go back to your #1 video and watch them all. I’m very excited. I learned about you form Anna on stitch roadies. Thank you so much.
I'm so glad that Anna shared my FlossTube with you. (She's adorable!)
Mary Hunter welcome
Hello from Oklahoma! Thank you for sharing your time, experience, and love of stitching with us! I began cross stitching many years ago,, and after a long absence, returned to a very exciting new chapter in the land of stitching and floss tubes. I still use a running stitch horizontally and vertically in the middle of my stitching fabric to begin every new project in the middle. Thank you for all of the tips in this video, especially the washing and ironing. In the old days, I washed the completed stitched piece but blocked it on a board (protected surface) to dry and remove all of the wrinkles. I am excited to wash and iron my next completed piece.
Welcome!
Enjoy your videos so much. I purchased the.sal pattern from you and am on the hunt for Cosmo floss and some fabric. I can’t wait to start. You really are a fabulous teacher
Thank you so much!
Jean, I stitched a red band sampler earlier in the year using DMC 304 and it left a red mark on the fabric in an area that I stitched incorrectly and had to re-stitch two threads to the left. Wow, the back of your work is beautiful.
What you experienced is either "crocking" (when excess dye rubs off) or the fuzz that is left behind with all rip-outs or a combination of the two. Neither should be permanent. I'll talk about this next week ... thanks for the comment!
I'm learning so much from you. I was most interested in what you had to say regarding washing your projects. I actually found myself holding my breath when you washed one of your "in progress" projects. Again, I'm learning things I was never taught. Thank you so much for everything that you share.
You are so welcome!
Thank you for all your great information on cross stitch...I love the rules that I have always done...even though I was self taught...I am delighted you are here on FlossTube❣️
You are so welcome!
Jean - I find your videos so inspiring and informative. I have been doing needlework for as long as I can remember, but I always learn something new from you. I watch a LOT of FlossTube while I stitch, and it’s so nice when I see a new update on your channel because I know I’m going to continue to learn and improve my craft. Thank you.
You are so welcome!
Learning a lot from you thank you ☺️
I'm so glad!
Great job as always!
I appreciate that!
Sheila Wilson welcome
Thank you again Jean for a lovely see-able video. I have never really thought I needed to wash a finished piece of linen because it has got marked but I do think it's a great idea to help get out the wrinkles and creases out. Using a water spray and a hot iron doesn't seem to get the desired results. Will follow your example on my next piece. Thanks also for the variegated thread tips - am just about to start a piece using Gloriana which is subtle and will follow your methods. Thanks so much.
You are so welcome!
What you said is how I learned to stitch years ago. I have wondered about some of the current info out there, so thank you. I think I'm better doing what I remembered. In the past I was told to use Woolite, so now I will check out Orvus soap. I'm so glad for these videos that keep us well informed.
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Jean, thank you again for your inspiring and informative video. It's a joy to listen and learn from you. I participate in your sal to. I can't wait for my flosses and fabric to arrive. 🏵️👋
Wonderful!
Thank you again for sharing your expertise.
My pleasure!
Thank you for another helpful video. I always washed and ironed my cross stitch projects when I was stitching 20:years ago. I took up knitting 20 years ago (by the way, handknitting experts never recommend Woolite for handknit wool items - they say that Woolite is only good for synthetics and recommend products like Eucalan or Soak). Now that I’ve returned to cross stitching and started using overdyed threads I have been reluctant to wash my needlework projects. I will try your suggestion to test wash the overdyed threads. I do wash and iron any new linen fabric and hang the fabric pieces on skirt hangers rather than keep the linen folded - some of those folds never go away!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and process for washing and ironing your projects. I have been criticised and mocked for the “ridiculously neat” back of my stitching. I began stitching with kits many years ago, and was always concerned that I might run out of floss. I am, therefore,parsimonious with my thread. This makes for neat backs, I also discovered that my threads don’t show through after framing. There is best practice and heirloom work deserves it. Thank you for your comments. You are very generous and helpful.. 🤗🇦🇺🤩
I'm so glad you found my channel. Your neat backs are welcome here! :)
Thank you for doing this informative video. I just bought variegated floss!
Glad it was helpful!
Another great video. Do you always use the same soap. I really appreciated how you gently dipped your fingers in the top of the bottle and that was "a drop". Watching the entire process was very helpful. I'll be watching for the next one.
Thanks.
So informative! Thank you for sharing your love of needlework. I hope your technical issues are resolved soon!
Thanks! One can only hope!! :)
Thanks for the washing/pressing video! Very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Jean, really appreciate the demonstration. I agree there are rules or better practices to get good results and Crosstitch.
You are so welcome!
Wonderful lessons! Thank you
Glad you like them!
I wish I had been taught best practices a long time ago. Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Awesome. Enjoyed your video .
Glad you enjoyed it
Another very informative video...... thank you Jean!
My pleasure!
haha your best practices opinion crack me up, feisty lady!!
That's me :)
So happy I found you. Thanks to Anna Bates of Stitch Roadies. I just finished binge watching all 12 of your videos and can’t wait for #13. I’ve just recently returned to crossstitch and I have learned so much from you already. I know this is a very basic stitch, but could you please show how you do half and qtr stitches. The diagrams I’ve seen just don’t make sense to me. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.
PS. I am in Statesville NC. Would love to attend your classes, if we ever get back to normal.
Howdy neighbor!
I like your suggestions and I'll add them to the "to do" list!
Thanks for another great video! I enjoyed your demonstration of stitching with variegated thread. When I use variegated thread, sometimes I get stripes - on a house or a tree or even on a leaf. And that discourages me from using that type of thread. If you would give hints on how to keep that from happening in a future video that would be very helpful. I’m learning so much from you and I really enjoy your videos.
The stripes are inevitable with variegated. The trick is to manipulate them to fit with what you want to achieve. I hope to address more of this next week.
Thank you a very much enjoyed I have never washed my work but will now
You’re welcome!
Jean, would you think about showing the best method of adding beads to our pieces? Love you and your floss tube!
I'll add it to my list of topics to cover!
🤗 Thank you Jean!
You are so welcome!
Thank you for demonstrating how you wash your stitching. I've always been too intimidated to do it but you've shown me how easy it can be. What iron setting would you use for aida? Thanks again for your thoughtful episodes!! Best practices...yes!!!!
If it's traditional Aida, it is 100% cotton, so I would use that setting. But there are some blends on the market, so be careful and keep the setting to match whatever fiber requires the lower temp.
Very interesting. Looking forward to the SAL so perhaps I can be more neat. I stitch in hand but my back often seems “ heavy”. What/ where does one find Orvus soap?
Also, the info on variegated thread was very helpful. I found a local yarn shop that carries Cosmo thread but did not have the variegated thread numbers you suggested. I picked 2 alternatives but did not know the differences. So now I will look again and see just what I picked out...
You can find Orvus at needlework shops or quilt shops. And, of course, on Amazon!
I've a question about using variegated floss. If the ends of your variegated floss are light and dark and you start with the light end and finish with the dark end, do you start the next length with the dark end? Thank you for sharing your talent and the clear instructions.
Yes, exactly!
I'm getting ready to finish the first cross-stitch I've ever done with needlepoint silk and wondering how I should iron it....I'm guessing I need to use a pressing cloth but unsure if it needs to be more than one layer of cloth. Would love to know what you advise. Thank you so much for your expertise.
A single pressing cloth should be enough ... I use a kitchen towel called "flour sacking" and use it just for that purpose. The important thing is to use the silk setting on your iron.
Thank you ❤
Just recently found your channel. Its great ! If you haven't already can you please show how to thread a needle?
It's in #11 I think ... I need to make an index!
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks Thank you i will check there
Thank you for this informative video on washing and ironing. Will have to get this Orvus soap! My question is: could you show a picture of how you let the piece air dry overnight by hanging it on a hanger? What kind of hanger? Do you stretch it between hanger clips or use clothes pins? Sorry if this seems like a silly question, but air drying is not a skill I currently possess!
Thank you
You're welcome
Thank you for addressing these topics so clearly. If I might ask a follow up question (which you may address subsequently, I’ve gone back to episode 1 and am watching in serium), what if someone did not wash a cashel linen before beginning to stitch with DMC thread? This would be me, and so far I’ve used whites, greys, and tans. Is is safe to do a soak, rinse, and iron per your demonstration? Preferable to waiting until the end? I’ve put a number of hours in, but just a fraction of the entire design. I’m actually talking myself into doing this, and starting over if necessary. But I’d appreciate your thoughts.
I don't see any reason to start over. The neutral DMC colors you are using should be fine but if in any doubt, add a color catcher to the wash water.
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks thank you for answering my question well after you published this video. I am watching all of your other videos sequentially, learning a lot. The only thing better would be to take a workshop with you, which I hope to be able to do soon.
Hi Jean. I have just found you on floss tube and I am learning so much. Thanks for all of your fantastic lessons. I was just wondering if you can wash aida cloth the same way you demonstrated washing linen?
Welcome! Yes, the same process works for Aida.
I have been watching your videos and am very curious about the colored books behind you. I can see they are a "library" of something or other to do with cross stitch. Would this be helpful to us?
Good Morning 🌅🌻 everyone 👋 6:48AM
Have a great weekend.
Another informative video.Enjoy
Stay safe 💓
InezArnetta
Thank you! You too!
Hi Jean! I am new to your channel. I really appreciate your knowledge about the different Cosmo families of threads. Is Cosmo colorfast? I have only stitched my Long Dog Sampler pieces in DMC because I wash them before ironing and framing them. But I would love to use a variegated thread.
In my experience, Cosmo is colorfast when washed properly.
Thank you for sharing so much information so graciously. I am a new stitcher, and I am learning so much from your videos. I have started and am well into the stitching of a project using over dyed floss on a medium blue Zweigart even weave. I did not prewash the floss to make it colorfast. Do I still have the option of washing this project, and if so, how should I wash it to prevent colors from running? Again, thank you.
This is what I would do: test each of the colors separately now. If none of them bleed, your worries are over and you can proceed without wondering. I do hear great things about the Color Catchers so if one or more bleeds, stitch a small area on another piece of fabric (white if you have it) and do a test wash. I'll talk more about this next week but in the meantime, this may help:
www.jeanfarishneedleworks.com/wordpress/an-ounce-of-prevention/
Good luck!
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks thank you for the information. Becky
My question is about the colorfastness of silk, how do you wash and iron it?
You are such a great teacher! What is the pattern for that wonderful America sampler behind you?
That's "America Land That We Love" ... one of my favs!
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks I just purchased it at your Etsy shop. So wonderful!
Thank you so much for providing insight into laundering cross stitch pieces. I have never done that because of all the horror stories. You have dispelled those rumors! From this day forward I will be washing my finished pieces and won't be worried about hand oil discoloration! I usually stitch with a towel close by and wipe hands frequently, as well as washing hands everytime I get out of my stitching spot. Is the soap you use special, I haven't heard of it before?
Here's some info about Orvus soap
I bought mine in a quilt shop.
Here's the weird thing about Orvus: "This Orvus 52643 Horse Shampoo is a concentrated soap detergent in paste form that is soluble in hot or cold water and easily rinses out. Its nonirritating formula is effective in a wide range of cleaning tasks including washing your horse, cleaning rugs, upholstery and delicate fabrics. This horse shampoo works great on cattle, dogs, cats and sheep as well! Keep your animals clean with this excellent horse hair shampoo."
What????
Years ago some enterprising farm wife (apology for the gender thing) figured out that what they used on their horses worked really well on needlework. In fact, it was an Iowa farm wife who first recommended Orvus to me.
It is sold in farm supply stores in really huge containers. Large animal veterinarians are also a source if you want a 7 pound container which would last a very prolific stitcher about 100 years :) So what happens is that people buy the big containers and re-bottle it and put their own label on it.My container is 8 oz. and I bought it in 2015; it's still about ⅓ full.
I hope this helps!
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks Thank you for the information. Who knew horse soap was so delicate! Now I will be a happy washer woman along with being a happy stitcher!
What is your advise on railroading stitches, does it make a difference.
That's a "yes and no" answer and I promise to include it soon on one of my episodes. I keep my threads parallel but I don't railroad.
Hi Jean, So much appreciate your floss tube. Couple of questions please... 1. How do you calculate the amount of each color of floss will be needed for a project? 2. Can you suggest a place to purchase Cosmo and the variegated that you are using in HCHFC SAL? Thanks!!!
The software I use gives me a number of stitches per color and that helps. Most of my designs are single-skein designs so I don't give it a lot of thought. My major samplers are a different story ... Jannet takes 5 skeins of one of the colors! For Cosmo, here are a couple of my go-to sources but have no idea what their supply is like at the moment:
A Stitching Shop
Denver, CO
303-727-8500
Sassy Jacks
Weaverville, NC
828-785-4405
Some stitchers are sharing sources on the JFNSAL Facebook page:
facebook.com/groups/jfnsal
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks Thanks. Will check those suggestions out and also FB. See you next week😊
When you have time, perhaps you would touch on lighting. I am having a time working on
anything smaller than 25 ct. At the moment I’m working with a magnification head attachment which is bit unsatisfactory-I can’t watch TV at the same time. Of course, it makes frogging easier!
I'll add it to the list!
V Prout welcome
Just wondering: if you hang your washed piece before it is completely dry do you need to worry about the fabric stretching? I’m fortunate to have an LNS that carries the full line of Cosmo. Thank you so much for the explanation of the different Seasons flosses. I’m starting to use it and I’m really liking it.
Good question! I iron it until I think it is dry. I hang it up as an extra precaution. I'm glad to hear that you have easy access to Cosmo. Which shop is it?
The Handmaiden
Sandy, Utah
Thanks!
What about if you used silk threads in your piece? Do you still wash it and iron like you just show us?
Here's a half answer:
I don't use a lot of silk. I have stitched with accents of Caron Collection Waterlilies and I wash and iron it the same way except, as you noted, on a silk-friendly temperature setting. I don't have enough first hand experience to say what would happen if I stitched a whole sampler in silk but I will say this: if I can't wash it, I'm not going to cross stitch with it. I just don't see the point. My knowledge of silk does extend to this: silk is incredibly strong when dry but very weak when wet ... I doubt that would be much of an issue when washing a project with small silk stitches but if I were to pre-wash a skein, I would have to be very careful.
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks thank you
I've never heard of Orvus soap. Where can it be purchased. Thanks for your videos. I'm learning from each one.
Ask for it at a needlework shop or a quilt shop.
Amazon also carries it.
Hi, Jean! Couple questions today. Where do you find Orvus soap? I looked on Amazon and found a $40 Orvus “paste cleaner” and a $15 Orvus quilt soap, but neither looked like what you had. Second, can you help me out with a variegated floss issue I’m having? If I have to fill in a large, solid area with an overdyed, variegated thread, I end up with “lines” between my rows of stitches every two rows. It’s a tension issue, I think. I stitch each X one at a time and stitch to the right, to the end of the row, then pick up the row beneath and stitch right to left, to the end of the row, going back and forth to fill in the area. But then I see tension “lines” between every two rows, like the spacing between the threads is greater every two rows. I’m pretty sure I know what’s causing it, but I don’t know how to fill in a large area with variegated thread any other way. Help!
Thanks for your wonderful videos. (On your close-up camera, does the user guide mention anything about a power-save or energy-save mode you can turn off?)
I Googled it and Joann's has an 8 oz bottle (which is what I have) for about $12. Personally, I try to shop at independent stores before I go to the "big box" stores so try a needlework shop or a quilt shop. BTW, my 8 oz bottle is ⅓ full and I bought it five years ago!
The "close up camera" is my older iPhone and it's a memory issue. On the variegated question ... try stitching in the same manner in both directions. I'm not sure it will solve the problem but it would be worth a try!
I Googled orvus soap and came up with a number of options. Can you tell us more about your container, how many ounces it is, and what the exact title on the front is? I see one online for quilts. Thank you for these wonderful videos!
I bought mine in a quilt shop.
Here's the weird thing about Orvus: "This Orvus 52643 Horse Shampoo is a concentrated soap detergent in paste form that is soluble in hot or cold water and easily rinses out. Its nonirritating formula is effective in a wide range of cleaning tasks including washing your horse, cleaning rugs, upholstery and delicate fabrics. This horse shampoo works great on cattle, dogs, cats and sheep as well! Keep your animals clean with this excellent horse hair shampoo."
What????
Years ago some enterprising farm wife (apology for the gender thing) figured out that what they used on their horses worked really well on needlework. In fact, it was an Iowa farm wife who first recommended Orvus to me.
It is sold in farm supply stores in really huge containers. Large animal veterinarians are also a source if you want a 7 pound container which would last a very prolific stitcher about 100 years :) So what happens is that people buy the big containers and re-bottle it and put their own label on it.
My container is 8 oz. and I bought it in 2015; it's still about ⅓ full.
I hope this helps!
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks Wow! LOL! Who knew! Thanks Jean.
I enjoy every video i watch! What do u use to hold ur projects while stitching?
I stitch "in hand" ... no hoop, Q-snap, etc.
Excellent video. I do have an additional question about using variegated thread. I understood about pulling the entire six strands and putting two together the same way so the colors match. But what about when it’s time to re-thread? Do you pull the next two from the same group you pulled from and continue as before? And if yes, wouldn’t that mess up the next section making it exactly the same as you just used. I’m probably not making sense but in my novice attempt at studying variegated, I thought I was supposed to use one complete strand of the entire six strand floss before moving on to the next strand so I use the colors appropriately? I’m obviously wrong. Lol. I think I over complicated the process. 😂
PS. And if you cut the floss and put in the thread drop, wouldn’t you not know which group of threads should be used next? So in effect I could pull a section that was close to the same colors as I last used. Don’t you hate newbie questions? 😳
Good questions! It all depends on how much continuity you are looking for. Some stitchers are comfortable with a random repeat and others are looking for more control (for lack of a better word). Let me think on this and I'll see about offering a better answer in the next episode.
@@JeanFarishNeedleworks thank you! As you can probably tell, I’m that person that the left part of the brain is continually playing tug of war with the right side of the brain.