Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
Hand Embroidery Shrinks ?? >

Hand Embroidery Shrinks ??

Hand Embroidery Shrinks ??

Old 07-30-2009, 06:19 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 196
Default

My hand embroidery samples seem to always shrink when the finished product is washed. The red and purple colors bleed and run. What suggestions might you have?
Susan in Texas is offline  
Old 07-30-2009, 06:23 AM
  #2  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Default

If you aren't doing this already, I would pre-wash the fabric.

Use Synthrapol when you wash after the embroidery is finished. This will suspend any unset dye particles in water so they will rinse away instead of settling in the fabric.

Even better, pre-wash the embroidery thread in Synthrapol to release the unset dye before you do the embroidery.

Prism99 is offline  
Old 07-30-2009, 06:28 AM
  #3  
Super Member
 
Ducky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8,966
Default

Susan, what I do with my embroidery is put it in the sink with very cold water and ice. I buy Orvus soap which keeps bleeding to a very minimum. I usually let it soak for a few hours then roll the embroidered piece in a towel to get most moisture out, then let it air dry. It's always worked well for me that way. Good luck!
Ducky is offline  
Old 07-30-2009, 06:29 AM
  #4  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 196
Default

Thank you for suggesting Synthrapol. I will try that. I do prewash the fabric and the thread; however, that doesn't seem to help very much.....it still shrinks.
Susan in Texas is offline  
Old 07-30-2009, 06:30 AM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 196
Default

Ducky, I will try that.
Susan in Texas is offline  
Old 07-30-2009, 07:30 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Jerrie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Florence, Alabama
Posts: 713
Default

where do you buy Synthrapol?
Jerrie is offline  
Old 07-30-2009, 07:44 AM
  #7  
Super Member
 
reneebobby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: cleveland ohio
Posts: 3,876
Default

I've never had that problem soaking the finished product in woolite in the sink, rincing it out and towel dry.
reneebobby is offline  
Old 07-30-2009, 05:21 PM
  #8  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 196
Default

Thank you everyone. I will give it a try.
Susan in Texas is offline  
Old 08-02-2009, 12:57 PM
  #9  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: currently central new jersey
Posts: 8,623
Default

Originally Posted by Prism99
If you aren't doing this already, I would pre-wash the fabric.

Use Synthrapol when you wash after the embroidery is finished. This will suspend any unset dye particles in water so they will rinse away instead of settling in the fabric.

Even better, pre-wash the embroidery thread in Synthrapol to release the unset dye before you do the embroidery.
i always pre-wash embroider thread. i put a pan on the stove and bring it to the boil with the thread in it. hot water will get the shrinkage out. i also use synthrapol ro set the olor. i buy my synthrapol from

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1137-AA.shtml

which is also where i get my dyes.
butterflywing is offline  
Old 08-02-2009, 03:41 PM
  #10  
Super Member
 
Shemjo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Posts: 6,884
Default

I am glad to read this. I had not thought about the embroidery shrinking! We put together embroidered quilts for raffle at church. We do not wash them before raffling them. I guess we should look into this! :?
Shemjo is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
patricej
Pictures
62
02-15-2017 07:08 AM
AngelinaMaria
Main
8
07-10-2012 07:01 AM
Ditter43
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
8
02-18-2011 06:22 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter