This week’s question is just a day late. 🙂
Today’s “Stitching Blogger’s Question” is was suggested by Dawn and is:
How often do you wash your fabric for each project? Do you wait until the very end until to wash it or do you wash it more than once?
Wow, this question makes me feel like a complete slacker, as usual. I typically do not wash my fabrics, before or after. Definitely not after, as I keep seeing that silk threads are not washable and overdyeds can bleed. I consider myself to be a relatively slow stitcher, so I would HATE to ruin a piece by having an accident while washing it after I’m finished. I’ve only ever washed two pieces (I haven’t actually even done them yet, but I intend to wash them). Both are hardanger pieces where the white thread I used for weaving discolored after a little bit of time, probably due to oils or sweat on my hands. Hardanger is usually fairly intensive, so I tend to sweat more. I do a very thorough job of washing my hands nowadays, so I don’t know how much more of that problem I may or may not have.
I’ll be curious to see how other stitchers answer. If others wash their pieces successfully after stitching has been completed, I’ll definitely think about trying it.
I’ve never washed any of mine either, excepting tea-dye projects. Was there a clear consensus for washing vs non-washing?