textile question.

[holli]

I bought this massive cross-stitch bedspread at the thrift store this evening. It's at least queen-sized, if not king, and is entirely hand-stitched on a preprinted blue grid. Does anyone know what would happen if I washed it, or gave it a soak? How likely is it that the embroidery floss will bleed dye? Will the blue grid fade or disappear?

It is fabulous, and I am happy with it the way it is, but it could probably use some freshening up.

Comments

[neotoma]

The preprinted blue grid may be designed to wash out. If you're worried about the embroidery floss bleeding, use a detergent designed for hobby dyers. Dharma Trading has its own formula.

[holli]

Awesome, thanks!

[melannen]

The chance of bleeding/fading of the colors apparently depends a lot on how old the floss is - cotton embroidery floss from the 1980s onward is pretty colorfast (my grandfather used to bleach the cross-stiches my mother gave him twice a year to get the tobacco stains out, and the colors stayed bright and didn't bleed.) Mid-20th-century, you have a risk that the reds will bleed and/or the blues will fade if you use anything harsh. Early 20th century and before, who knows - there was a lot of experimentation with dyes. Preprinted probably means fairly recent, but don't assume that just because the work is recent, the floss also is, because ladies who make crafts have always hoarded supplies. :P (I have learned this the hard way.)

"Boilfast" was a well-advertised trait of 1920s-onward embroidery threads, meaning that they'd stay colorfast in boiling water. Apparently the approved period method for embroidery cleaning is in fact to boil them in water, occasionally stirring, sometimes with a little vinegar or mild soap or detergent. Unless you have reason to believe that it's pre-WWII or has exotic threads in it, that should be fine (As should a washing machine with a mild detergent and no bleach, unless it seems too fragile to hold up to that, physically.) (I haven't found the boil method very helpful for stain removal, but it'll manage basic cleaning.)

[holli]

I suspect it dates to somewhere between 1920 and 1950, among other reasons because it appears to be backed with feedsack. I might do an Oxy Clean soak and see what happens, but first I'll bring it to the lady on Antiques Row in Kensington who really really knows a lot about quilts.

[melannen]

Yeah, in that case I'd be v. v. careful and ask your real experts; I don't know much about the pre-Boilfast flosses, I've never worked with them. (Although of course feedsack doesn't have to mean all of it is that old; I have a quilt backed with feedsack that was finished in ~2003. Of course it was started in the early 1950s...)

[sara]

Heh, this is the second time in two days that I have answered this question: while OxyClean and similar hydrogen peroxide cleaners are great for in-use type vintage fabrics, if you have any hesitation about fastness, I wouldn't.

Another thing to try is to swab a red section with a damp q-tip. If it comes away pink, leave it alone. If not, warm water and a mild soap will probably be fine.

[neotoma]

You might also ask at The Textile Museum. I think they have a monthly meeting for people to bring in their old textiles for conservation advice.

[aralias]

looks like you've got a lot of answers already, but this appeals to my day job sensabilities.

apparently you can dry clean non-colourfast textiles like this:

Place the textile on a sheet of plastic and cover it with nylon filament screening. Pass the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner 2.5 to 5cm above the surface to remove any dust.

Lay the textile on the screening. Heat dry potato starch in a saucepan until hand-hot. Cover the textile with flour to a depth of about 2.5cm, and work in the flour with the back of a spoon. Leave for 10 minutes, during which time the flour will absorb the dirt, then brush it off.

Repeat the potato starch treatment, using fresh starch each time, as many times as necessary, until all the dirt has been removed

[untonuggan]

I have no comment other than to say it is beautiful.