Fabric

Fabric for embroidery

Pure fabrics such as cotton, linen or silk should be used for embroidery - man made or mixed fibers are not recommended. The fabric should be a high count (200 count or more) and a very close weave to allow for placement of the needle without causing holes.

Linen & Cotton Fabrics

There are two types of fabric available for sale that I can recommend for both Needlepainting and Whitework with colour embroidery: Linen which is available in my store and cotton. Cotton has been discontinued but you can find a list of stockists here.




Fabrics which are not suitable

Counted linens such as those used for cross stitch are not suitable. They generally have a loose weave so there will not be enough placement for the needle.

Store bought fabrics

If you are desperate to get started on a project and don't want to wait for shipping I recommend you purchase a white bed sheet/pillowcase in a high count (200 ct) 100% cotton and cut this up for use in your project.

Caring for your fabric

It is always a good idea to keep your embroidery clean whilst stitching. You can keep it inside a pillowcase or cotton drawstring bag to prevent dust or marks forming. However, there may be times that you still need to wash your embroidery.

Washing your fabric

Hand wash in fairly hot water with a mild soap powder. Rinse in clean hot water at least twice to remove all soap residue. Roll up in a clean fluffy towel to remove excess moisture Place face down on a towel and iron till dry.

Printed Fabric
If you have purchased your fabric with a pre-printed outline some shrinkage may occur so it is not recommended that you wash it as it will distort the printed outline. You can press the fabric with a medium iron to remove creases. If you need to wash it after stitching follow the instructions for blocking your embroidery.