A Stitching Emergency...
Sunday September 21, 2008
Recently, I posted a poll about Cleaning Cross Stitch Projects. I wanted to know what you used to remove the light coat of grime a project can pick up from handling. Now, I am coming to you with a request for help from a favorite stitcher. Marty has submitted many tips and many photos for the Cross Stitch Photo Album. But now she seeks your help. She is working on a huge project of The Biltmore House for her cousin. She's almost finished, but she dropped the PINK highlighter she uses to mark of her patttern as she completes it - on the project, near the chimney! She wants to know if anyone has a sure-fire way to get it out of the fabric. Otherwise, the chimney will have a few curls of smoke coming out of it - to cover the stain. She's already tried alcohol and it didn't work. (On the fabric now - I know what you are thinking!)
Comments
Clear Dawn with bleach on the tip of a q-tip. Rub it in and let it sit for 15 minutes then dab with a warm damp wash cloth. If the highlighter comes out then use the wash cloth to finish getting out the soap. If it doesn’t come out put a little bit more soap on and let sit for up to 30 minutes.
If she is feeling really steady and the fabric she is stitching on she can try a stain remover pen. Most of them contain a heavier bleach than the Dawn (which I have used to clean black fabric before with no bleeding or fading) and can change the color of the fabric.
Another thing to try that I picked up from art school & works great on clothes (I have not tried it yet on stitching fabrics) is hairspray. The really cheap stuff. You can use the q-tip technique to put it on just the spot and then blot with a clean tissue or paper towel. Sometimes several applications are needed to get the ink stain up. Then you can just wash the piece as normal. If she still has more to do, I would at least use the Dawn and washcloth to clean off the hairspray residue before continuing to stitch.
I hope this helps!
I use Gonzo on most of my stains. It can be found in the grocery store. I find it works very well on coffee stains and blood. It is odorless and does not leave a ring. Good luck
i have done this myself i washed it by hand in normal washing power and it did come out 40c..mine was bright yellow..
I had this same problem over 10 years ago. I used highlighters to mark off what I had done on my pattern. Then one time I had a mistake that ended up ruining my fabric. Now i do not use anything to mark off my work unless it is a very large and difficult pattern, in which case I will use a pencil. I feel its a better idea because you can erase the entire thing off when you are finished so it can be used again in the future by you or a friend.
As for getting out the stain, if the fabric is pure white, I would try dabbing it with bleach on a q-tip. If it removes the stain, then dab the area with a warm cloth to remove bleach residue. I learned that dabbing is best, and not to rub fabric back and forth – it can ruin it.
If all else fails, I think the “curls” of smoke from the chimney would look just lovely.
I have not done this myself but a friend of mine who got highlighter on her cross stitch material said she used the clorox pen (I think Tide makes one, too). She said it came right out.
Good luck.
I don’t understand why anyone would have a highlighter marker anywhere near when stitching! Some people use them to mark off the squares on the design as they stitch, but I see NO benefit in this — and of course, you risk getting the ink on your hands, not to mention on the fabric. WHY would anyone risk this????
Thanks for all the suggestions – Marty is going to try out some of these and will let us know what works.
Mary – I know what you mean, but some people find it really helpful to mark off their progress. But, maybe a colored pencil would be less dangerous?
I’ve been using coloured pencils for marking my patterns for quite a while since I got highlighter on a big piece I was doing. Luckily it was covered by later stitching, but I learned a lesson quickly.
Coloured pencil is easier for me to see than ordinary pencil. And I can change colour if I’m getting ‘lost’.
I don’t have any suggestions for the stain, but I would like to know where to stitcher bought the pattern for the Biltmore Estate. I would love to get the pattern. Thanks to anyone who can help me.
I don’t know if it would damage the project any, but in the past, if I’ve gotten ink on a shirt or slacks, I used hair spray to get it out. I learned this tip when I was working in a hair salon. It also works on hair color, as long as you treat it right away. I’d also try one of those new “Tide Stain Sticks”. It isn’t bleach, but rather, detergeant, that is applied with a pen-like device. I’ve used this a lot, and have never had any problems with it ruining my clothes, but have never tried it on a delicate cross stitch project. Good luck. Hopefully it will just wash right out.