Embroidery, Cross-stich Question~NEED HELP

[Boo'sMom]

HI Everyone,
I'm looking for some help from my DIS friends who are cross stitchers.

I have several panels of stamped cross stitch that my nana did about 50 years ago. These panels were designed to be put together as a quilt. My nana has been gone for almost 20 years, and I'd like to put these squares together for my mom for a Christmas gift. My dilema is this: On each of the panels there are blue transfer lines for the suggested quilting pattern. Does anyone know how I can safely remove these lines without damaging the fabric, or causing the floss colors to run?
I should point out that the panels are red, pink and burgundy roses..... since they were done so long ago I have NO idea of how the floss was treated to prevent running, or even if it was....



HELP~ I'd love to be able to do this for my mom, but would hate to ruin these panels in the process.



Thanks in advance

 

[mssocks]

I don't believe they come off. I have many things my Gram made and the lines are still there. Or then again, it may come out in the wash ( I just remembered the pillowcases ). You might ask a OLDER dry cleaner for advice.

Oh! I just thought. Was just on Jo-Annes web site and saw a place called bulliten boards. Maybe someone there?

 

[piratesmate]

I know when I bought a couple things to make for someone else about 30 yrs ago the instructions said that the lines would wash out. However, Gram did pillowcases for my wedding shower around the same time & purchased them from the same company - and those lines are still visible. I use them often & they been washed countless times.

I also have some pillowcases that my great-great aunt (Gram's aunt) made that had never been used when I got them, despite their age. Those haven't been used/washed nearly as often, but the lines have disappeared over time.

So it may depend on how the lines were applied or what media they were...I don't know. I do know that Gram told me as I started my project that you were supposed to cover the lines with your stitches - so they weren't intended to show. Of course my stitches were never as good as hers...and over time her stitches shifted & you can see the lines.

 

[Honeybehr1]

I would be leary because of the colors of the threads - red bleeds so easy

 

[Boo'sMom]

Thanks Everyone!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

After seeing your post I sent a quick email to a friend of mine that is a quilt expert and archivist. She verified what I was pretty sure of my own textile training - DON'T try to take those lines out by washing. And if you take the panels or the finished quilt to a cleaner (not recommended) make sure it is a company that does their cleaning in house - not sends it out to a bulk shop - and is familiar with archival cleaning.

Sometimes those lines come out and sometimes they don't. The determinant was whether or not the lines were printed onto the fabric by the manufacturer or if they were placed on the fabric at home using an iron on transfer. In the first instance (and that is what yours sound like as they tend to be blue) they are essentially permanent. In the second case which are usually a black or grey they are intended to wash out eventually.

Floss that old is probably not color safe to be washed. However, if in the future the quilt must be cleaned in some way the recommendation from the experts is to fill a clean and well rinsed bathtub with COLD water and a good handful or two of salt (yep just regular table salt). The salt will help "set" the colors. And dye runs more in hot water than cold. Place the quilt in the tub and gently swoosh it up and down. If you must use a soap of some sort try to use it only on the most soiled spots. To get the quilt rinsed you will probably need to change the water a couple of times while lifting the quilt out of the water and keeping it fully supported. This means you'll probably need to recruit a couple of friends! Do not ring or twist the quilt. When the water runs clear - no more soap or dirt is coming out - lay it flat on several layers of towels or similar absorbent material. On the occasions my friend has had to clean quilts she has laid the towels and then the quilt out on her back deck in the area shaded by trees. If you don't have space to lay it out to dry she said the second option (although not preferred) is to roll the quilt gently with a pretty thick layer of towels inside. You will need to unroll and reroll with dry towels every couple of hours - it is this added stress that makes it the non preferred method.

All quilts that are archival, antique, etc should be kept away from direct sunlight and when they are displayed (although the true archivists sudder at display outside of climate controlled cases ) should be done so in a way that not only keeps them out of direct sunlight but doesn't put strain on the fabric and stitching.

Good luck,
Deb