I have always washed my Aida fabric in my washing machine on gentle cycle and even added fabric softener for many many years and have never had any of the fabric shrink or the holes hard to see. I hang it up on pants hangers to air dry. I never start a project without washing the fabric, but that is just my way of doing it. I also wash my project after I am done on gentle if it is a very large project and I have been working on it for a long time.

syajel

I remembered someone talked about washing in machine; couldn't remember who.. was hoping you would jump in & let us know what your experience was..
glad you have no problems.. it enlightens others to know this info may from DMC maynot be accurate..
or maybe it depends on the type of fabric?

p.s. you have made me feel better; I plan to give it a try & wash fabric for my next project ..

happy stitching

I would think that it depends on the fabric. All natural fibers probably would shrink. I certainly would not put it into the dryer. Having said that, wouldn't the same apply after stitching? If the fabric shrinks and the floss does not then the stitches would look loose. I always wash afterwards. Mmmmhhhh, you opened a can of worms there, dbye!!!!! LOL

I have never washed before, but always after.. warm water with wash from cross stitch store, rinse in cool water several times, roll in towel, use warm iron & than hang to dry for several days before framing..

have never noticed an looseness of stitches, or of shrinkage pulling stitches tighter..

keep doing what works.. lol

I don't wash before because I like the Aida fabric crisp and stiff to work with. I always wash it after, in cold water and dry flat on a towel, and have had no problems with shrinkage or with the stitches. I think it is just a preference as to how you like your material and what works for you individually.

I have washed my aida by hand before stitching but usually only for the mammoth size projects since getting a hoop around it is a major wrestling match. I nearly always hand wash my projects after stitching and iron. I avoid hand dyed/overdyed flosses and fabric, so washing my project has never been a problem. I am trying some DMC color variations floss on a few projects which is supposed to be colorfast and will see if this holds true when I hand wash my project as usual. I have a few Riolis kits that all use the wool/acrylic blend threads and am unsure and undecided still whether washing afterwards is a good or safe choice. It seems no one I have spoken to is sure about the answer to this question.

I don't think washing in cool water would cause shrinkage. Hot water or tea dying probably would. DMC might write not to wash in case of lawsuits, people being extremely litigious now.

Looping, they won't care how you stitch, but hope you use their floss to do it.

jihewes
lol.. you are so rite about looping.

I've never had a shrinkage problem. I wash afterwards and roll it in a towel, iron from the wrong side and let it sit for a couple of days before framing. When I use overdyes, etc I try to finish the piece as quickly as possible and take special care to keep it clean since many aren't washable and I don't feel like washing floss beforehand.

Although I am interested in turning out a good product, I do not obsess over it. I stitch for my own enjoyment, have always received compliments on my work and would like to add that most people don't know good work if it smacked them dead in the face. I've seen stitchers spend huge amounts of money on having a piece framed that I would have never completed.
When I do learn something new, I try it out. If I like the technique or whatever I'll incorporate it. I believe a big part in all this is learning one's limitations and work within those.

One of the other bloggers mentioned that she would need three hands to use a laying tool. That's me. I only drive automatics for the same reason. LOL

lol..
I am not even sure what a "laying tool" is..?