Ann Logan

First and foremost, always make sure to have clean hands when stitching. Oils from your skin transfer easily to cross stitch fabric and over time create stains that are not easy to remove. The best way to avoid this is to avoid the problem in the first place. Train your family not to touch your projects unless they have freshly cleaned hands. Better yet, tell them to keep off the fabric and floss!

Many stitchers prefere to use an embroidery hoop or a scrollbar stretcher. Nonetheless, it's still many times the fabric, which is usually made of cotton, eventualy becomes rumpled or wrinkled during the stitching process. Properly ironing the fabric before framing is a quick, easy way of eliminating wrinkles and leaving your cross stitch project looking its best.