Nancy Lukoskie's Needlepoint Cleaning Tips

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Nancy Lukoskie of Fancy Work Finishing has posted her long awaited tips for cleaning needlepoint!

https://fancyworkfinishing.com/cleaning-your-needlepoint-pieces/

Nancy is an expert on ecclesiastical needlepoint and has cleaned and restored many pieces during her decades of designing church pieces.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright  February 2, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Finishing and Blocking Needlepoint Videos

Nancy Lukoskie of Fancywork Finishing is retiring from her ecclesiastical needlework business, but she's making and selling a series of videos that distill her years of experience in blocking, restoring, cleaning and finishing needlepoint.

The videos are listed on the Instructional Videos section of her website.

https://fancyworkfinishing.com/instructional-videos/

Nancy has a free video on how to make monk's braid, which she prefers to twisted cord.  It gives you a taste of everything she has to offer.

https://fancyworkfinishing.com/ecclesiastical-needlepoint/

Nancy also talks about blocking on her blog.

https://fancyworkfinishing.com/needlepoint-blocking/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 15,  2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Can You Dry Clean Needlepoint?

Thanks to Donna I have some good videos about dry cleaning needlepoint and how to clean a needlepoint canvas yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeztaQavkjk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgVyCB_LCQA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4kVhkNRYxs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_bcUp-CqSg

Thanks, Donna!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 18, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Best Clean a Needlepoint Belt

When the Pointing It Out podcast talked belts, I decided to ask how they recommend a belt be cleaned.  Melissa of The Wool and The Floss kindly answered me by saying that a good quality dry cleaner was probably the best bet but there were no guarantees.  

I think if your belt is glued instead of sewn, you probably want to not try dry cleaning unless the dry cleaner you choose says what they use won't loosen the glue.

If you missed their very informative belt podcast, here's the link again.

https://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2020/12/pointing-it-out-talks-belts.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 4, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wash Your Hands

One thing I always do before I start stitching each evening (or after I've stitched for an hour, particularly in the summertime when it is hot) is to wash my hands. This was drilled into me by my godmother who was a needlepointed and my aunt who was a terrific seamstress and master of almost every sewing technique.   However, I never thought about how to wash hands when traveling as I do so little of that until I saw this article by Mary Corbet.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2013/01/clean-hands-clean-embroidery-traveling.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Retro Clean

This isn't the first time I've heard positive things about Retro Clean, which whitens old linens. It's not something you are likely to use on needlepoint as far as I can tell, but if you have a stash of old linens like I do, you'll want to read about it.  Apparently it does a great job.  Follow the links in the article if you want to know more.
http://weoftheneedle.blogspot.com/2012/10/new-product-retro-clean.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Cleaning Antique Fabrics

While reading the Washington Post online, I stumbled across a link to this fabulous article on cleaning antique quilts. Many of the tips will apply to any type of fabric although the article is written with quilts in mind.
http://www.hartcottagequilts.com/quiltcare.htm


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com