Keeping Your Needlework Clean

Written by Katrina Renouf


The best way to clean your needlework is to keep it clean fromrepparttar beginning; this doesn’t always happen (as I very well know). I can give you some tips on how to make this more likely to happen, and also how to get out those inevitable stains.

One ofrepparttar 145334 first things you can do to prevent stains is to setrepparttar 145335 colors in your fabric and floss. It isn’t always necessary to wash your fabric first, but a good thing to do is to put it in a solution of one part white vinegar to three parts cold water. This ensures thatrepparttar 145336 colors won’t run. I have never heard of this shrinkingrepparttar 145337 fabric either, so don’t worry about that, just make sure you always use cold water. It’s always a good idea to setrepparttar 145338 colors in regular cotton threads, especiallyrepparttar 145339 darker ones. You can use that same solution to setrepparttar 145340 colors in your threads, just soak them for about 15 minutes. After soaking, rinse in cold water for a few minutes or untilrepparttar 145341 water runs clear. Just dry them on a towel overnight, and they’ll be ready to use inrepparttar 145342 morning.

Naturallyrepparttar 145343 best way to prevent stains while stitching is to make sure that your hands are clean. You should also avoid using hand lotion since most lotions contain an oil product which ca result in greasy spots on your needlework. Hoops are also notorious for leaving dirty marks. I suggest using tissue paper with a small open area forrepparttar 145344 section being stitched. Also, removingrepparttar 145345 hoop when you are not stitching can cut down on marks dramatically. A third major way to stain your fabric is by having someone else spill something on it or otherwise stain it while you’re not around. People with children know how easy that can happen. The best solution for this is to store your projects in plastic zipper bags. They now make them with small holes in them to allow them to breath. Make sure that you roll your fabric instead of folding it. The creases caused by folding tend to collect dirt, and are difficult to get out even if they’re ironed.

Now, to discussrepparttar 145346 inevitable, No matter what we do to prevent them, stains do happen. Make sure you deal withrepparttar 145347 stain as soon as it happens, letting it sit untilrepparttar 145348 piece is done will make it more difficult to getrepparttar 145349 stain out. One tip I have heard is that you should always use a pure soap, like Ivory, and not detergent or WoolLite, since they can have dyes or bleach in them. I have divided uprepparttar 145350 following paragraphs intorepparttar 145351 most common stains, and ways I have heard to get them out.

Repetitve Stress Injuries Due to Needlework

Written by Katrina Renouf


Doing a lot of needlework can cause repetitive stress injury (RSI), especially when combined withrepparttar large amount of typing that many people do nowadays. It is caused whenrepparttar 145333 same movement is done repeatedly. Sports medicine physicians categorizerepparttar 145334 levels of injuries based onrepparttar 145335 symptoms and impact onrepparttar 145336 wrist’s performance. This grading helps guiderepparttar 145337 treatment and rehabilitation process. Grade 1 is when there is no pain while stitching, but there is some discomfort afterward (either immediately or duringrepparttar 145338 evening orrepparttar 145339 following days). Grade 2 is when there is some discomfort while stitching but it doesn’t interfere with performance. Grade 3 is when there’s discomfort while stitching and it does interferes with performance. And finally, grade 4 is whenrepparttar 145340 discomfort is so intense that stitching cannot be performed at all. Of course, none of us want to reach this level!!!

There are various treatments for your wrist, depending onrepparttar 145341 grade ofrepparttar 145342 injury. Grade 1 can be treated by stitching 25% less, and that’s all that's required. Stitching can be gradually increased asrepparttar 145343 symptoms allow, but be careful not to push it too much and cause a reinjury. Grade 2 injuries can be cared for by reducingrepparttar 145344 duration of your stitching by 50%. In addition to ice and stretches, consider using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Physical therapy is not absolutely necessary at this point, but can be considered. When pain is gone,repparttar 145345 therapist should teach an endurance program and strengthening exercises. Grade 3 is treated by “active" rest” whererepparttar 145346 stitcher should stop stitching completely but is allowed to moverepparttar 145347 affected part for daily activities. Physical therapy is needed to speed and end torepparttar 145348 discomfort, as well as to strengthen, increase endurance, and restore coordination. In addition torepparttar 145349 oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, a corticosteroid injection may be considered at this time. Grade 4 injuries are treated with complete rest ofrepparttar 145350 affected part, usually involvingrepparttar 145351 use of a sling or splint (even casting is considered in severe cases). All ofrepparttar 145352 above options can also be used. If there is no improvement, orrepparttar 145353 condition recurs despite adequate treatment, then surgical intervention may be required.

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