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FIX A SNIPPED
THREAD
FOR LINEN:
If the
hole isn't large, or just involves one thread, the
easiest fix is to pull a thread (preferably one running
the same direction) from the edge of your fabric (or
near the edge at least). Then carefully weave it into
the area where the cut occured. Be sure to have it woven
in enough on both sides so that it's going to be as
secure as you want it (that varies with the material,
and the person).
FOR
AIDA:
If you have
only snipped one or two little threads, you should be
able to stitch over the area and hide it since Aida is
woven with many threads in each square of
fabric.
FIX A SMALL
HOLE
IF THE HOLE
IS IN AN AREA THAT WILL BE COVERED WITH CROSS
STITCHING:
FOR
AIDA:
METHOD 1:
Cut another
piece of Aida in the same color slightly larger than the
hole (maybe an extra 1/4 or 1/2 inch). Place the Aida
patch behind the hole so that the edges of the patch go
beyond the edges of the hole. Carefully stitch through
the 'double holes' where the patch and original fabric
overlap so that the holes line up. Continue stitching
until the area is covered.
METHOD
2:
If you find
that this doesn't work and the piece doesn't look flat
on top, here is another suggestion from a fellow
quilter/stitcher:
Something
you can *try* (don't know how well it'd work, or how
much it'd show, but I've done something similar to patch
in another color on a quilt once... ) is to take *two*
little pieces of Aida. First one should be as close to
the size of the hole as possible... slightly (as in by a
thread) smaller if need be... *not* bigger. The second
should be larger than the first by several squares
around the outside (maybe 4 or 5?).
Take the
first one and baste it to the second with thread that
won't divide easily and is easily removed... if you
baste it by hand through the holes you'll stitch in
later it'll line up fairly well... if the hole is big
enough, then do an "X" from corner to corner as well as
around near the outside. Baste them both to the piece
you're working on, with the smaller piece fitting inside
the hole you made (oh, yeah... it's easier if you square
it off a bit). Preferably, you'll want to re-stitch
those 4 or 5 stitches around the hole (if you haven't
stitched them... otherwise, stitch them while you're
putting the patch in).... that'd be what holds the lower
patch piece in place. Then stitch the area that was
cut... through both layers as well.... that's what will
hold the patch piece in place... attatched to the lower
piece being held by the main portion of fabric's
stitches.
That *should*
patch it with very little of an indication... since the
top piece will be more or less flat, and lined up. Don't
think there's a better way (though I wouldn't mind
hearing).
FOR
LINEN:
For a small
hole in linen, you can try reweaving the threads by
pulling threads from the outer edge of your fabric. If
you have stitching around the area, you can anchor the
threads beneath the stitching, much like you anchor the
end of your floss. Count very carefully and anchor all
of the threads in one direction first (either vertically
or horizontally. Once the threads are anchored in one
direction, you may then anchor the threads in the
opposite direction and using a needle, weave the
threads, one at a time over and under the first set of
threads and then anchor in the back when you've
completed weaving. Go on to the next thread, and so on
until you have rewoven the complete area where the hole
is, anchoring each thread as you finish weaving it. Now,
you may stitch the cross stitches called for in that
area.
IF THE HOLE
IS IN AN AREA WHERE NO STITCHING WILL COVER IT:
AIDA:
You could
still work the patch method and use a color of floss
that matches your background fabric and completely fill
in the empty spaces in the design. This would be a lot
of work, but if there is no other way to save a design
that you have a lot of work invested in, it would be
worth it. Or, you can add 'patches' or 'strips' of color
randomly throughout the background, with this area being
one of the spots that is covered this
way.
LINEN/EVENWEAVE:
You can still
work the weaving method above and then fill in the
background of the design in a color of floss that
matches the fabric. Or, if the design lends itself to
'patches' or 'strips' of color in the background, you
can add a 'patch' or 'strip' of color in this area using
one of the colors the design uses for it's 'patches' or
'strips' of color in the background.
WHAT TO DO IF
YOUR THREAD OR FABRIC RUN WHEN WASHED
Read labels
carefully on your fabric and threads to see if they are
colorfast and if washing is recommended. Hand-dyed or
Over-dyed or Hand-painted threads or fabrics may
especially be prone to running and it may be better not
to wash these threads.
First of all
- if your threads or fabric have run, do not iron the
fabric as heat will set the colors that have
run.
Try rewashing
the design using the same method as you used previously.
Let the design soak, then rinse to see if all the dye
has rinsed out. If not, let it soak again in clean water
and rinse again to see if the dye has rinsed out. Repeat
as many times as necessary until the dye stops running
and you are able to completely rinse out the
excess.
To avoid
threads running, wash in cold water. Some stitchers like
to run the deeper colors of floss under water to see if
they run and if they do, keep running them under the
water until the water runs
clear. | 
