Expert: Angela - 4/28/2009

Question
hi- I am new to crosstitching and have found the cutest Precious Moments design for a sweatshirt. How do I go about it? Do I stitch it onto AIDA and it will be sown onto the shirt? or can I stitch directly onto the shirt- but how do I keep the stitches neat without the little pattern (2 over)...
Thank you in advance...Steph

Answer
Hello, Stephanie :)

Congratulations on starting cross stitching, and stitching onto a sweatshirt. :)  It's very simple to do, but a bit time consuming to set it up.

First of all, you'll need to use 14 count waste canvas (it looks like canvas, and it has blue lines running through it).  Depending upon the size of the design you'd like, you can also purchase 11 count, and 16 count.  You can find this at either Hobby Lobby and/or Michaels.  If you want to have your design a bit stiff, I would suggest tear-away interfacing for the back (or inside) of the shirt.

Once you have purchased your canvas and interfacing, take the canvas, and center it as best as you can on the shirt.  Use pins to secure it in place.  Next, hand baste the canvas onto the shirt, being sure to not stick the needle through the back of the sweatshirt while basting.  Stitch around as close to the edge of the canvas as possible, and then make an "X" from corner to corner.  This may NOT be your exact center, which means that you'll need to count to be sure it's exact.

Once you have your canvas secured in place, do the same thing with the interfacing on the inside of the shirt.  When you have your shirt turned inside out, you'll see the stitching from where you've placed your canvas.  Make sure that the interfacing is the same size or larger than the stitching from the canvas.

Once that is all done, find the center of your canvas (remember, you may need to count to be sure that it's exact), and the center of your pattern (of course LOL).  I would highly recommend using a Q-Snap square hoop for this as it won't leave any marks on your project.  You can also find these at Hobby Lobby and/or Michaels.

NOTE:  DO NOT STITCH THROUGH THE CANVAS THREADS THEMSELVES AS IT WILL MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PULL THEM OUT AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED STITCHING.  ONLY STITCH IN THE HOLES.

After you have finished stitching your project, remove the hoop from the project, and set it aside.  Take a damp cloth moistened with COLD water, wet the entire project, including the canvas.  This will loosen the canvas threads for easy removal.  Next, take a pair of tweezers and start pulling the threads out one by one.  You may need to put a hand on your design to keep it flat while you're pulling the threads out.  If you feel that they're not coming out easily, redampen the canvas with the cloth.

Once you have pulled out all of the canvas threads, turn the shirt inside out and tear away as close to, or even at, the design on the back.

Next, if your shirt needs to be washed, wash in cold water only, and either allow to air dry, or dry in the dryer.  I would recommend spraying Scotch Gard on the front, and using a spray adhesive for the back (for adults).  If this is for a child, I wouldn't recommend the spray adhesive due to the chemicals in it.  The Scotch Gard is to protect the stitching from getting soiled.  The spray adhesive is to keep the stitching in place, especially if rings and long finger nails catch the threads.

I hope that helps.  Good luck, and happy stitching! :)

Sincerely,

Angela