Embroidered clothing, regardless of if it is done by machine or hand, features elaborate stitches that are made by applying tread on the base fabric. All types of material can be used for embroidery, including synthetic materials, silk, linen, wool and cotton. The treads can also be made of several materials, including acrylic, silk, metallic, cotton or wool. However, with these embellishments in place, you need to make sure you properly care for the shirts. Some tips to preserve the work on embroidered shirts can be found here.
Test the Thread for Colorfastness
Virtually all clothing now has care labels that let you know how to care for the item. Before doing anything with your embroidered shirts make sure to check the colorfastness of the thread to prevent the dyes from running or bleeding. The testing process is easy. Simply wet a white cloth with cool water and rub it on each of the different colored threads present. If any of the colors show up on the cloth, then you should not wash the shirt yourself, let a professional dry cleaner handle the process.
Drying and Pressing
Once you have figured out how the shirt should be washed, you can move on to drying and pressing it. After washing it by hand or on the gentle cycle, make sure to squeeze all the extra water out. Then place the embroidered shirts on a dry towel and let it dry while flat. If you need to iron the shirt, make sure to turn it inside out. This will prevent any issues.
Taking the time to learn the proper way to care for embroidered garments will help ensure that they remain looking great. If you have any doubts, then it is best to let a dry cleaning service take care of the cleaning process. This will prevent any potential issues.
