How to Make Aida Soft for Cross Stitch (Flosstube University #9)

Hello Flosstube! We are two sisters who both love to cross stitch. Subscribe to get our videos in your feed every week.

On our channel, we share tutorials (like this one) on Thursdays and our personal stitching on Mondays (Flosstube episodes).

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[hypercolour]

i should have checked your channel first! of course you guys have this one covered. i don't usually mind stiff aida but this opalescent piece i want to work with is so crunchy that it's taking immense effort to stitch. this'll definitely help. thanks you two! ❤

[paulasmith]

Thanks for the tips. Very helpful, as well as the comments

[wendyflores]

Thank you, thank you for this video! I was setting up my Dimensions Frederick the Literate (the sleeping cat draped on the bookshelf) in the Nurge hoop yesterday and the black Aida that came in the kit was horribly stiff. I watched your video last night and this morning washed the Aida with cold water and a bit of Dawn. Air dried it and wow! What a difference. For all my years cross stitching, I never thought of washing the stiff fabrics. So thank you!! You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!! 🎉

[clipperrn]

These are just suggestions based on parts of the video. If you are going to use the washing machine put the material in a mesh bag like for delicate clothing. I would add a small amount of white vinegar to the water either hand washing or the machine. White vinegar is what I use in place of liquid fabric softener. If you are trying the drier method, I would add a barely damp washcloth to see if that would help soften the aida. Again, let me warn you try these ideas at your own risk.😊
Another great topic ladies!!

[Paddys]

I’ve some fabric that feels like it has a plastic property to it. I’ve tried lots of things to soften it. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks❤

[rosaliepingree]

Enjoying all your videos! I'm new at cross stitch but I've been sewing and doing needle point for over 50 years. I prefer aida but I don't like the stiffness. I will try soaking the fabric in cool water. Pittsburgh, PA

[needlepullingthread]

I just think you two are the cutest girls. I am an aida girl, my reasoning is my poor eyesight, so it helps my needle flow. I have a desk ott light but that doesn’t help as much as I thought it would.

[RedPandaHomebody]

Aida can be blends too though, I thought? I do know I’ve even found a few 100% linen Aidas on 123Stitch though I haven’t tried any of them yet, so my understanding was the way it is woven is what makes it aida, not the content, but 🤷‍♀️ I get so confused by this stuff, because there’s never one source for this info! (Which is why I think it’s so great y’all are making these - so helpful for beginners - but also us vaguely experienced folks find out things we never even thought to wonder about! Lol!)

[sleepycalico]

Thank you! I have decided I will soak my stiff Aida in hand-tolerant hot water with a little Dawn. It can't get too soft for me--there's no such thing--and I don't care if the thread count shrinks. I just want the stiffness gone. I will report back. Agent Calico, out.

[andreagaisser]

Here's a thought: maybe lightly starch and iron a piece that has turned too soft? I've never tried it, but in theory it seems like it might work.

[KayeTaylorE]

I don't think you concentrated enough on crunching your fabric to soften it. Not just putting it in a q-snap but squeezing it back and forth in all directions. It will not get as soft as washing but will help when it's just a little stiffer than you want.