Storing your WIPs: no hoop marks, no stains
1 min read ·
Almost every stitcher has more than one WIP (work in progress), and that's perfectly fine. With a little care, your projects stay fresh until you pick them up again.
Take it out of the hoop
Never leave your stitching in the hoop for days: the ring presses marks into the fabric and can squash your stitches. Take it out after every session, or use a scroll frame or Q-snap that clamps outside the stitched area.
Roll, don't fold
Folds can leave creases that are hard to iron out. Roll your fabric around a cardboard tube instead, with the stitched side facing out, and wrap it in a clean cotton cloth or pillowcase.
Keep everything together
Keep the pattern, threads and needle with the project, in a bag or box (see organising your threads). Mark on the pattern where you are, so you can start again straight away.
Tip: keep projects away from direct sunlight and in a dry place, so the colours don't fade and the fabric stays fresh.
Keep track in the app
In the JoyStitch app you can keep your projects with their status (WIP, finished, FFO), log your stitches and choose which projects are in your rotation. That way you see at a glance what you're working on, and it's extra motivating to finish one. When a WIP is done, follow washing and framing for a beautiful finish.