There is nothing worse than spending countless hours doing embroidery or cross stitch, only to have the fabric full of creases when you are done. Creases make lines in your fabric and if they are bad enough, those lines can distort your finished piece. Even if they don't cause any distortion, the creases can be hard to iron out after your work is finished. You might think that nothing can get them out, but don't despair. Creases can be overcome. Here are some tips on how to prevent creases from happening in the first place and what to do if you have creases on your fabric.

To prevent creasing your fabric, do not fold it. Instead, roll your fabric and place in a paper towel cardboard roll when you are not working on your piece. If your fabric was already folded when you bought it, iron the fabric before working with it. While working on your cross stitching, keep the area you are not working on rolled up. Be careful not to press the rolled area down, otherwise this could cause more creases.

Another way to keep your needlework looking neat and tidy is to use hoops. Hoops can be made of wood, plastic or metal and work by holding the Aida cloth tight between two rings while stitching. By keeping the material tight, this helps to keep the stitches even. Just remember to take the material out of the hoop when you are finished cross stitching for the day – otherwise the hoop will leave creases on the aida cloth.

When you have finished your embroidery or cross stitching, use an iron set at a low temperature to smooth out any remaining creases. When ironing your finished piece, place it face down on a towel. Use an iron set at medium heat and press down gently, until all wrinkles are gone. This will prevent the stitches from being flattened and distorted.

If you have stubborn creases that just don't want to come out, gently spray a pressing cloth with water. Then lay the now damp cloth on top of your needlework and iron as usual. Repeat this process as needed until the creases are gone. You now have a beautiful piece of artwork that is ready to be framed!

Sometimes when you buy aida cloth, it comes folded in a package. The resulting crease or fold line can be extremely difficult to iron out. The trick is to wash the fabric before you start to cross stitch. Add some clear dishwashing liquid to cool water and let the fabric sit in the soapy water for a few minutes. Then gently swish the fabric in the water before rinsing it. Place the fabric on a towel and gently roll it in the towel in order to remove the excess water. Never wring or squish the fabric, as you don't want to cause more creases. While the fabric is still damp, gently iron the creases out. Once the creases are out, lay the fabric out flat and allow it to dry completely.