How should Kantha-embroidered garments and stoles be washed?

Kantha embroidery uses running stitch in coloured thread across the entire garment surface — the embroidery IS the fabric's decorative layer. Care must preserve both the thread colour and the even running stitch tension:

Washing Kantha garments:

• Hand wash only in cold water — machine agitation can pull and break the running stitch threads
• Mild detergent — no harsh alkaline detergents (they fade thread dyes)
• Soak maximum 10 minutes — extended soaking causes thread colour bleeding
• Wash separately for the first 3–5 washes — Kantha thread colours can bleed significantly
• Do not scrub embroidered areas — gentle swish washing only

Drying:

• Do not wring — press gently between towels
• Dry flat in shade — hanging Kantha pieces can distort the even stitch pattern from the garment's own weight

Ironing: Medium heat from reverse side only. Never iron on the embroidered face — the running stitch threads can be pressed flat and lose their characteristic texture.