A finished needlepoint pillow is a small heirloom — hours of quiet handwork you will want to enjoy for decades, and perhaps pass on one day. Happily, wool needlepoint is remarkably hardy, and caring for it takes only a little know-how. Here is how to keep your stitching looking as lovely as the day you tied off the last thread.
Everyday care: little and often
Dust is the main everyday visitor. Once a week or so, give the pillow a gentle shake outdoors, or run a vacuum cleaner over it on the lowest setting with the soft brush attachment — holding the nozzle a couple of centimetres above the surface rather than pressing it into the stitches. A soft clothes brush, swept lightly in the direction of the stitching, also works beautifully. That is truly all most pillows ever need.
Mind the sunlight
Wool holds dye wonderfully, but strong direct sun will fade any textile over the years. If you can, keep your needlepoint pillow out of a south-facing windowsill's full glare, or simply turn and move it now and then so any softening of colour happens evenly. A pillow that lives on a shaded armchair will keep its jewel tones for a lifetime.
Dealing with spills and marks
Act gently and promptly. Blot — never rub — with a clean, dry white cloth to lift as much as possible. For a lingering mark, dampen a cloth with cool water and a tiny drop of mild wool detergent, press it lightly onto the spot, then blot again with plain water and let it dry naturally away from heat. Test any cleaner on the back or an edge first. Avoid soaking the piece: the stuffing takes ages to dry, and excess water can encourage colours to wander.
A deeper clean, when it's really needed
Most needlepoint pillows go years without needing more than the routine above. If yours ever does need a proper clean — after a house move, say, or a musty spell in storage — the safest route is a dry cleaner experienced with hand-stitched textiles; do mention that it is wool needlepoint. If the cover has a zip and a removable insert, you can also hand-wash the cover alone in cool water with wool detergent, pressing (never wringing) the water out, then drying it flat, face down on a towel, and blocking it square while damp.
Storing it well
If a pillow needs to rest away for a season, clean it first, then wrap it in a cotton pillowcase or acid-free tissue — never a sealed plastic bag, which traps moisture. Store it somewhere cool and dry, and pop a cedar block nearby to discourage moths, which are fonder of wool than we would like. Refold or restuff it differently now and then so no crease becomes permanent.
Cared for this way, your stitching will outlast fashions, sofas and quite possibly all of us — that is rather the point of an heirloom. And if your pillow is still waiting for its final assembly, our pillow backings collection has soft velvet backs that finish a piece beautifully.