Help with washing. Please

[iloveeightiesrock]

Hello all,
I have some questions.
 I am in dire need of some crafty advice. I just finished a embroidery portrait of Bette Davis and background for a school project. unfortunately (self taught) I used pencil as sketch marks. Can i hand wash the material in woolite? I bought woolite and thought I could wash it in cold water by hand but I spent so much time on this and I am afraid my thread might bleed.
Question#2: After(if the washing is OK) it is dry .. has anyone ever done a "wash" with watercolor or gauche on material? my grandmother use to do watercolor on material and I thought it might give the piece some depth since its for a non-traditional illustration piece.
I would greatly appreciate any advice! thank you so much.

[LuluB]

did you use dmc floss?  it's the most common floss you can find so you probably did (unless you used some fancy high end, hand dyed stuff).  if you did use something you found at the craft store then you can wash, wash, wash away with that woolite!

as for painting the fabric, i've never used traditional paints but i have used fabric paints (not puffy ones) with some good effect.

hope this helps,
erika

[iloveeightiesrock]

Great! Thanks for the response. this project is due tomorrow.