So glad I found this video. I have been embroidering for about 30 years and I never heard anyone mention shrinking stabilizer before! Today on Facebook someone was mentioning it. I couldn't believe it. Upon googling it I found your video here! You explained it so well. The FB lady said she puts her entire roll in the washer and dryer then rerolls it! Way too much work!!!! I loved your explanation and it makes sense. Also, I have never ironed an embroidery when done - I guess I missed that step too!
I would give anything to be able to complete a dense embroidery pattern on quilt cotton without puckering. I learned quite a bit from this video and will definitively preshrink the stabilizer. I have never been told to do so in my many years of embroidering.
Well I've only had issues with poly mesh shrinking not all stabilizers but under the heat of an iron (which is needed to press the embroidery) it shrinks, so I find it best to get the shrinking done prior to pressing the embroidery. You can relieve a lot of puckering problems though by using the proper stabilizer. For a dense design, you'll want a cutaway stabilizer as they'll support more stitches. =)
Oh my..thanks for the pucker tips. I left a comment on your towel embroidery tip- i understand now that my puckering problem is probably due to the woven stabilizer. I didn't know there was a difference in lightweight that is woven or non woven as I thought light weight cut away is woven. I will do some research on this for myself in the different brands of stabilizers. I will be making some tea towels and will try this preshrinking tip Thanks!
The lightweight poly mesh is a woven stabilizer. Tear away stabilizers are non-woven. But sometimes the poly mesh can shrink so it's good to test a sample of the stabilizer you have on hand to see if it does. Just cut a 10" square and pre-shrink by ironing/steam pressing it and see if it shrinks. Puckering can be caused by many different issues, stabilizer not heavy enough to handle stitch count, improper hooping, etc. It can take a little detective work to figure out the right combination. =)
You're most welcome! The good news is your fabric will stay neat and tidy using this method and you'll be able to ""shop your shelves" and see what you have at a glance. =)
I believe you mentioned Pellon Easy Knit EK130 as a first layer to stabilize fabric, before adding "embroidery stabilizer" - you said this would help eliminate puckers. I mentioned this to a friend and we went online to find the Tuesday Tip where you said that.... and can't find it. Can you please repeat what you said so I can share it with my embroidery friend? Thank you.
I don't remember mentioning Pellon Easy Knit EK130. I have used a light weight knit stabilizer to the backs of cotton fabric before when doing a lot of decorative stitches with embroidery to avoid puckers, i.e., some Jenny Haskins type projects.
Thank you so much for the quick response, Bonnie. I have enjoyed so many of your tips. As soon as I read the ones about storing ribbons and taming bobbins, I immediately reorganized my supplies and am so happy with the results! Thanks for all the videos and ideas!
You state that your stabilizer should be pre-shrunk. Do you throw it in the washing machine and dryer first or just wet on the ironing board and iron out?
I don't preshrink all stabilizer, just the wovens like poly-mesh, as it has a tendency to shrink. I demonstrated pre-shrinking it in the video by ironing and steaming it. That's all I do. The heat and steam from the iron shrinks it. =)
Do you have a suggestion on how to better fuse the glitter flex when batting has been incorporated into the quilt block while in the hoop and before the glitter flex design?
It would work the same as without the batting. You'd have batting, then your cotton fabric and then GlitterFlex on top of the cotton fabric and fuse from the top as you would ordinarily do without batting. If the GlitterFlex isn't sticking, make sure you're holding it in each spot approx. 15-20 seconds, if it's still not working, try upping the temperature of your iron a tad. One of those tricks should do the trick. =)
So glad I found this video. I have been embroidering for about 30 years and I never heard anyone mention shrinking stabilizer before! Today on Facebook someone was mentioning it. I couldn't believe it. Upon googling it I found your video here! You explained it so well. The FB lady said she puts her entire roll in the washer and dryer then rerolls it! Way too much work!!!! I loved your explanation and it makes sense. Also, I have never ironed an embroidery when done - I guess I missed that step too!
I'm so glad you found it helpful.
Great great great. Learned so much. Thank you Bonnie. I have definitely become a follower. Many thanks
I'm so glad you found it helpful. That's great to hear!
I would give anything to be able to complete a dense embroidery pattern on quilt cotton without puckering. I learned quite a bit from this video and will definitively preshrink the stabilizer. I have never been told to do so in my many years of embroidering.
Well I've only had issues with poly mesh shrinking not all stabilizers but under the heat of an iron (which is needed to press the embroidery) it shrinks, so I find it best to get the shrinking done prior to pressing the embroidery. You can relieve a lot of puckering problems though by using the proper stabilizer. For a dense design, you'll want a cutaway stabilizer as they'll support more stitches. =)
Oh my..thanks for the pucker tips. I left a comment on your towel embroidery tip- i understand now that my puckering problem is probably due to the woven stabilizer. I didn't know there was a difference in lightweight that is woven or non woven as I thought light weight cut away is woven. I will do some research on this for myself in the different brands of stabilizers. I will be making some tea towels and will try this preshrinking tip Thanks!
The lightweight poly mesh is a woven stabilizer. Tear away stabilizers are non-woven. But sometimes the poly mesh can shrink so it's good to test a sample of the stabilizer you have on hand to see if it does. Just cut a 10" square and pre-shrink by ironing/steam pressing it and see if it shrinks. Puckering can be caused by many different issues, stabilizer not heavy enough to handle stitch count, improper hooping, etc. It can take a little detective work to figure out the right combination. =)
Thank you so much for showing me how to fold my fabric. My shelves are beautiful..good luck
You're most welcome! The good news is your fabric will stay neat and tidy using this method and you'll be able to ""shop your shelves" and see what you have at a glance. =)
So to preshrink you just spray with say best press and iron or do you actually wash it? Great video
I just use steam and iron but Best Press would work too. I don't actually wash it. =)
@@SewInspiredbyBonnie awesome!!!! Thanks for answering so quickly
@@deidrapowell8762 You're most welcome!
I believe you mentioned Pellon Easy Knit EK130 as a first layer to stabilize fabric, before adding "embroidery stabilizer" - you said this would help eliminate puckers. I mentioned this to a friend and we went online to find the Tuesday Tip where you said that.... and can't find it. Can you please repeat what you said so I can share it with my embroidery friend? Thank you.
I don't remember mentioning Pellon Easy Knit EK130. I have used a light weight knit stabilizer to the backs of cotton fabric before when doing a lot of decorative stitches with embroidery to avoid puckers, i.e., some Jenny Haskins type projects.
Thank you so much for the quick response, Bonnie. I have enjoyed so many of your tips. As soon as I read the ones about storing ribbons and taming bobbins, I immediately reorganized my supplies and am so happy with the results! Thanks for all the videos and ideas!
So glad to hear you've found the tips helpful! =)
You state that your stabilizer should be pre-shrunk. Do you throw it in the washing machine and dryer first or just wet on the ironing board and iron out?
I don't preshrink all stabilizer, just the wovens like poly-mesh, as it has a tendency to shrink. I demonstrated pre-shrinking it in the video by ironing and steaming it. That's all I do. The heat and steam from the iron shrinks it. =)
thank you!
You're most welcome. =)
What about water soluble stabilizers…
Do you preshrink
Great info.....thanks for the video!!
You're welcome! =)
Do you have a suggestion on how to better fuse the glitter flex when batting has been incorporated into the quilt block while in the hoop and before the glitter flex design?
It would work the same as without the batting. You'd have batting, then your cotton fabric and then GlitterFlex on top of the cotton fabric and fuse from the top as you would ordinarily do without batting. If the GlitterFlex isn't sticking, make sure you're holding it in each spot approx. 15-20 seconds, if it's still not working, try upping the temperature of your iron a tad. One of those tricks should do the trick. =)
Thanks Bonnie!