Tee shirt stabilizer and soft backing

[Lisaa]

I embroider loads of tee shirts and after many mistakes, I settled on a method that works really well. The problem is the cost. I use OESD products since that is what my local Bernina dealer carries. I use their Fusible Polymesh on the back of the tee, Stabil-Stick for the stabilizer (love using this since I do mostly children's tees and don't have to mess with hooping) and I use a dissolve away topping. Are there other methods you use that don't require expensive products like I'm using?

Also, what do you use on the back of the tee shirt to make it soft against the skin? I use a fusible product that my dealer sells by the yard but I can't remember the name. It's okay but not quite as soft as I'd like. My DS has very sensitive skin and even though he loves the shirts I make him, he often complains about the feeling against his skin. TIA!

[crumbear]

I use a fusible no-show mesh ironed on the inside of the shirt to stop the itching on the skin. Works great! Could you not use the fusible polymesh in the same way?

[Carlene]

I personally don't think it is necessary to have the dissolve away topping. Usually that is used for thick items like towels!

[StitchinGrandma]

On tshirts I use a cutaway or sometimes if they are thicker a tear away but don't use the topping stabilizer. Then after I'm done I use the fusible no-show mesh to cover the design on the inside to stop any skin irritation for little ones.

[slg]

i use cutaway and sometimes the solvy on top.

[Lisaa]

I use a fusible no-show mesh ironed on the inside of the shirt to stop the itching on the skin. Works great! Could you not use the fusible polymesh in the same way?

I could use polymesh but it's so expensive! What brand do you use?

Also, I find using a topping gives a better stitch quality - I've done a tee without it and the stitches sunk into the knit and didn't look crisp.

[slg]

do you find the fusible iron on stuff stays put???

[Lisaa]

It curls up a bit around the edges after a while but a brief touch with a hot iron seals them back down again. I find our Gymboree clothes with the soft backing does the same thing.

[browneyes27]

HI,
I am reading and learning on how to and not to. The information is really good.
Linda

[mandi224]

I agree with the last poster. This is great info for a beginner!

[StitchinGrandma]

It's great to see new members that are joining and reading all these threads. Thanks for trying to catch up on the threads around the board. That's nice to see Mandi and Linda. Welcome to the site!

[mandi224]

Thanks for the Welcome!

[for my kids]

I have found that on knits that the disolve away topping on the top makes the design look a lot crisper than without it...I use a no-show iron on for the back.

[Lisaa]

I have found that on knits that the disolve away topping on the top makes the design look a lot crisper than without it....

I completely agree!

[smokey]

You can find a lot of the stabilizers you are all using at Joanns and you can use the 40 and 50% off coupons to purchase them and save a bundle! I also make myself a frame out of cutaway and then tape my washaway into the frame and replace as needed. That saves a lot of washaway and that is the one I use the most. If you only have to cover the window and not fill the whole hoop with it you can use a lot smaller piece of the washaway and the cutaway frame will last a long time before you need to replace that. Smokey

[Granny313]

You can find a lot of the stabilizers you are all using at Joanns and you can use the 40 and 50% off coupons to purchase them and save a bundle! I also make myself a frame out of cutaway and then tape my washaway into the frame and replace as needed. That saves a lot of washaway and that is the one I use the most. If you only have to cover the window and not fill the whole hoop with it you can use a lot smaller piece of the washaway and the cutaway frame will last a long time before you need to replace that. Smokey

Smokey - How long are the coupons valid? Do you have to go to the store or can you use them over the internet? Thanks - DJ:)

[StitchinGrandma]

I'm not Smokey but your coupons will vary as far as the date validity. They changed things awhile back when people complained. They used to send the flyers out and the coupons in there weren't valid for a week or more so you had to hold onto them and not forget you had them. Many would forget until after their expiration date. I think it was last year they changed things and started sending the flyers now with coupons that were usable right away, which is great because as often as many of us go shopping for fabrics and stuff it's frustrating when you get a coupon on the day you are going shopping and used to see the coupon wasn't good for a week or more. UGH Now if the flyer happens to come the day you're headed to the store, the coupon is good. Did I confuse you yet? :D

Anyway the dates are different on them, but generally they are good most of the time for 2 weeks. I just happened to have gotten my flyer yesterday and the coupon on the back says it's good until Aug 23rd. They always expire on a Saturday~ wait ~ no always for all of them. The ones on the back that are usually 40% off one item almost always expire on a Saturday. Any others that might be inside the flyer are for special sales like one they had recently called "Firefly", they have different dates but usually those are for a sale in the near future and will be good only for that weekend they are having the sale. The special sales insert will also sometimes have more coupons so you have to be sure and double check there that you don't miss them. This one says there is a big sale this weekend with some really good sales but there are no extra coupons. :(

The coupons in the flyers will say if they are only good in the stores or online. I think most of the time they have both other than for those special sales which I think are only good in the store. I don't look that close to see if they are valid online too. The one I got yesterday says at the top of the coupon that it's good online or in store. There is usually another coupon on all the flyers for a discount for your custom framing order. I'm not sure I've ever used one of those.

If you aren't getting the sales flyers then go to their website and sign up because you can save alot of money with the coupons. The other thing is that a coupon cannot be used on anything that's already on sale like other stores will allow you to do.

[StitchinGrandma]

Geez ~ I'm a bit wordy this morning aren't I? :D I probably could have answered your question Debbie in about two sentences. oops.

[susank]

Ladies - I have a question which may be a dumb one since no one has mentioned it but - I have never used the iron away stabilizer. Does it damage your iron at all?

[StitchinGrandma]

The heat away stabilizer you have to be careful with as far as using too hot of an iron ~ never use steam ~ ask me how I know. HA! But this stuff just kind of dissipates into tiny dry pieces, almost like tiny balls that you can just brush away. I've never had it stick to my iron at all as long as I remembered to turn the steam off. When the steam is on, it makes it more of a wet melted mess. But, it's not cheap so I usually cut it down as close as possible to the design to save on waste so the amount being "melted" away is generally quite small.

[smokey]

Joanns posts coupons on the net too but I have never been able to find them. Usually someone in one of the forums will post a link and you can get to it that way. That will give me extra coupons to use for a sale as they are usually only good for one item. If I see any of these I will try to post a link here for you if that is ok to do. Hopefully someone will clear that up for me. Sometimes you can use the Joanns coupons on the same identical item at Michaels. I am not sure if they have stabilizer over there tho. They do have other items that will work. Hancocks also post coupons in their flyer and they are usually 40% off too. :) Smokey

[StitchinGrandma]

JoAnn's doesn't post those but usually someone that has gotten one via email and it starts going around.

[Granny313]

There used to be a Joann's about 30 miles away; however I think they closed it - there is a Michael's tho. I've never seen anything in there that could be used as stabilizer - of course at the time I wasn't looking for it either!!
And Vicki - I enjoy you being wordy - I have found your information very helpful. It's nice to know that you are paying attention to mo messages - sometimes I feel like they are rather stupid (LOL)

[StitchinGrandma]

There used to be a Joann's about 30 miles away; however I think they closed it - there is a Michael's tho. I've never seen anything in there that could be used as stabilizer - of course at the time I wasn't looking for it either!!
And Vicki - I enjoy you being wordy - I have found your information very helpful. It's nice to know that you are paying attention to mo messages - sometimes I feel like they are rather stupid (LOL)

Looks to me like the closest to you is about 60 miles away in Convers. :( If I were closer we could do a road trip and have fun.

Thanks. Glad you enjoy my wordiness. :D

[Granny313]

:dancing2: MAN- wouldn't that be fun? We could shop for fabric and more fabric. I would love to get together with everyone and just have a girls party - kinda "show & tell":party: :dancing:

[StitchinGrandma]

We could have fun but with my knees, we'd have to stop after each store for me to recover so we'd have either a lot of booze in us, or lots of coffee by the end of the day. LOL

[Granny313]

Well, with my back and RA all in my joints, we could always draft a couple of the other girls to go and push us in a wheelchair. On second thought maybe we should get a motorized one because somebody may get tired of pushing us and just let us go down the hill(LOL) I could just take extra pain pills instead of booze and they would think I was drunk anyway!!!!! Maybe One-day------

[The Hen]

all of this is great info, thanks for the tip of the dissolve away topping on top, I thought you just used it on towels etc. I guess I am being a little blonde, but what are you talking about when you said you covered the back with a fusible web. Do you have a brand name or product name so I will know what I am looking for.

[StitchinGrandma]

There are a few different brands. The first that comes to my mind is Floriani no show mesh. I know Floriani's is a tan color but it may come in more than one color, possibly tan and then also black. It's been awhile since I looked for it. I've not been able to find their brand in the stores I know sell it because it's always sold out. JoAnn's has some they sell also but I couldn't tell you the brand. Basically you put it onto the back over the stitching and it reduces the irriation to tender skin from the thread. In making baby clothing you want to use that for sure so it protects their skin and then also tshirts it will help as well for anyone since the thread can irritate somewhat.

[debmac]

Granny 313

The Joann's in Conyers is not a very good one. But they have a good one in Athens.

[Granny313]

Granny 313

The Joann's in Conyers is not a very good one. But they have a good one in Athens.

Thanks - I was wondering about the one in Conyers, since Vicki suggested it was probably the closest. We may go to Athens in a few weeks so I may check it out. Do you have directions?:ridinghorse:

[StitchinGrandma]

Thanks - I was wondering about the one in Conyers, since Vicki suggested it was probably the closest. We may go to Athens in a few weeks so I may check it out. Do you have directions?:ridinghorse:

I'm not the one that suggested it but check these directions out (http://mapsonus.com/swy.5/dir/directionsresults.htm?waypoints=Milledgeville%2C+G A&waypoints=&waypoints=&waypoints=&waypoints=&waypoints=&waypoints=191+Alps+Rd%2C+Athens%2C+GA&routeType=Quickest&Submit1=Get+Directions&r_fcid=30031&r_fcp=main&r_aid=821C66FF294A4835A9FDFDFDCC8EC140).
You can go to www.mapsonus.com (http://www.mapsonus.com) then click at the top on "maps and directions". In the lower section under "driving directions", enter the starting city and then in the "ending location", enter the address you are headed to. Just enter the address like this "191 Alps Rd, Athens, GA" and click "Get Directions" and tadaaaaaaaaa there's your route.

There are other mapping websites that are similar but this is the one we've found to be the most accurate. Others we've used, including the most popular mapquest never fail to send us in the wrong direction at one point or another.

This will also hopefully give you all locations in GA (http://www.joann.com/joann/store_locator/locator_main.jsp). Maybe there's another nearby. oops, nope that won't allow linking to the search. You will need to enter another yourself. Just click the state and find GA and hit enter and it will give you all locations in GA.

Maybe you know all of this stuff already but others might not so hopefully it will help somoene. ;)

[Granny313]

:confused: You must forget to whom you are talking to? Me? :willy: Already know something? Hope you are doing o.k. Thanks for always looking out after me.!!!:p

[StitchinGrandma]

hehe Silly me! Sorry Debbie! I'm getting old you know. :D

[Granny313]

They say you are as young as you feel. In mine and your case I don't know if this saying should be directed to us!!!!(LOL) It may be your knees and my back - but can you imagine if something happened to our fingers and we couldn't be on this message board?

[sewflower]

I have found that on knits that the disolve away topping on the top makes the design look a lot crisper than without it...I use a no-show iron on for the back.

Are you refering to a water soluable topping?

[sewflower]

Is the disolve away the water soluable stablelizer?

[Jami Johnson]

Is the disolve away the water soluable stablelizer?

Yes it is.

[StitchinGrandma]

They say you are as young as you feel. In mine and your case I don't know if this saying should be directed to us!!!!(LOL) It may be your knees and my back - but can you imagine if something happened to our fingers and we couldn't be on this message board?
ACK! I'm in DEEP TROUBLE if this is true. :p And ummmmmmm I also have bi-lateral carpal tunnel so that affects both my hands at times.

[dixiechicken]

I embroider loads of tee shirts and after many mistakes, I settled on a method that works really well. The problem is the cost. I use OESD products since that is what my local Bernina dealer carries. I use their Fusible Polymesh on the back of the tee, Stabil-Stick for the stabilizer (love using this since I do mostly children's tees and don't have to mess with hooping) and I use a dissolve away topping. Are there other methods you use that don't require expensive products like I'm using?

Also, what do you use on the back of the tee shirt to make it soft against the skin? I use a fusible product that my dealer sells by the yard but I can't remember the name. It's okay but not quite as soft as I'd like. My DS has very sensitive skin and even though he loves the shirts I make him, he often complains about the feeling against his skin. TIA!

I use the OESD fusible polymesh stabilizer as *the* stabilizer. Should I be using another stabilizer as well?:confused: I assumed since it was an actual stabilizer--that's what the package says--then that's all I need. I then cut a piece of this mesh stuff when I'm done to iron on top of the stitching for softness. (dealer sells it by the yard too, so we might be using the same thing. I didn't catch the name when I asked for it, but she knew what I needed.) I might try the water solvy on top for a more crisp look though. I just want to make sure I don't need another stabilizer.

Also, do you iron on the fusible before of after you embroider? I found when I did it before, I ironed too big of an area, then when I pulled it off, there was a residue. Not sure exactly what I am supposed to do.

[StitchinGrandma]

As I said earlier, I use the iron on stabilizer on tshirts. After I'm done is when I iron on the polymesh type stabilizer since it then covers the stitching and protects the skin since most of the things I make are for babies. If it's hooped and embroidered over then you still have the possibly irriation to skin from the stitching and that's more expensive than stabilizer which is why I still use the iron on paper type stabilizer and then iron that on afterward.

[dixiechicken]

Makes sense. But, I was told to use the polymesh stabilizer to help with show through. So, if I use a different stabilizer and use the polymesh afterwards, won't you still get show through??? I use that soft netting on top after I embroider. However, the polymesh is softer and I would prefer that next to skin.

[Granny313]

Well-----------I'm completely confused now. This is not simple to fugure out rules to use what -when. I don't like to hoop the shirt at all because I can't ever get if "quite right" I find using the fix stitch much easier, but all these stabilizers are soooooo cofusing to me. Especially when I have lost the labels to them and don't remember what kind is what.


On some applique patterns that I ordered , there was a note in the case and instructions and they recommended something called "Dry Cover Up" Have any of you ever heard of this or used it? Can you explain how it works and if it is worth it?

Thanks
Debbie

[StitchinGrandma]

Dry cover up is another product that can be used on top of the fabric so that even if the stitching isn't dense enough to cover all the fabric, you won't see it because the dry cover up is over top of the fabric and usually you would purchase the same color as the fabric. They sell that in many colors and myself, I think that's really a waste of money when you can use other things and don't have to stock all those colors. Many use that on towels and for towels to help keep the fibers held down too. You can do that more cost effectively with either tulle, heat away stabilizer, or even wash away which is, more than likely something you already have in "stock" in your stabilizers.

That's my understanding of the dry coverup anyway.

When you buy your stabilizers you can remove your label and roll it up and stick that inside the tube the stabilizer is rolled onto rather than to throw it away. Also, you could take a small piece of each stabilizer and the label matching that and tape them to paper. Put those in a notebook so that when you aren't quite sure which stabilizer you have chosen, you can then refer back to the pages in your notebook and the sample stabilizer & check the label to be sure which one you have/want to use.

[Granny313]

:five: Thank-you - Thank-you. I wondered if the dry-cover up was almost like the wash away that I already had. Like I said, I've never seen it anywhere, so really did not understand. The only thing that I can see that it may be useful with is at Christmas, when I am doing Christmas dresses for the kids, (most of the time on corduroy), If the color is red, green or black, and say I were doing a snowman, it's hard for the white to really look white, because the darker color shows underneath. I have gone over the white twice beforIe, just to "whiten" it up some. I have got to do the suggestion on the stabilizers. When I buy new, then I will take your advice. I keep the rolls on those metal pants hangers and it would be no problem to slip the label on the inside. Great Organization - Vicki

Debbie :willy: