help with stabilizers

[MackandMorgan's Mom]

I need help with stabilizers...i had gotten to a point where I wasn't using them much and then I figured this wasn't working out so well...now I'm not sure where to begin with them...I have seen on some of my little ones outfits 2 layers...how do I know where to begin and what to do?

do you always have to hoop the stabilizer or can you just use adhesive?

[dana]

I have only begun to embroidery ( almost a yr.)

I finally invested in a book- Embroidering with Confidence-I think it is by Nancy Zieman (sp?) this, and other books will describe the types and uses for stabilizers. It is at least a start.

I have had the same problem, which type to use, how many layers. I have often used a wash away on the top of the project if it is for a towel, or fleece, it keeps the stitches from getting lost in the fabric.

This was a great thread to post- I still can not always figure out what to use when for certain projects- although I am getting better than I was at the start.

[MackandMorgan's Mom]

Thanks so much for the resources...it seems so confusing...tear away seems so nice but it is expensive ..then the cut away, I don't want it to rub the girls chest raw?????

[ShirleyC]

I use a poly mesh under tee shirts. It is soft and it won't show through under white shirts. I can't remember where I ordered mine, but I'll try to check later on when I get home.

[rodneytb]

I always use cutaway on knits and tearaway on most other things. Towels need a washaway topper to keep the towels loops from showing through the embroidery.

[MackandMorgan's Mom]

Any tips for using the washaway topper? I typically just hold it in place while it is stitching out? Do you guys use the topper on any other fabric besides towels?

[rodneytb]

Sometimes I use washaway topper on burps and onesies. I use a scrap of the topper and dampen the corners to hold it in place.

[Crafty Connie]

Is that the name of the product? Washaway Toppers? Where do I get this stuff? I have wash away stabilizer, is that the same thing?
Crafty Connie

[MackandMorgan's Mom]

I don't think that is the official name of it. It is a sulky product and it is really thin and kinda silky feeling. I have a roll that came with my machine and it is really good with towels. I learned that the hard way!

Thanks for the tip on weting the corners!

[sew blessed]

I love the sulky stabilizers, I use the economy sheets, because I get more cuts for my size frame, I have a Brother 270-D. The 4x4 frame for this machine actually measures about 7x8 inches when you frame it. I use sulky soft n sheer, tear-easy, and solvy on most of my projects.

[Luciana]

when you embroidery a towell , put a cut bag plastic on it , and after you embroider , then take out the plastic, it will looks a very good embroider on your towel!!I hope you understand me!!!!!!!!luciana

[MackandMorgan's Mom]

Thanks! I think I get it... just use the plastic grocery bags?

[Crafty Connie]

I was embroidering on a heavy canvas type material and didn't use any stabilizer. It seemed to work OK. So is there no need to use stabilizer if the material is stiffer?

[dana]

Does anyone have a resource of where to buy larger/ bulk sized stabilizer?

It was suggested that I visit Walmart- anywhere else? When I asked the salesperson at Walmart, she looked at me like I had two heads.

[debi@thebeach]

Some brands call it Wet n Gone, others call it Solvy, etc.
Debi
<//><

[Jami Johnson]

The stabilizer that you use can make a huge difference in how the designs stitch out. Out of all of the stabilizers that we have used, we like the John Solomon stabilizers the best. BTW we're not affiliated with them in any way... we just like their products.

[dana]

we have not or would never use a plastic bag --but if you do a googlr search on stabilizers you will see 100 s of sources !

Thanks for the info- I will try that!

[USC Mom]

Allstitch.net is a great resource for bulk stabilizers!

[Jami Johnson]

Wow, you must be a magical embroiderer to be able to get away without using stabilizer. I’ve never been able do it, and because of that I wouldn't recommend ever embroidering without stabilizer. I have found that not using stabilizer or using the wrong stabilizer will cause the alignment of the fills and outlines to be off.

Here are some links to additional information about using Stabilizers:

http://www.embroidables.com/store.php?page=Tips

http://www.rnkdistributing.com/reference.htm

http://www.johnsolomon.com/theory.htm

[StitchinGrandma]

I agree Jami. I would never do anything without some type of stabilizer. If you are going to take the time to sit and embroider something you certainly don't want to get done and then have the outline run only to see it's all off and the entire project is now trash. Very frustrating. I've learned the hard way not to cut any corners.

[momma4anna]

Any tips for using the washaway topper? I typically just hold it in place while it is stitching out? Do you guys use the topper on any other fabric besides towels?

I use a topper for tons of stuff, not just high-loft things. Anything I would like to make the design really stand out. I am probably wasting money ont he extra topper, but the end result just seems to look better. One of the things I do is pin down the corners of the topper before I attach the hoop to the machine. It seems to help in stay in place more and there is not as much bunching up.

I usually will buy several yards of the solvy type stuff whenever Joann's has a sale on their interfacings and stabilizers. I think I have gotten it as cheap as 50 cents a yard and I bought the rest of the bolt.

[edgewood mom]

If you can find Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine, they usually have a great section on stabilizers. I learned so much from reading their tips. About once a year they also seem to have a reference chart that is really helpful as well.
I love to use Aquamagic plus for things that don't hoop well. To make my dollars stretch a little I leave the whole piece hooped and only cut away what has been embroidered on. Then I can usually just cut a smaller piece of the stabilizer to patch up the hole in the hooped stabilizer and do the next item by sticking the patch on the hole. This works for a few items before all the stickiness is gone, but it saves an amazing amount of stabilizer. Then to keep stretching my dollar, I save all of the rest of the water soluable stabilizer in a baggie and then put it in a spray bottle with a little water or alcohol. I can then use this spray on stabilizer when I am doing other projects--very good when I'm doing wing needle embroidery!
I usually just buy a big roll of lightweight tear-away to use on everything else...I have cutaway and fusable and aquastick as well, but tend to reach for aquamagic plus and lightweight tear away for almost everything. Good luck!

[edgewood mom]

I forgot to mention that when I use a topper for things like towels or polar fleece, I found a great tip that has saved me a lot of frustration. Some machines have a basting option or you can download a basting design from a couple of different places on the web; but I use the basting stitch to anchor my topper down so that my fingers don't get in the way or so that I don't mess up the design by creating drag when trying to hold down the topper. HTH

[kurthco]

Check out the Floriani sample packs. They have around 12 or so different stablizers and instruction sheets on when to use which one.

[kurthco]

Lightweight tear is the one I use all the time. Seems to work the best on most projects.
Do you use the clear plastic type on top of towels. I haven't had the best of luck with that one.

[JenZ]

I have also used WS topper on flannel because of the fuzzy texture. I have used dry cover-up, a vinyl tear away topper on towels. It comes in colors and is meant to stay under the embroidery. It was ideal for embroidering white ghosts on black towels. That way the white looked brilliant with no hint of black towel shading the ghosts. Other than when I am worried about the color contrast, I just use the WS stuff on towels.

[Beth]

Stabalizing in the one of the most important things. If at all possible you need to hoop the stabiler with the garment. It is better to use more than less. Basically there are 2 kinds of stablizer, cut away and tear away. The only time I use tear away is when the back of the garment will be showing. I usually use 2 pieces of cut away. They make really soft nice cut away that is ok up against the skin.

[blessedw2]

this is a very interesting thread with great resources in it! Thanks for the links Jamie!

[Alligator]

do you guys put the stabilizer on the back and the top of the towels. I have and they turned out great. I have used the tear way and the wash away on both sides....

[just_teachin]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the medium weight cut-away from Terradon. (http://www.terradonunlimited.com/stabilizers.htm)

I'm still in search of the perfect tear-away, though I haven't tried theirs yet.

ITA agree about using Solvy on top of towels, though. I hoop my tear away, then use Sulky KK2000 spray on the stabilizer and pin my towel in place, then place and pin the Solvy on top. Works beautifully!

[danamom4]

when you embroidery a towell , put a cut bag plastic on it , and after you embroider , then take out the plastic, it will looks a very good embroider on your towel!!I hope you understand me!!!!!!!!luciana

That's a fun way to recycle something. Can't wait to try it.

[danamom4]

Wow, you must be a magical embroiderer to be able to get away without using stabilizer. I’ve never been able do it, and because of that I wouldn't recommend ever embroidering without stabilizer. I have found that not using stabilizer or using the wrong stabilizer will cause the alignment of the fills and outlines to be off.

Here are some links to additional information about using Stabilizers:

http://www.embroidables.com/store.php?page=Tips

http://www.rnkdistributing.com/reference.htm

http://www.johnsolomon.com/theory.htm

Wow!! I have learned so much from this message board. Thanks, Jami.

[dixiechicken]

Stabalizing in the one of the most important things. If at all possible you need to hoop the stabiler with the garment. It is better to use more than less. Basically there are 2 kinds of stablizer, cut away and tear away. The only time I use tear away is when the back of the garment will be showing. I usually use 2 pieces of cut away. They make really soft nice cut away that is ok up against the skin.

Why do you use 2 pieces of cutaway? How does this help? Thanks so much for everyone's information. I have learned soooo much from everyone's replies!

[ElaineR]

Dixie,
I was told to use 1 sheet of stabilizer per 10,000 stitches, and I agree with Beth that more is usually better than too little. I am also familiar with the very soft cut away stabilizer, and I use it for my little grandchildrens shirts ect. It is very good, but I still put on the -iron on sort of nylon tricot stuff- pretty much like what is on the back of designs that you purchase. My little grandson has a problem with the thread knots that are sometimes there so I just go ahead and put that iron on product on the finished item, but I can't think of hardly a thing I might embroider on that I don't use at least 2 sheets of stabilizer. I also like to use the "solvy" film on top, it comes in other brands and different names but it is the sort of like saran wrap product. I just like to use it on top, it just seems, although it may just be my imaginatio, to make the embroidery foot just glide along smoother, and it just pulls away when the design is done.
I had a stitch out of the adorable little princess and the pea bed from the Lindgren collections, that I showed to my Bernina Dealer, and the first thing she said was "oh-stabilizer". That reaction sort of bothered me, I wanted her to see how beautifully my machine had sewn out the design, and all she saw was the 2-3 tiny tiny little puckers. I had just used a thin like sheet fabric to see how the design would look stitched out. BUT that is when she told me her rule: 1 sheet per every 10,000 stitches. Now I use 3 or 4 even, when you enlarge a design it increases the stitches too. That princess bed is already about 30,000 stitches if I remember right. Good luck to you on your stabilizing, I for one still hate doing that part after 5 years!!!
Elaine

[dixiechicken]

Thanks for the response. I use the solvy on top, and just one stabilizer--usually tear away--on the bottom. I might start using the cutaway on things where you can't see the back though. I haven't done any designs though. Just names and initials. When I do some designs, I'll keep the 2 layers in mind.

[chrissyw]

I only have cutaway, stitch n tear, and water soluble---stabilizers are expensive, but I can't get my embroidery to look good without them!!!