Type of Material to Use??

[AuntieSue]

Here I go again trying to learn! I purchased the Beatitude set from EL last week. I have always loved this Sermon from the Mount. So, I decided instead of giving this away I will be keeping these for myself as a little 'me to me' gift. I don't do that often. However, I don't quite know yet what I want to do with them when they are complete. Any suggestions on what kind of material I should use even though I don't know what the end project will be?? I was thinking about doing them in an off white or cream--- neutral color material.

[Shastasmom]

I would put them on neutral color material, something heavy as I think that you would want to frame them or make them into a wall hanging. Either way, with heavy material, you could do either. I'm sure others will have some more advise for you.

[AuntieSue]

I would put them on neutral color material, something heavy as I think that you would want to frame them or make them into a wall hanging. Either way, with heavy material, you could do either. I'm sure others will have some more advise for you.

Thank you Shastasmom for both answers. I will contact and apologize for the other mistake. I agree with neutral color and am leaning toward a wall hanging. I am just not sure what is a good 'heavy' material to use. Pathetic aren't I??? lol. So much to learn!!

[Sonia]

Sue, I like using faux suede for wall hangings, one of the reasons being the fabric is a matt and the embroidery thread really comes to life. On the other hand, I also like using chintz, because of the slight sheen to it and the fabric is very easy to clean.

As for colour, it depends on what you are going to embroider. You mentioned the Beatitudes, which I will embroider on a light fabric, otherwise a lot of detail would be lost.

[AuntieSue]

Sue, I like using faux suede for wall hangings, one of the reasons being the fabric is a matt and the embroidery thread really comes to life. On the other hand, I also like using chintz, because of the slight sheen to it and the fabric is very easy to clean.

As for colour, it depends on what you are going to embroider. You mentioned the Beatitudes, which I will embroider on a light fabric, otherwise a lot of detail would be lost.

Sonia, thank you once again. I just love the idea of faux suede. I don't know what chintz looks like but the next time I am in the fabric store I will look at it. I usually go in there and am so lost not knowing what would be the best material to buy. I know what colors I like and am pretty good at matching colors that look good together but as for type of material I have no clue. Thank you for your help. I will look for a cream colored faux suede for my Beatitudes.

[Sonia]

Chintz is a curtain or lightweight upholstery fabric. The nice thing about chintz is that it is easy to keep clean and is fairly dust-resistant, meaning that you can literally dust it off like you would a tabletop. When you Scotchguard it, so much better!

[AuntieSue]

Chintz is a curtain or lightweight upholstery fabric. The nice thing about chintz is that it is easy to keep clean and is fairly dust-resistant, meaning that you can literally dust it off like you would a tabletop. When you Scotchguard it, so much better!

Okay, I thought I remember seeing it as a description in curtains. I like that it is easy to dust. Now at least I can find these things when I am shopping for material. I am guessing that both the faux suede and the chintz would be good for any and all wall hanging type projects?

[Sonia]

Sue, I know that you have gone through my albums. Almost everything that you have seen there, is either chintz or faux suede, with the occasional denim thrown in.

[AuntieSue]

Sue, I know that you have gone through my albums. Almost everything that you have seen there, is either chintz or faux suede, with the occasional denim thrown in.

Yes I have seen the beautiful albums. What about things like the glass case holder, phone book covers and the tissue treasure chest etc. And I loved the diaper holder baskets. Do you still use the same materials for those?? I know these sound like very basic questions to ask but this is so new to me. I appreciate all that I am learning from you and the other kind people on this site.

[Sonia]

The toilet holder (treasure chest) was done in satin - not a good idea as it frays too much. The baskets were done in satin, too, but with a difference. The fabric is white satin with different coloured organza over it. I had a lot of satin and organza that I did not know what to do with and I found that the satin stays in place with less fraying when combined with the organza. The phone book covers are all made with chintz.

You can ask as many questions as you like and I will be happy to answer them if I can.

Be careful of using a fabric with a course weave for applique designs, and that is all designs which calls for ITH (in the hoop) applications. It will not hold, but if you lay organza over the fabric, it will hold and add another dimension to it.

[AuntieSue]

The toilet holder (treasure chest) was done in satin - not a good idea as it frays too much. The baskets were done in satin, too, but with a difference. The fabric is white satin with different coloured organza over it. I had a lot of satin and organza that I did not know what to do with and I found that the satin stays in place with less fraying when combined with the organza. The phone book covers are all made with chintz.

You can ask as many questions as you like and I will be happy to answer them if I can.

Be careful of using a fabric with a course weave for applique designs, and that is all designs which calls for ITH (in the hoop) applications. It will not hold, but if you lay organza over the fabric, it will hold and add another dimension to it.

I want to try applique and ITH applications but have not been brave enough. I am guessing that you still stabilize the same way on the bottom even though you are adding the organza on top? I am going to try an applique next. Something simple to start.

[Sonia]

You do the normal embroidery procedure, stabilizer and fabric, and then lay the organza on top. Just remember to use WSS for ITH projects as you have to cut away the fabric top and bottom before the final satin stitch and you do not want any fuzzies.

I have never done applique work on fabric where you embroider an applique design onto a garment, towel or such, and then cut away the applique fabric. I am talking about a project, such as the phone book covers or scissors holder, and that is where you use the WSS. You use WSS when you do FSL as well.

[AuntieSue]

You do the normal embroidery procedure, stabilizer and fabric, and then lay the organza on top. Just remember to use WSS for ITH projects as you have to cut away the fabric top and bottom before the final satin stitch and you do not want any fuzzies.

I have never done applique work on fabric where you embroider an applique design onto a garment, towel or such, and then cut away the applique fabric. I am talking about a project, such as the phone book covers or scissors holder, and that is where you use the WSS. You use WSS when you do FSL as well.

I like that idea. I think I will try that soon. I have WSS and have used it for some hooded towels I made for my brother's grandchildren. I am really anxious to try the some of the FSL designs I have. I have also been wanting to try the mylar projects. I requested the digitizer's consideration for Christmas ornaments using mylar. I hope they consider it. Something that will catch the light and sparkle.

[Sonia]

Just remember when you do FSL to hoop the WSS properly. The stitchcount in FSL is very high, causing a lot of stress on the stabilizer. I can't remember where the link for the proper hooping is, but do a search here on the forum for it. The stuff that you stick onto your hoop is called shelf liner, so do the search on shelf liner. The thread was posted by gartner - she is the one that comes up with all kinds of informative links and explanations about most things.

[AuntieSue]

I've seen the shelf liner info before and I saw something about wonder tape but I am pretty sure we don't have that here. Shelf liner I can find! I will make sure I read everything again before I start a design. Nothing worse than it not working out just because you didn't spend a couple of extra minutes with the prep.

[Sonia]

Shelf liner and double sided tape is all you need. Once you have the shelf liner on, leave it there. It definitely improves the grip of the hoop.

[AuntieSue]

Yes I found that sometimes I just can't get the stabilizer/material tight enough. They say it should be tight like a drum and sometimes it doesn't feel that way to me no matter what I try. I think I will add that tape and shelf liner before my next project.

[Sonia]

It eventually becomes all grubby and yuck and that's when you replace it. By the way, to get that gooey gunk of your hoop, spray it with insecticide, like Mortein Target or similar, leave it for a few minutes, wipe it off with a tissue, wash it and it will be as good as new again - no gunk!

[AuntieSue]

How many years do you think I will be learning all this good information. I can't believe how much I have learned in the past two weeks alone! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I hope someday to be able to help some other newbie and sharing the information that I am learning now!

[Sonia]

You might think now that you will never be able to remember this all, Sue, but it is actually quite easy. The only really important thing is to know your stabilizer and what to use where. There is nothing cut and dried about any craft and it depends on what works for you.

When I first started embroidery, I stripped the thread on the hoop screw every time I tried to hoop something. The result of that was a lot of money spent on hoop screws. My solution to the problem? I stopped trying to hoop the fabric and instead only hooped the stabilizer and I do that to this day. For every 10 articles I embroidery, one might be done with the fabric hooped as well. I lay my fabric on top of the stabilizer, baste it down and embroider!