opinions on stabilizers for newbies...

[Gailk]

Hi there,
I was wondering if I could get peoples opinions on stabilizers. I am new to machine embroidery. I have tried a tear way (once) and a cut away (once) so far and why would you ever want a cut away when the tear away is so easy? What application do you use the cutaway for? I haven't tried the washaway yet but it sounds like a blessing. is it?

I want to put in a order and I'm not sure what I should get. Is there one that is a must? Should I get one of each kind? I am planning on (if all goes well) T shirts and towels for Christmas. and maybe some pillow cases...

Your opinions will be greatly appreciated.

thanks
Gailk

[la_cole]

Welcome to SiCK, Gailk. You have discovered the #1 embroidery site on the web!

Different fabrics and techniques require different stabilizers. Here are a couple of links/charts that might help:

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/...of-stabilizers
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/...t%20a%20glance
http://www.netwrx1.com/~diamond/stabilizer_chart.htm
http://www.windstarembroidery.com/em...le=Stabilizers

The correct needle also is important:

http://www.sewing.org/files/guidelin...dle_charts.pdf
http://www.embroiderysupplies.com/ne...tion-guide.htm

[jstitch]

Galik, I personally love the sticky back sold here. I am not a pro at which stabilizer to use at which time (I need to read all of those link la cole posted for you ), but I have loved using the sticky back. It makes hooping (or not) so much easier for me.

Just my two cents worth! Welcome! Glad you found us, and I hope you'll join in and become one of us.

[flebow]

Hi
Galik

I can certainly help you as I have been making stabilizer aand teaching about stabilization for s few years now
If you e-mail me directly we will have samples sent to you
but pls contact me off list

Stable items = tearaway
stretchy items = cutaway


Fred

[Gailk]

Thank You all and I do appreciate your replies. They are all helpful to me.

[pat_paul]

Hi Galik, I'm new too and all I've ever used so far is tear away. I also have no clue which stabilizer to use for what and I will most definately read what la cole posted. I too would love to do towels for gifts. Maybe we can keep in touch and learn together. Could be fun

[jstitch]

Welcome, pat paul. Glad to have you with us. It would be great if you would post in the Introduce Yourself section. Tell us a little about yourself, what machine you have, what other interests you have, any family info you care to share, etc. That way you'll be sure to get a great big SiCK welcome! We're glad you're here and look forward to helping you and seeing pictures of your projects.

[pat_paul]

thanks jstitch, I did post something there (I think) I'm new to DBS by a couple of months and got my machine in March. I still have LOADS to learn so I read alot on the forum. I'm low on stabilizer so thought I'd look in here. I'm always posting questions and asking for help. Everyone here has been so helpful too. Nice to meet you

[la_cole]

For items with a heavy nap like terry cloth, I hoop the towel and lay Solvy scraps where the embroidery will be to keep the stitches from falling into and getting lost in the nap. For the most part, these types of fabrics are sturdy enough not to require additional stabilizer.

[pat_paul]

so the name of what I need is solvy scraps? That's all I need to embroider on a towel? Sounds too easy. I *definately* want to try it tho. Monogramed towels make an awesome gift

[Needlegal]

Instead of Solvy (the film type for use with terry), I use the hospital (water soluble) bags. It's been so long since I ordered any, that I can't remember where I got them, but i know there are some on Ebay.

[la_cole]

so the name of what I need is solvy scraps? That's all I need to embroider on a towel? Sounds too easy. I *definately* want to try it tho. Monogramed towels make an awesome gift

The name is "Solvy." It looks like thin plastic. I purchase it from JoAnn using my discount coupon. I save the pieces--scraps--that are left over from other projects in a sealable plastic bag to be used again.

Solvy is different from the wash away stabilizer used for FSL which looks more like a light weight fabric.

[crazygranny]

When I do towel I use a Layer of wash -n-gone on the bottom and one on top before I hoop the towel . If the towel is to big to hoop I hoop peel and stick then I lay my towel on it and put wash -n- gone on top then I embroidery .

[pat_paul]

awesome, thanks for this info. I'll try it all. I'm so excited about trying towels.

[Shihaya]

Ok, I'm a newbie with some experience, so take everything with a grain of salt
Personally, I only use 3 different stabilizers:
tear-away
cut-away
water-soluable

I buy the tear-away on a huge roll, pre-cut for industrial use, so it fits my hoop perfectly, I only have to cut the length.
I use it for strong fabric, but also for towels.

Cut-away for light fabrics and stretchy stuff

WSS for Free Standing Lace and of course on top of terrycloth AND on top of jersey. For the latter two scraps will do, you don't have to hoop a big piece.

I don't use stick on or iron on, but use temporary spray adhesive to stick fabric and stabilizer together.

Have fun with your machine
Shihaya

[pat_paul]

I'd like to get away from the iron on tear away as it's an extra step. Do you use Sulky? I see lots that mention WSS and I have no clue what that is. Is it water solulable stabilizer? I have stabilizer by Sulky that I used when I tried to do a tshirt that sort of reminds me of plastic wrap. I hooped it but I've seen videos that some just lie it on top, does that work that way? I used tear away on the bottom and the other on top.

[Shihaya]

Yes, WSS is water soluable stabilizer.
Forgive us for using our abreviations and special terms without thinking about newbies.
First of all, you should always use tear away or cut away stabilzer with whatever fabric you use.
Water soluable stabilizer is an "extra" to keep the stiches from sinking into fluffy fabrica and personally I think it gives better results if you put some on top of a T-shirt. Since it doesn't "stabilize" as such you don't have to hoop it, which saves you quite some stabilizer if you embroider designs much smaller than your hoop.

Free standing lace (FSL) is an exception, of course, there you only use WSS

[pat_paul]

wow I never knew that about the top stabilizer. OK that's it, I'm doing a practice towel tomorrow

[Shihaya]

Good luck and don't be too disappointed if things go wrong sometimes.
There's many a shirt that ended its life in the bin with my embroidery

[pat_paul]

I plan on testing/practicing it on a towel I keep under my dog's water bowl. No loss there, he won't care if I mess up. I'll let you know how I make out