I could swear that some stabilizers shrink, but then I think maybe it's something else that I do wrong. Do stabilizers shrink? I seem to have a shrinking problem with tearaways, but not the iron-on ones.

Great discussion. I have had several types of stabilser shrink. some stabilisers may not shrink uniformly or in the case of tear away may be weakened by steam and not hoop very well. Sometimes it is the quality of stabiliser and sometimes it is to do with the design or the grain of the fabric you are embroidering on or even just which direction you are holding your tongue!

A quick fix is to try using 2 layers of stabiliser and place one layer in a perpendicular direction to the other. This was advice given to me when i first started machine embroidery and has helped me many times.

1 comment

by pennyhal2 18 Oct 2017

I'll try to keep my tongue straight!

another cause of "shrinkage" is if you hoop to tightly ie stretch the fabric -when you release the hoop the design pulls- if you dampen it and press it sometimes the wrinkles will iron out

Just curious - isn't the tearaway removed after stitching? Was wondering where the shrinking happens.

2 comments

by pennyhal2 18 Oct 2017

In the area under the stitching there is still some stabilizer that can shrink.

by sewist1 19 Oct 2017

I don't often have any left but mine doesn't shrink though.

Wow, what an interesting discussion. Definitely will preshrink everything just to be on the safe. Thanks for the question and the responses. We have all learned something I'm sure.

Thanks for asking the question and thanks to all who replied. Sigh! Yet another step to try to remember before embroidering. Unfortunately I don't get to do it as often as I'd like in order to get all these steps to be a habit.

thank you this could answer a lot of things...soozie

Best way to preshrink a fusible?

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by dragonflyer 16 Oct 2017

Not totally sure, but here are some suggestions for interfacing from Threads...I would think that stabilizers would act similarly to the interfacing...I have never pre-shrunk a fusible stabilizer before...I usually block fuse a piece of fabric with stabilizer and give it a good hot steam...but pre-shrinking is food for thought...

http://forums.threadsmagazine.com...

by dragonflyer 16 Oct 2017

Burda's perspective on pre-shrinking...

http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/pr...

by pennyhal2 18 Oct 2017

Thanks for the links!

Yes, I've found almost all of them will shrink. I try to remember to give it a shot of steam before using it. I just hold my iron over the top & hit the burst of steam button. You would think that the polyester would not shrink..but it does.

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by pennyhal2 16 Oct 2017

Yup. I never thought that polyester would shrink. I don't seem to notice it in poly clothing. Must have something to do with how they mfg. it.

All stabilizers are not created equal..yes, some do shrink...as suggested below...iron with hot steam before you use it...it does help...be careful if you are using a polyester stabilizer...if it gets too hot it may melt.

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by pennyhal2 16 Oct 2017

How do you know if the stabilizer is polyester?

As others have said, a resounding YES. Was so disappointed that a roll I got from Allstitch shrinks - they said the notation was there that really high heat could cause shrinkage. I was on medium heat with a cotton press cloth. They have updated their page "We do not recommend exposing AllStitch Classic or HD stabilizers to direct heat from something like an iron. These stabilizers are 100% polyester, direct heat will cause them to melt." Classic is their cutaway. The iron on soft backing also shrinks in my experience and I'm trying to remember to not use it without pre-shrinking first.

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by pennyhal2 16 Oct 2017

I guess it'd be wise to know what the stabilizer is made out of. It doesn't say that on the package.

Yes, stabilizer shrinks. I suspected as much so cut off a length of polymesh, measured it several times, then threw it in the washer and dryer. The shrinkage was a bunch. Later I saw where one lady mists her stabilizer and gives it a shot of steam with her iron to take care of that problem. I do that now too and it does help.

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by crafter2243 16 Oct 2017

I love this site. Always something new to learn

by pennyhal2 16 Oct 2017

What a great idea!

I, too, think some shrink. Try ironing the stabilizer with a steam iron
before hooping, and see if that helps.

I did not think that stabilizers would shrink however if you have a dense design and not stabilized well enough it would shrink. It pulls the material towards the center. At least that is what I think