Does anyone have any tips for keeping FSL flat when it dries? I don't know what causes it to curl to the embroidery thread and not the bobbin thread. I wouldn't think that poly would shrink. When I steam it flat with my iron, the threads look flatten instead of nice.

I put the rinsed ones on paper towels and blot water off then let dry on waxed paper . Iron with piece of cloth on top,good side down, (old sheet), put under large cutting mat (which is on cutting counter all the time. They stay there till i need them. never have any problem with them curling

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by pennyhal2 08 Sep 2018

Thanks! Now that's a good place to store them!

I put paper towel on top and a pile of heavy books.

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by pennyhal2 08 Sep 2018

Thanks! I have lots of heavy dictionaries!

I always place the design between 2 sheets of paper towel and place a dish on top until it dries. Good luck!

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by pennyhal2 08 Sep 2018

Thanks!

All my instructions for FSL say to dry it right side down, to prevent curling. I do this and also place a heavy book on top about half way through the drying.

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by pennyhal2 04 Sep 2018

I tried ironing them last night. When I check on them this morning, they still had a slight curl to the embroidery thread side. Maybe I'll try using embroidery thread in the bobbin too. Now, I'm waiting for the dictionary to do its job.

I'm testing the heavy book idea. Found a big fat dictionary, sprayed them lightly with water, put a sheet of parchment paper on top, and plopped the dictionaly on top.

by pennyhal2 04 Sep 2018

Dictionary worked! However, now I'm afraid that they will curl back up if the humidity gets high. ugh.

Some of that is the digitizing. Embroidery Library fsl is super. Does not need blocking, and dries flat. threadsnscissors fsl is delicate looking, and yet dries great. And, if it's consistently curling towards the top, try lowering the top tension a bit.

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by pennyhal2 04 Sep 2018

Interestingly, I've never had this problem in the past with any of the digitizers I've use. So, maybe it's something I'm doing that I can't figure out.

The heavy book suggestion works.

I soak them in a bowl of warm water just enough to dissolve the stabilizer. I then simply put them between 2 paper towels and with my hand push down to squeeze out more moisture. After that I let them air dry on my kitchen counter and sometimes flip them half way through. I never had one curl, but i do live in a dry environment.

My issue is that I get it flat and then take it to a craft fair (outdoors) to sell. We are so humid here, it recurls, making it unsellable. I am considering selling only five designs under glass, such as in a picture frame, and having duplicates sealed in a plastic tote!

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by gerryb 03 Sep 2018

That's a good idea. Explain why they aren't all out. I actually put all mine in a zip lock bag if possible.

by mrskiki 04 Sep 2018

Graceandham, once your items are soaked and dried, spray with a clear to coat spray paint on both sides. This not only keeps them from curling, but will help keep colors from fading and white from yellowing if you hang in a window. Hugs. Nan W

by graceandham 04 Sep 2018

Thanks, Nan and Gerry.

by pennyhal2 04 Sep 2018

I put mine in cellophane bags that have a resealable top that I purchase online. That keeps them clean from when people handle them. It might help with the humidity.

Here is an old thread addressing just that...lots of good ideas here, too! If your FSL is looking flat, iron it Right Side Down of a thick towel or heavy wool batting. The FSL will "sink" into the towel or wool on the front side so it will not flatten out the front when ironed...hope this makes sense..

http://www.cuteembroidery.com/396...

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by pennyhal2 04 Sep 2018

That was a fun read! Thanks for linking us to it. Amazing things people think up.

I too, blot it with paper towel and I set my flat bottom teapot on it for about an hour...

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by pennyhal2 04 Sep 2018

Do you leave the fsl on top of the paper towel? Or, put it on something flat like a counter top:

I blot it in paper towels then I put it in parchment paper and put a heavy book on top

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by pennyhal2 04 Sep 2018

Oh! I have a lot of heavy books. Now I know what to do with them...other than reading them.