the stabilizer with the cotton poplin fabric or float it? I can get the cotton fabric "drum tight" without the stabilizer but it's not so good with both in the hoop.

I also use a glue stick instead of spray adhesive. Firstly I couldn't get spray adhesive, and now I avoid spray anything as sprays of any sort can affect my daughters breathing.

Amazinggrace, In the past, I have even lightly spread a small amount of glue from an Elmers washable glue stick on my stabilizer, and used that to hold the fabric down until I could baste it. H&*.

you said you can't buy tempory spray but also not via internet ??
i bought it years a go in a simple fabric shop they already used it for outher things with ordanairy sewingmachines .. even my nana used it for her work when i was a little girl

amazinggrace, you do need to buy you some temporary spray adhesive for your embroidery work - it is a must have - if the hooping of your material isn't working for you and you don't have the temporary spray - this will be harder to make your material stay in place - but try it out on a test stitch out - so you don't mess up your expensive project, first. You can go to Emblibrary.com and view lots of video's on hooping - they tend to hoop everything and I tend to hoop the stablizer and float the material on top - with the spray adhesive and pin or baste the material to the stabilizer - the basting would work best for you - if you don't have the temporary spray adhesive. Post a picture of your project - when you are finished - we would love to view it. *4U

Amazinggrace, if your cotton fabric is "drum tight" and you can't get stray adhesive, I would just put the stabilizer under the hoop.
Good luck and let us see your project posted on projects,can't wait to see what you are doing.
and *4u

I always hoop the stabilizer ONLY and then use a temporary spray glue (like 505...comes in an aerosol can) and spray the stabilizer, then lay the good fabric to be embroidered on top of that. Gently press down to make it 'stick', then when your embroider is done, just gently peel it away from the stabiler and either tear the stabilizer away or cut it away - depending on which kind of stabiler you have used.

1 comment

by amazinggrace 24 Jun 2009

That is very clear, thanks. I now understand how it works without the top hoop but my problem is now going to be that as I live out in the sticks of the U.K I can't buy any temporary spray. The shops are not allowed to post it either. I think my sticky backed is too thin for this project but I'll give it a go.

I do as Iris. never have much luck trying to get all that bulk in the small hoop. I can only do 4x4 designs. Good luck

1 comment

by amazinggrace 24 Jun 2009

Just re-read the mail from Iris and now yours. I'm a bit dim I think, how does your machine work if the material is not in a hoop? I can do 4x4 and 5x7 by the way and I have a Brother Innov-is 700
* for you too

I nevcer hoop anything, I just pin the material on the stabelizer or use a bastingstitch to hold the material on the stabelizer. Hope this helps.

1 comment

by amazinggrace 24 Jun 2009

Gosh, I didn't think pining or basting would hold it firm enough. I'll try it but not on my posh stuff!
* for you.

I think I read a post a while back from DLMDS, where she said she either basted or stuck the cotton to the hooped stabilizer, instead of hooping the cotton itself, and it came out better with no puckering or pulling. I sometimes wonder if that 'drum tight' idea isn't a bit misleading. Lightweight fabric, even a woven cotton, does have a certain amount of stretch to it. Hang in there, Grace, somebody with much more knowledge than I will come along shortly! Hugs, Marji

1 comment

by amazinggrace 24 Jun 2009

Yes, I thought of sticking it so that I wouldn't get any hoop marks but I live way out in the sticks and can't get any spray adhesive and the postal laws in the U.K prohibit the posting of aerosol cans. The "drum tight" bit is misleading as well as impossible sometimes.
Thanks for answering. * for you.