Are microfiber towels difficult to embroider on? I seem to be having some thread fraying. I used sticky stabilizer to avoid hooping, maybe a mistake, cutaway layer and topping layer. Suggestions?

I bought some very nice ones that had a waffle weave and used the same angel designs on them as I have used for dishtowels of all other kinds. My design drowned in the nap of the towel with tear away on the back my layer on top that dissolves. I was not sure if it was the slight waffle weave or the microfiber. I went back over the design on one of the towels and it still did not show up very well. It was the angels on SICK that has the sayings on them: Faith, Hope,etc. I got them free with points some time ago and the dishtowels and hand towels are the only thing I have used them on.

1 comment

by bowlds 16 Jul 2010

Thank you for your input.

There are different sort of microfiber fabric, usualy I use tear away stabilizer under the hoop, and WWs above in the hoop with the fabric, it is good to make basting stitches so that all remain in the right place. When a fabric seem difficult, I have notice that basting stitches are a good help.

1 comment

by bowlds 16 Jul 2010

Thank, I just bought a ton of stabilizer at allstitch so I should be set to try everything!

when I do towel I use water soluble stabilizer so it can be wash out and I use one sheet on bottom and one on top if it like a bath towel . If it a cotton dish towel I hoop one sheet if the design doesn't have a lot of stitches I hoop two sheet it the design does have alot of stitch . the stabilizer you are using well make you needle gummy and well could your thread to fray if you don't keep the needle clean of the stickness. If you want to use this stabilizer spray your needle with sealacone spray be shore spray to the needles in a other room away from you machine .

1 comment

by bowlds 15 Jul 2010

I think that is definitly part of the problem. I also think that thick aquafilm makes it drag. It works great for fsl though. Thank you.

Hello bowlds- I've used microfiber towels a few times, and they worked fine. Used a tear-away backing for one and wash-away for the other, and liked the result with wash-away better because the design area was not as stiff after laundering. I did use wash-away as the topping as well.

If you haven't done so yet, try changing your needle. That might help with the thread fraying problem. Good luck.

1 comment

by bowlds 15 Jul 2010

Thanks. I did have a new needle. I used Aquafilm on the top, maybe that was overkill!

I've embroidered with the microfiber towels and have never had a problem. I use tearaway on back. If you need a little help you could use the paper solvy on top to keep the loops from catching if that is the problem. I embroidered on a afghan throw which was rather loosely looped and used the paper solvy on top and no stablizer underneath and it worked like a charm. Hope this will help you some. I'm sure there are others here who might can give more suggestions.

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by bowlds 15 Jul 2010

Thank you. I will try that on the next towel as I bought a pack of them!!