What is the best stabilizer to use on a stretchy textured tank top. I'm sewing a saying on the front. What do I use, how many layers of stab for 20,000 stitches and do I put something on top? Thnx

Do you subscribe to www.stitches.com? A free magazine and the issue received yesterday deals with what you are about to embark on in great detail. Perhaps you can go online and read the article.

Thanks for a great question and very cool answers..

Great information....I haven't done a t-shirt but I plan to....I did 2 fuzzy fleece (stretchy) throw today using a Solvy iron on tear away for the back and a clear WSS on top....they turned out so nice and the iron on tear away came off so easily....thanks for the great question and all the super answers....p.s. I have bought some of the iron on mesh for knits and plan on trying this out.

Make sure to use a Ball point needle for the embroidery on the knit fabric of the tank top.

You could use Fusible No show Mesh or Fusible No Show Diagonal mesh which are both cut away stabilizers.
They are light weight stabilizers and will not add bulk to the design or the fabric.

Being fusible they control the stretch of the fabric so when you hoop and embroider your fabric will not stretch out.

For 20,000 stitches use 2 layer fused in at 45 degree angles to each other with an iron on the back of the fabric. Make sure to stabilizer an area larger than the design area.
Hoop the item.
Add 1 layer of the film type water soluble Topping stabilizer such as light weight Solvy on the top of the fabric. This will help keep the stitches above the fabric while you embroider.

Also add or float 1 layer of a medium weight tear away stabilizer under your hoop when you start to embroider. This will give a crisp look to your design.

When done remove the excess water soluble topping stabilizer from the top of the fabric and the tear away stabilizer from the back of the fabric.

Then pull up or lift up the excess fusible no show mesh and cut the excess away leaving about a 1/4 inch all around the design area. Curve any corners rather than leaving them square as this will help it stay fused down through washings.

If it is hard to pull up to cut just reheat with your iron for a few seconds and then lift it up to cut.

EastWitch2

1 comment

by quiltgrama 18 Jul 2010

This is a very good answer and very helpful. Thanks

Thanks a ton guys for the help---you all are great!!!!!! I'm going to try to post it after I'm done.

A soft stable stabilizer, yes use a topping otherwise the stitches sink into the stretchy textured tank.

1 comment

by sarahj 17 Jul 2010

Thanks ladies for the info. Didn't think of putting something on top of the tee.

I always use CUTAWAY stabilizer, secure in the hoop. Take your tanktop and WSS, Put that on top of the satbilizer. Wgen your machine has a bastingstich secure the tanktop and WSS with the bastingstitch and don;t forget to use a ballpointneedle adn I always put my machine in the lowest speed stiching.
Good luck and show us the result in projects pllease.

3 comments

by mousemaster 17 Jul 2010

I do so many t's...this is so helpful...BUT what WSS?? Water soluable stabilizer?? Thank you so much

by mousemaster 17 Jul 2010

and...HOW do you get the t and top stabilizer to stay secure??? I always use 2 layers of sticky, but nothing on top. I do not hoop the shirts because MY result is NEVER good....it slips and stretches and I end up throwing it away...Thank you ALL so very much for your time

by iris2006 18 Jul 2010

WSS is water soluable stabilizer and I use the bastingstitch on my machine to secure the t and the WSS