offer suggestions? Thanks.

What are packing peanuts ? I have never heard of them until recently & thought they must be some sort of small styrofoam shape used for packing around items in parcels but reading this seems to put an end to that theory.

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

Actually you were right.These are like styrofoam but green and sort of squishy.They do dissolve so I was curious...

I never have tried using them for stablizer but I have used one with unruly or bottom of the spool thread. Just take a regular sewing needle and thread it with your embroidery thread, then thread it through the packing peanut, take off the regular needle and thread onto your embroidery machine as usual. no more spinning and knotting!!!
Works great with metallic thread too.
I have tried to use my WSS scraps by wetting them together but have been very unsuccessful at that one HA!

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

Thanks,I have done that too.These were different though,green and squishy, and they did dissolve in water.

Personally, I do not think that would be a good idea.

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

I just hate to waste something that can be put to use!

Some packing peanuts are supposedly made from potato skins and you can actually eat them.
Yes, I tried them.
But only because my dog kept eating them every time I dropped one. LOLOL!!!

Anyway, if they ARE made from potato skins, it stands to reason that they would contain a natural form of starch,,,,

but I'm thinking of the glue we used to make from flour and water and how it used to go mouldy,,,,,,,

NAH! I don't think I'd like to use packing peanut starch on my valuable projects.
But if you try it, let us all know how it goes, won't you? :-))))

Hugs n roses, Meganne

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

I probably won't try this but just HAD TO KNOW! If I can use them somewhere I will let all know! :-)

by chenille 04 Oct 2010

P.S. Don't think I'll eat them though! LOL!

If they don't dissolve use them in the bottom of planters for drainange. They are lighter than rocks or clay pieces. Somehow I can't believe that they could be used as stabiliziers even if they do melt.

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

Actually I tried that one year in my planters. You should have heard my DH the following spring when he was trying to clean out the same planters...he did not think much of Martha then! LOL!

They do have a biodegradable packing peanut that will dissolve with water, however I thing that the person who wrote this was suggesting that if you add rubbing alcohol to it, preventing it from getting gunky and thinning it out enough to be used as a spray stiffner. But if you use a lot of water, it will completely dissolve.

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by bevintex 02 Oct 2010

Lately my internet orders are coming with the large air bubbles. I like these so much more as they are all one piece instead of all those little peanuts.

by chenille 04 Oct 2010

Sounds messy. I hate to waste but.....! Perhaps I will come up with something. :-)

found some great info on cheap stabilizers be sure and read comment #6 and just look at what people are using. Anyone ever try any of these?
http://www.designsbysick.com/arti...

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

Thanks!

Have you put them in water too see if they actually dissolve. All the ones I have ever seen are some type of polyester that lasts in the landfill for years and years.

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

Oh they dissolve allright! This was the first time I had seen this type.Green and squishy.....should be able to use them for something...maybe just send them in another parcel! LOL!

The link that fannyfurkin gave you is correct but if you read it there is a bit of misleading there, they are talking about 2 different things. One is disolving them for stiffening things, then they said to try that with your scrap wss, meaning add a bit of water to a bunch of you scrap wss and you can use it on the item you are embroidering.

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

Yes I read that too. I haven't tried that yet either! Thanks.

I've never heard of this but I have read that if you save your WSS scraps you can disolve them in water and use as a spray to stiffen your fabric instead of spray starch.

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

True,I'm still saving the scraps! LOL! Thanks.

Is this where you read it? If so I don't think they mean they used it for stabilizer.
Alice

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by leenova54 02 Oct 2010

good catch there fanny, or is it Alice? Either way, you may have saved some people from making a total mess!

by chenille 04 Oct 2010

Have read this, thanks. These were different though. Curiousity you know just gets the better of us sometimes!

I would be afraid to use something like that on my machine. It might be inexpensive now but who knows what it may do to your machine in the long run. What kind of stabilizer were you needing? Our machines are an investment and we spend too much on them to experiment with the untried. This is just my opinion and I hope I did not ruffle any feathers.
Bev

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

Actually I agree with you. I just was curious about these though. No feathers ruffled here! Enquiring minds you know...
Thanks.

well...start with eating the peanuts...lol....and than...I realy don't know..hope someone can help you with it...good luck

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

Thanks, eating peanuts sounds a lot less stressful!

I have never heard this. It sounds like a lot of work to make your own stabilizer. Waiting to see others response.

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

I agree, but it is interesting though.You never know what you may find out,and I did read this somewhere! Thanks.

Never heard that before, it would be interesting to see if it works!

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by chenille 04 Oct 2010

I know that I didn't dream it! (heck I can't sleep!). We'll have to see what others say. Thanks.