hi its raing turning freezing rain, then more snow here!!!!!!!!!!! do you embroider a tee shirt like you would a sweatshirt? cutaway on bottom and a light weight wash away stabilizer on top?

Thanks so much for raising the T-shirt question, Puppyjo. I got lots of good answers, too, and now I'm inspired for T-shirts again! And yes, we here in the Great Lakes are hoping for spring with all our lil' pea-pickin' hearts!! Marji

Can't add much either. I have done a number of baby tees and I find it easier not to hoop those. So it's sticky back and a lightweight wws on top, pin or baste that. Works fine with me. Good luck and flowers for all.

Huh, nothing new I can add to all the great answers you have already gotten. Just beware of the stretch of the t-shirt (which you don't get so much of with sweatshirts), since that will mess up your design faster than anything else. Here's another flower for you!

2 comments

by marjialexa 18 Feb 2008

Yeah, Cutiepie, it's that *stretch* that gets me. My designs come out ok, till I take them out of the hoop. Then they're concave, convex, and puckered on the edges. Hmmm, maybe I should just wear them with the hoop on, start a new fashion trend? Marji

by cutiepie 19 Feb 2008

Oh, I just remembered something that may help people with their t-shirts! Basically, you "starch" them stiff as a board before you try to stitch on them. If you are as "old" as my mother (I don't consider her old, but that's a different story) you may have stiffened your petticoats with sugar water when you were in middle school/high school? Or maybe you have used the powdered starch and soaked something in it before ironing it flat? You can even do the same sort of thing with left over scraps of wss dissolved in water. Anyway, you make the t-shirt as stiff as you can, stitch out your design, and then wash the stiffening agent out when you are done. It works really well because the t-shirt won't stretch when it is full of starch. Hope someone has better success with this method!

i have done a couple of T-shirts and i hooped up stickyback, layed the shirt ontop and i used a heavy tearaway underneath i kept the roll hoop width at the back i didnt hoop it up u can get those small plastic clamps to keep the rest of the t-shirt out of the way they are great. i also marked with an old peice of soap (works better than chalk or those pencils)where i wanted the design. Special thanx to Jen who showed me how to do this :) they all worked out great.hope this helps puppyjo heres a flower for you

1 comment

by marjialexa 18 Feb 2008

Oh HO, Nurselilly, SOAP! Wow, that is a super great idea for something that's going to be washed anyway. That one has to go in my book of great sewing ideas, it would work for lots of things I do! Thanks so much for mentioning it!!!! (Can you tell I like the idea?) Marji

Nice to hear from you puppyjo.I haven't done any t-shirts yet. But with all this nice info. think I'll try one or two if summer ever come. We are with you freezing rain here also. A flower to brighten your day and thanks for asking the question.

I really believe that they way that you work with your embroidery hoop and item that you are stitching on that works for you - will be the best way to continue to do so - I usually use a double layer poly mesh stabilizer in my hoop and spray adhesive - then my item (whether it is a tee or sweatshirt) - with a double layer of lightweight wash away (topping) pinned securely in place - sometimes - I also use a basting stitch to keep all layers secure. Good luck and let us see that finished project. A flower for you.

I use a sticky stablizer or if I'm out I use a fusible stablizer then I put a tear away in hoop and use adhesive spray to fasten it down or pin it to the tear away. I have also use a cutaway in hoop, pinned it and used a baste stitch. All of these have worked fine for me. I never hoop the tee, there is to much chance of stretching it. I also don't put anything on top, maybe I've just been lucky but I've done lots of shirts.

I use the method jrob described but I don't always use adhesive spray but believe that is the safest method. The most important thing to to keep the fabric from shifting which happens with stretch fabrics. The cutaway helps to stabilize the designs through wear and washing.

Puppyjo, I know how it is It's raining here but no freezing rain chance of Thunderstorms (severe) . I usually do the same with T shirts but I use Sticky Backing and don't hoop the shirt only the stabilizer, stick down shirt and add solvy on top . Good Luck and stay dry & warm . Heres a flower for you.

Good luck with t shirts, puppyjo. I first started with lightweight cutaway, then 2 layers of lightweight, then I gave up. The shirts came out crummy. I'll have to try Jrob's idea, cause I really really want to make t shirts without Valium! Marji

3 comments

by jrob 17 Feb 2008

oh, marji! I also learned the hard way, but using my method I haven't messed up since. (hope that didn't cause a hex on t-shirts!) haha ;)

by marjialexa 18 Feb 2008

Thanks, Jrob, I'm going to give it another shot with your method. I know where I can get some heavyweight stabilizer on sale, lol. And I do have the Floriani WSS, will try to put that on top & see what happens. I wear the shirts anyway, you know, I just look like a bit of a fruitcake, and tell people somebody else made them, lol lol! Marji

by dlonnahawkins 18 Feb 2008

Good sulution Marji - my mistakes wound up with holes!

I usually do the same a jrob, but I normally do not hoop my shirt. I am able to hoop the stabilizer,and then fix the fabric which tacks it to it, and then continue. This allows the design to be stitched without stretching out the t-shirt. We wish you warmer weather, and many happy stitches.

puppyjo, on T-shirts I do use a cutaway on the bottom, but make sure you use temporary adhesive spray and that the cutaway is NOT lightweight. T-shirts have lots of stretch and they will move in the hoop if not tacked down. I also use wash away on top and hoop it with the stabilizer and t-shirt. Does the fact that you are making t-shirts, mean that you are wishing for warmer weather? ;)

2 comments

by puppyjo 17 Feb 2008

well,i guess i am! cant get out to get heesive spray! will use a fabric glue stick. here are flowers flowers everywhere. at least soon i hope

by jrob 17 Feb 2008

glue stick will work, just as long as that material CAN NOT move. ;)