Ok, this happen to me just minutes ago. I was embroidering a T-shirt for my oldest son, with the lovely Bug Font, but the t-shirt began to be wrinkled and then it broke. I used tearaway stabilizer

I always put a water soluble stabilizer on top of the t shirt, that is hoped with cut away; it helps to keep the stitches on top of the t shirt.

2 comments

by katydid 06 Mar 2008

petrix, I just read your profile. 6 working machines!!!I laugh, I gave my daughter 2 or I would have that many. We must always have a back up, you know!!!

by letvia 07 Mar 2008

Flower and XoXo

There is a lot of great ideas here and although I havent done a lot of T-shirts I have been using the iron on tear-away for any fabric that is stretchy and also use extra normal tear-away for extra support on the back. The iron on keeps the fabric in place and I try not to stretch the fabric when I am placing the stabilizer. So now I have learnt from this page to put some water soluable on top to help the stitches not to sink into the fabric. So thank you jrob I will add that as well.

2 comments

by jrob 06 Mar 2008

glad to be of service, ma'm!

by letvia 07 Mar 2008

Flower and XoXo

Thank all of you for your advice on T-shirt. I have had many problems with this also. I will print this page and keep for further reference. Hugs and flowers for all.

1 comment

by letvia 06 Mar 2008

Here is another flower, I think is the 959.

I always sticky backing for t shirts and towels that can't be hooped

1 comment

by letvia 06 Mar 2008

Thank you. Flower and XoXo

As others have already said, tearaway just isn't strong enough when you are stitching on something stretchy. Use a cutaway for better results. And for those who can't/won't use adhesive sprays, try to find fabric glue sticks (or get the child-safe ones, since they tend to be water soluble as well) and use that to stick your stabilizer to your project. =]

3 comments

by letvia 06 Mar 2008

Thank you cutiepie. Flower and XoXo

by marjialexa 06 Mar 2008

Glue stick doesn't gum up the needle? That would be an ideal solution for me! Thanks, cutiepie. Marji

by cutiepie 07 Mar 2008

Well, you would just use the glue stick around the edges mostly, so it won't be gumming up the needle. Plus, being water-soluble, you can use a damp paper towel or a baby wipe and wipe off your needle when you are done and all is well. I have found the fabric glue sticks in with the quilting supplies, if you want a place to start looking. =]

i have done both t-shirt and collar style and used sticky back in the hoop and floated heavy tearaway underneath ( i keep roll at hoop width at the back of machine) to keep material out of the way i got some small plastic clamps from a cheap shop ( cheap as chips here) works gr8 no problems hope this helps :)

1 comment

by letvia 06 Mar 2008

Thank you. Flower and XoXo

I am new to this site and machine embroidery so bare with me. I used water soluable on both the top and bottom of 4 t-shirts I made for my grandchildren and had no problem. Reason: I have severe allergies and can not use the adhesive spray.

3 comments

by letvia 04 Mar 2008

Sorry for your allergies. I will try your tip too. Thank you. Flower and XoXo

by marjialexa 06 Mar 2008

I sympathize about adhesive spray! I hold my breath, run out to the garage, spray the stabilizer, run back in & hope I get it stuck to the fabric before it dries. Think I'll try Cutiepie's glue stick method. Marji

by elaine45 06 Mar 2008

I ALSO USE THE WATER SOLUBLE FOR TOP AND BOTTOM OF TERRY CLOTH OR FLEECE>I CAN HAVE THE SIZE JUST WHAT I WANT

As others have said, I think cut away stabalizer might work best. I also place wash away stabalizer on top. You can use pieces left over from other projects.

3 comments

by letvia 04 Mar 2008

Thank you. Flower and XoXo

by shirlener88 05 Mar 2008

clawton, your bouquet is growing - you have 994 - only 6 more for 1000. A*4U

by clawton 05 Mar 2008

This was quite a surprise when I logged on today. Thanks so much.

Letvia, I always use a cut-a-way stabilizer that I have affixed to the t-shirt with an adhesive spray,(I use KK200 by Sulky) and I also put a water soluable on top to keep the threads from burrowing into the fabric. I have been very successful with this method. I am sure that there are different ways, but this is mine that works for me. I actually went to a commercial t-shirt embroiderer who told me this method. ;)

1 comment

by letvia 04 Mar 2008

Thank you jrob, I will try your method because I love T-shirt and I would like to make them for my kids. Flower and XoXo

i also have got this problem with t'shirts its not easy to embroider them,somethimes it is the t'shirt who is to strechy of the stabilizer that is not good for it,i do not embroider t'shirt verry much

1 comment

by letvia 04 Mar 2008

I will keep your advise iin mind. Thank you Connie. Flower and XoXo

Letvia, I think on T-shirts it is better to use a cutaway stabilizer, I would use one that 'sticks' on somehow, either iron-on, or I have one that you wet, then it sticks to the shirt. T-shirts are (I think) hard to do, because the material stretches so much. I think maybe tearaway was the wrong stabilizer to use for this project. But maybe listed to Jrob, or gals with more experience. Good Luck! Marji

2 comments

by marjialexa 04 Mar 2008

Sorry, not 'listed', LISTEN to Jrob...
my hands hurt today, my typing is bad, hee hee hee Marji

by letvia 04 Mar 2008

Thank you Marji, I thought the same, it wasn't my fault, jijiji, and you are right, T-shirts are hard. Flower and XoXo

Why that happen to me? I think that was the stabilizer's fault, or was mine?