T-shirt question: when you put water soluble stabilizer on the top, do you use the one that looks like plastic wrap, or the kind like for free standing lace? More question inside....

I use the stuff like plastic. I also get desent result without stabalizer if my image or text is large enough.

Thank you all for your great help! I am trying very very hard to "Think Spring", and those daggone T-shirts I bought last fall are in the sewing closet calling to me. I really want to do one with a "Cute" birdhouse on it, but don't want to mess it up. Here goes, ladies, if you don't hear from me for a while it's because I'm at the sewing machine crying, LOL. Thanks again, and flowers all around. Marji

If I have the thin type I will use that since it is usually cheaper. However, I tend to use scrap pieces left over from other projects and just pin in place over the design area and being sure to place out far enough not to be in the way. I have a nice feature on my machine that I can stitch a fix border around the design to hold everything in place. If I do that then I take out the pins.

I use sticky adhesive in the hoop ( so I don't stretch the T shirt. ) And I float the Water soluable on top. ( like plastic wrap. ) comes out great. Good Luck. a flower for you.

the one that looks like plastic wrap, works great. also some people use spray adhesive, some don't.
I think I depends on what your embroidering.

marji, I believe you already have your answer and are on already stitching out that T-shirt. Something that always helped me, was to think of the water soluable stabilier as a topping, just as you said. So call it topping, then you will not get mixed up, as easily. I have never had trouble with water soluable stablizer in my plumbing, as it says it is water soluable. HaHa. I do like to always tell whomever I stitch something out for, that the embroidery may appear to be stiff the first time, but it will soften as you laundry it. A flower for you.

I use the one that looks like plastic wrap, and I don't use anything to tack it down. I just place a large enough piece over the design area and hold the edges of the stabilizer for the first several stitches. When I see that the stabilizer is tacked down enough, I let go of the edges and let the machine take over (supervised, of course). Since I am not using it for purposes of stabilizing, I am not too concerned about it staying perfectly in place. Then when my design is stitched out, I remove the excess, like jrob, and wash the garment in the washing machine. I have found that washing the entire garment prevents it from being stiff from the WSS.
As for what WSS is made of, I have no idea. In fact, I have asked the same questions as you. What exactly is that stuff made out of, and will it mess up my septic system. I try to let as little of that stuff down the drain as possible!

No, I don't spray the WSS down. I just either pin it to keep it from wadding up or put a (tiny)drop of water on each corner to stick it down. The one I use for T-Shirts is OESD AquaFilm ash-Away Topping it is very thin like Saran Wrap, and no don't substitute Saran Wrap although feels similar it isn't. No, it won't gum up your machine, because 1)after you finish you gently tear away the excess from the edges and then I remove the rest with my tweezers and if there is any that I can't get to, I just spritz with a water bottle and dab a paper towel to adsorb the majority of what's left and 2)yes, it does "feel" like starch when it is disolved. So the Water Soluable means that it dissolves in water. That is the reason that I put a TINY drop, otherwise it melts away. (Like the wicked witch on the wizard of oz) Hope this wasn't TMI and that it answered your question. ;)

Could you use the spray adhesive to stick the WSS to the t-shirt? And last, will the WSS gum up my washing machine, or my septic system? What is that stuff made out of anyway, just starch? Thanks for your help, in advance, because I know it'll be good!! Marji