Meganne, you totally lost me in your response to myFSL question. I was afraid you might not look back so I'm asking you to explain in a new question area. You said to "soak overnight"? :)

Meganne is correct: if the design is done properly, it will make completely stable lace, and so it won't matter how long it is soaked. The lace will stay together just as well as any you might buy at the store. I have one of those little "Crock Pots" that were originally intended for either heating dips or potpourri, and I place my more intriquite designs in there and let them "simmer" for a few hours. Takes the stabilizer out very well without placing any stress on the lace matrix itself (no stretching). Good luck with your FSL adventures, Dkjack!

Sorry sweetie. Normally you rinse your finished design in warm water to dissolve the water soluble stabiliser. Well, I was advised that it is best to soak it in water overnight (several hours) (the water would start out warm), instead of just rinsing the design, that way it removes the WSS more thoroughly from inside the stitching so it gives a better finish. Is this more clear? cheers, Meganne

2 comments

by dkjack 16 Mar 2008

If I understand you correctly :) , I can "soak" several hours, instead of rinsing under the water tap to remove stablizer. I thought I could only soak until I didn't see the stablizer anymore. I won't end up with a ball of thread if I soak a few hours?

by meganne 16 Mar 2008

LOL! No, if it is a properly digitized design you can soak without any problems. I soak all of mine now as the items are things that probably won't get washed like we normally would wash our clothes. I think that is why it is actually better to soak such things to make sure all the stabiliser is removed. This advice was in a Machine Embroidery Instruction manual that I purchased and I have found the advice really good otherwise you will find helpful information is available here:- http://abc-embroidery-designs.com... ....Cheers, Meganne