Have you had the problem of puckering after you have stitched your design when you iron it on the back? I discovered my cut away stabilizer actually shrinks! grrrrrrrrrr! So... now I iron my cut away stabilizer before I hoop it and now it doesn't shrink after I have stitched it! How crazy is this?

Boy! that puckering makes me mad especially if I leave a perfectly embroidered design and come back next day to find slightly puckered surrounding fabric.
I'm going to give that preshrinking a go.
Strangely enough, I have more 'technical problems' now than I ever did when I first jumped in feet first and just stitched up the designs with less knowledge in my head.

Thanks for bringing up this annoying topic... all the information makes a lot of sense.
AlmaG.

So you use steam?

2 comments

by hightechgrammy 31 Mar 2012

I do, I don't know about the others....

by caroldann 31 Mar 2012

I had been told not to use steam, that it causes the shrinking. Hugs..Carol

I read someplace that we should not stretch the fabric and stablizer too much after hooping. When I first started I was told to hoop and then pull the fabric and stablizer on all sides equally which made it very taut. Now I'm reading that we should not do so much pulling of the materails. By stretching it tight and then stitching it pulls the weave apart. When it is relaxed the fabric tends to go back which causes it to pucker

1 comment

by clawton 31 Mar 2012

The stitched area stays because of the embroidery but the rest of the threads relax to the original position. Hope that makes sense!

I never heard of this before-just thought the design was to dense. I did prestarch the cotton with spray but I'll bet the liquid starch is much better.

2 comments

by bevgrift 30 Mar 2012

I always wash my new fabric in the wahing machine 40 degrees temp with detergent so if it is going to shrink it can do it now.
Then after drying on the line, iron and store for later use.

by bevgrift 30 Mar 2012

Then before sewing the design I dip the fabric, smaller piece, in a small container with the the fabric starch powder mixed with water. Iron dry.
Hugs Bev

Great tip. Thank you for sharing this info. I did not know this. Hugs, mary

great tip, you should send it to emblibrary!!!!!thanks****

This has been mentioned before and some found that the stabiliser was more inclined to pucker if one ironed, moving the iron, rather than just pressing, by raising and lowering the iron on one spot. This may help someone.

Fantastic tip... thank you :)

When my expensive iron finally broke after hitting the floor too many times I went to Amazon.com and bought the cheapest iron that had an automatic shut off I could find. $29 with free shipping and it works great! Panasonic NI-S300TR 1200-Watt Steam Iron with Curved Titanium-Coated Soleplate, White/Green
Nothing sticks to the soleplate - nothing - not even melted vilene! It's quick on too.

1 images:[1]

4 comments

by suelyn7 30 Mar 2012

I hate ironing!!!

by hightechgrammy 30 Mar 2012

I hate ironing clothes, but I love using my iron when sewing:-)

by kitty2011 30 Mar 2012

Ooo... thanks, I like the look of this iron :)

by airyfairy 30 Mar 2012

Sorry to say that ironing is my very best!!!!

Thanks for this hint. It is ages since I have used cutaway. I always use tearaway.

I wash the cut away before storing so it is pre- shrunk.
Also I use the powdered laudry starch (mix with water) to starch my mostly cotton fabric so it is nice and stiff to hold the Emb.
There is nothing worse than having an odd scrunch up block in a baby quilt.
The starched fabric is also nice for applique it makes such a diff, leaves the appli work nice and crisp and flatter.
So I pre shrink everthing then starch.
Hugs Bev

6 comments

by suelyn7 30 Mar 2012

That's a really neat tip thank you.

by hightechgrammy 30 Mar 2012

I'm glad to know that, thanks Bev!

by hightechgrammy 30 Mar 2012

How do you get the starch on, or in, the fabric? Do you spray it on? or soak it? how do you do it? thanks

by bevgrift 30 Mar 2012

The spray starch is quite expensive so after 3 cans I changed to the pwd laudry starch.I make it up with a tbls of starch powder and an 2lt IceCream tub of water, dip my fabric. Then with a towel down on the ironing board I press it dry and let it air before hooping.
For larger pieces I would do it in the tub. Don't do starching before storing as the bugs like it and maybe stain.

by bevgrift 30 Mar 2012

let it air before hooping.
For larger pieces I would do it in the tub. Don't do starching before storing as the bugs like it and maybe stain.

by bumblebee 30 Mar 2012

I'm late to conversation but how do you wash it by tossing into the wash machine?

What is the cut away stabilizer made of? I would not have thought about it shrinking!! I was just shopping for stabilizer last night, so thanks for the tip. I wonder if a sticky stabilizer might help keep the FABRIC from puckering and distorting the image. I thought I would order a small amount to give it a shot. I don't have any cut away stabilizer yet....

I'll have to try that!

I agree. But then I forget to iron it! But it sure can make an ugle design when it puckers!

WOW ! Thanks Jan ... good tip ! Do you have any tips on a new iron ??? My Rowneta seems to have a mind of its own now.. steams when it wants, shuts off when it wants, leaks water when you least expect it to ... I have had so many steam burns on my fingers since it developed its own mind ... It's only about 13 years old ...

4 comments

by gerryb 30 Mar 2012

Just got a new Shark iron. Does good...but haven't had it long! It is a little bit heavy, but who irons that much anyway!!

by obaachan 30 Mar 2012

Thanks ! I like a heavy iron ! will check a Shark out !

by bevgrift 30 Mar 2012

Tip for steam Iron: never use water from the tap, Use water that has been boiled and cooled, I use my geyser (from the hot tap) water.

by hightechgrammy 30 Mar 2012

I posted as an answer so I could add a photo. I give this iron 5 stars!

Dear Sarah,

That sounds logical, doesn't it? Glad it worked out well for you. Love and blessings Chris