I have been working on a quilt block and some of it has alittle pucker around the embroidery. I used tear away stabilizer. Do you think that it was because my stabilizer was not heavy enough?

I forgot to say you can baste stitch or tack the fabric some machines have this ability will hold the fabric taut..

1 comment

by berny 13 May 2012

hooping could also be the problem.

I don't quilt - but if I did - I surely would use a spray starch on my quilt block - there is a great one that you can buy at most quilt stores called "MaryEllen's Best Press - The clear Starch Alternative." I live to buy the scent-free in the 16 fl ox size. I use it alot in my FSL (free standing lace) too.

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This quilt I am doing now,I have used totally stable this irons on the fabric but is tearaway,with hooped tearaway,the embroidery is very heavy with appliqué the results are good,also spray starch fabric.it would also depend on what you are doing,I have used tacky tearaway when I cannot hoop the fabric with pellon H630 ironed on the back its like a very fine batting.

Hi, I have found a solution that works for my quilts.I hope you get to try it and have beautiful pucker free blocks.

So many aspects come into play here. It's really annoying, isn't it, to put the work into something beautiful and then find it's puckered or shrunk overnight. Some of the best embroidery I've done were the first attempts at large sunflower designs for tote bags - all done before I knew there were going to be issues along the way... beginner's luck!!
If you are going to quilt around the design the puckering probably won't be obvious.
Remember not to stretch the fabric too tight in the hoop because it will go back to its original size when released from the hoop - taut but not tight.
If you are really worried about the puckering try the design again, loosen the top tension just a little, slow the machine speed down a little, hoop the stabiliser and don't stretch it and then pin or spray glue the fabric onto the stabiliser (without hooping it). It's worth a try, anyway.
I don't hoop very much of my fabric at all - I either pin it in place or use a spot of glue stick at the four corners before I baste the fabric ('Fix' button on my machine) onto the stabiliser and sometimes I use a quick shot of spray glue.
Everyone has worked out the best way that suits her embroidery machine, usually by a lot of trial and error. Of course, the errors can often be used, too... :}
AlmaG.

If you haven't preshrunk your fabric that could be a problem also. I wash and dry almost all my fabric. If you like it stiff use some starch and iron.

Well try spraying it with water and iron it on the wrong side of course??Most of my quilts have puckers but no one notices unless its a person who like to criticize others hugs Carolyn

some good advice here! sometimes when you quilt it the puckering will dissappear.

I don't think I've ever seen a quilt that did not have some puckering. Quilt weight fabric is very difficult to embroider on and not have puckers. A lot will depend on the density of the design too. The first thing I'd do is iron it, face down on a terry cloth towel using steam, and see if the puckers disappear. If the puckers disappear, then your stabilizer is probably ok.

I have had this, now I use thicker cut away now, it could be your hooping. but if you put a photo, cuties that have been embroidering a lot longer than me, will help im sure.
Hugs Pam.