Ladies your advice please. When doing FSL do you cut the solvy/wash-away to fit your hoop. Meaning do you cut it so much larger than hoop size, or do you use the one big piece about 1 metre square. How is the best way to save on this product? To cut or not to cut. How do you go about this to save losing lots of solvy only to stitch it all together again with dissapearing thread (which is expensive also) or disolving it in water for a spray starch.

I use vilene - doubled (folded over) - for the size of the hoop. I add extra goodies (like charms) around the main piece so I don't waste - and then I have extra goodies when I need them!

You need to have 2 layers . Do not cut it Fold it and move it around so you can get multaple hoopings. Trim out the FSL close to the stitching when you have finished. To get multiple hoopings. I also add as many small designs around the main FSL piece. Do you have a 2x2 inch hoop I find it very useful for using up small pieces of water soluable. I make small flowers butterflys and bees for my cards. You will find rolls of WS cheeper in the long run. Hugs Joyce

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by kezza2sew 29 May 2012

never thought to bring out my tiny hoop, thanks for reminding me. I do have a lot of small fsl designs

Also if your stabilizer is big enough for your design but too small to hoop ,just zig zag some scrape stabilizer around the edges so it can be hooped successfully.see photo

1 images:[1]

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by pennyhal 30 May 2012

A picture is worth a thousand words! Thanks for the photo. Great idea!

I use 2 layers of WSS in a 8" squ hoop then place my design as close as I can to the bottom of the hoop & to the side,sew it out then place the next one as close as I can to the previous design .Sometimes I can manage 3 across the bottom & 1 turned on its side across the top of the hoop with a few sm flower centres filling in spaces before I unhoop .This works well for bookmarks or other straight sided designs.

My best friend is a stick of glue, water soluable craft glue. I trim my left over pieces and glue them together. I can then float it without the foot catching on the overlap. Works great if you are using 2 layers.

well eventually you will come to have your favorite way of doing this as well! You have alot of ideas here BUT to be cost effective THE BEST WAY TO BE COST EFFECTIVE IS THIS: I won for this tip @ DBS I always try to add as many things into the hoopas I can that usually means making some charms for every occassions! theyare great to add to cards & packages & hair ribbons you name it! this way you always get more bang for your buck & lets face it what else are you going to do with all of those piddly pcs

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by kezza2sew 29 May 2012

Now that is a great tip my dear. I will certainly take this on board, thanks heaps.

I cut my fsl larger than the hoop. I always double the wss and I also save the bigger left over pieces to use in the smaller hoop.
Meri

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by kezza2sew 29 May 2012

sounds good. thanks

I use 1 sheet of badgmaster and when necessary float another sheet of solve or scrap. I do all my work in batches, I cut for the biggest hoop and as the pieces get smaller, they go into smaller hoops.

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by kezza2sew 29 May 2012

thank you

I cut my WSS bigger than my hoop - I doulbe my WSS for my and almost 2 1/2 times what I need, usually - I place it in the hoop - get it tight and secrure - then pin the extra onto it's self - so that it doesn't flop around while embroidering. Once I am finished stitching - I cut close to the design - I use the next section and the next - usually having one section that I will have to double from the next time I use a 2 1/2 piece - if you get my drift or use it for a smaller hoop... When I do have left over pieces - I only save the big ones - something that I can float on top or under the hoop or use with my other embroidery as a topping for lettering.

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by noah 28 May 2012

I do the same as Shirlene :):)hugs

by kezza2sew 29 May 2012

thanks shirlene and noah. Had to read a few times to understand (got your drift) but thats sounds a great idea. think I will go with this tip.

I bought a big roll, about 600mm/24" wide and I cut off a length around a metre each time. I hoop starting in one corner, and if I'm doing a lot just keep moving the hoop along the width of the solvy, I hoop subsequent hoopings with the previous fsl just on the edge of the hoop. Then I'll cut off close to the fsl along the edge and do the same again. I also use it double, and use up the offcuts by slipping them under the hoop to get the double layer
I hope that makes some kind of sense.... it's hard to explain, I can see it in my head, but getting it to make sense in words.. well...

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by pldc 28 May 2012

me too & I understood you perfectly

by kezza2sew 29 May 2012

well I must have got into your head as I can see that to. all good ideas here so will use them and see what works best for me. I would not have just slipped it under one layer thought both layers would need to be hooped, I'll see how I go,and thank you all so much. My machine has had a service and I am into FSL doiles to put away for my GD's

by berrylious 29 May 2012

I do that also. It sure saves on WWS.