Lousy with Lace....What am I doing wrong?

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Try using the same weight Embroidery thread in the top and in the bobbin and see if you get a better stitch out.

Most FSL is done with the same weight, 40 weight embroidery thread, Rayon or Polyester in the top and bobbin.

EastWitch2

I use two layers of WSS and never stretch it in the hoop but just pull it in enough not to wrinkle. Then I never stitch too many designs on one hooping. I also strenghthen my hoop by covering it with tape or I use carpet lining to put around the edge so that the stabilisers do not move. Hope this helps.***

I think if you are using the fabric type of water soluble stabilizer for these baby sandals you may want to use 2 layers of the water soluble stabilizer as they look to have a lot of stitches in them.
EastWitch2

1 comment

by joansatx 02 Jun 2012

There were so many stitches. I'm glad you commented on that. I have hope that other designs I try will be better because of fewer stitches!Thank you

I use strips of Shelf Liner adhered to the bottom of my inner hoop with Wonder Tape that is a 2 sided water soluble tape and this holds my water soluble stabilizer taut in the hoop and it will not slip or be pulled into the hoop while I stitch.

I leave this on all my hoop for all embroidery.

Here is the link to the Criswell Website showong hoe to apply the Shelf Liner Strips and the Wonder tape to your hoops.
This will work for the fabric type water soluble or the film type water soluble stabilizers.
You can click on each picture for a close up look of each.

You can buy the Shelf Liner at most dollar stores or stores such as Walmart.

The Wonder Tape is found in Fabric or Quilting stores or machine dealer stores in the Notions section. It is also sold online if you do a search for it.
This works really great!

EastWitch2

1 comment

by joansatx 02 Jun 2012

Thank you! I'm going to try the shelf liner.

This was 5x7 hoop with a new needle,size 40 thread on top and 60 in the bobbin and 2 layers of
Wet N Gone by Floriani. I was very surprised that it was the first of the 4 that was the worst. I kept stitching to find out what would happen. The bottom right was the first. The top left was second. I know it wasn't because it was the center of the hoop because the second one did better. Thank you for all your suggestions. I will read them all again and see if I just keep not "hearing" something you say! I'm soooooo trying not to get discouraged.

Joan, it is so hard with FSL - most designers recommend that you don't add multiples in one hooping and you can see the the base the the outside of the shoe have a different density - so putting the bottoms in one hoop and the tops in another - might get you the results you are looking for - or better yet - with one that is this dense - try just doing it in a hoop that is closest to the size of the design - only because it is so dense.

Good luck dear - I also use two layers of WSS (Water Soluable Stabilizer) - the same thread in the top and bobbin - I change my needles out - every 8 hours.

1 comment

by joansatx 01 Jun 2012

O thanks!. You must've been writing while I was updating.Thanks for your thread hint and similar designs in one hoop.

I have always used my biggest hoop for FSL but you have to watch that the stabilizer doesn't start to split when the needle pierces it. I use 2 layers of Badgemaster and don't pull it tight after you get it in the hoop. If it is a bit loose it's better because it will "give" a little and won't start to split on it's own. I've made those baby shoes before and they are sew cute.
Donna

4 comments

by joansatx 01 Jun 2012

I haven't yet tried Badgemaster and how taunt it should be is a mystery for me. I will try to get it even and not move it once the hoop is together.Thanks for those tips!

by bnilla9241 02 Jun 2012

Make sure you do NOT stretch the Badgemaster. I did and lost an entire FSL project after it was rinsed. Great stuff when used correctly.
Hope you get to try Badgemaster.

Hugs, Bonnie

by joansatx 02 Jun 2012

Oh! I "see" your point.No stretching.Got it,now. Thank you!

by tilde01 02 Jun 2012

vnilla9241 if you lost our fsl project, it wasn't due to the Badgemaster, it was due to not being correctly digitized.

I see what you mean-it looks like the outline stitch has separated. The problem is your stabilizer is shifting in the hoop.
1. To many pieces close together can tug the stabilizer just enough for this to happen
2. FSL is not forgiving to stabilizer shifting in the hoop. You can try different methods to help keeping it from moving.
a. Smaller hoop and less pieces per hooping
the larger the hoop and more pieces the more chance of shifting
b. If using a larger hoop 6x10 use a minimum of 2 pieces of stabilizer.
c. You can wrap painters tape around the hoop to increase grip and some use other things but I've only done the tape. Maybe someone can pipe in on other ways.
Don't be discouraged it happens to all of us at one time or another.
Thats why the rule for FSL is to use smallest hoop for the design but I like to cheat and break the rules and I make sure the pieces are not to close to each other and not to close to the edges and use
2 or sometimes 3 pieces of Vilene and tape the hoop.
Hope this helps a bit.
Hugs
Linda aka Bumblebee

1 comment

by joansatx 01 Jun 2012

AhHa! painters tape. I have some! Thank you. Thanks for your list of information,too. I'm trying not to be discouraged...thanks for encouraging words.

If you have too many in one hooping it can pull the stabilizer out of place. That may be why the 2nd one did not stitch as well.

1 comment

by joansatx 01 Jun 2012

Thank you. I guess the stabilizer WAS moving! Thank you. Thanks for helping!

You may need to change to a new needle after stitching a couple of pieces of these 4 designs.

It may be that your water soluble stabilizer is slipping in the hoop while you stitch. This is what I see on the bottom right design pieceas it appears the final outline stitches are not lining up to the rest of the design.

Could you be more specific about what is not stitching out right for you?

How many layers of water soluble are you stitching on?

2 comments

by eastwitch2 01 Jun 2012

It is hard to tell what on the photos.
Can you take a close up picture of the problem piece?

by joansatx 01 Jun 2012

I'm using the soft fabric type instead of the plastic feeling type. The main issue is that only part of the final outline doesn't cover all the threads. Inconsistent!Thank you for helping!