ok Now that we know to use a denim needle for embroidery designs on recycled blue-jeans my next question is Stabilizer? Do I even need any stabilizer when doing embroidery on recycled denim? I figured it was heavy enough on it's own. Well asking this I best also ask about wss on the topside do I need it too? Normally wss is to keep it above the loft of the fabric but because denim has no loft it would sit on the surface anyway right? I am hoping to be able to sew full designs maybe a few redwork designs but for the most part filled designs

I prefer to NOT hoop most items, especially heavy fabrics like denim and towels. So I hoop a light tear away. Hugs. Nan W

1 comment

by pldc 16 Oct 2014

thank you Nan I will see how well it hoops & if not will try it the way you have mentioned. ~hugs~

Denim is a stable fabric. So unless your design is quite dense, no stabilizer (tear-away beneath, nor WSS on top) should be required.

1 comment

by pldc 16 Oct 2014

thank you AuntAnnie, I will check the stitch counts first

If using stretchy denim then a stabilizer is recomended I actually hoop the stabilizer and then pin the stretch denim to it but not stretch the fabric. but if useing the none stretch then just put the denim into the hoop and tighten. the thickness and density of the normal denim fabric is strong enough for you to be able to do that

4 comments

by pldc 15 Oct 2014

thanks so much. I am going to give it a try. ~hugs~

by noah 15 Oct 2014

I do the same as Annie ok

by katydid 15 Oct 2014

I agree

by airyfairy 15 Oct 2014

I also do the same Annie. I am always terrified of breaking a hoop when the fabric is too thick

If I use stabilizer on denim it is only a light stabilizer. Tear away or cutaway depends on what I am doing with the fabric when I finish stitching. Go have fun.. I love working with denim.

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by pldc 15 Oct 2014

thanks Karen, I hope to start it very soon. ~hugs~

When I first started doing machine emb., I didn't know about stabilizers or wss or bobbin thread -- so guess what I did not use! And the first thing I did make was a quilt for each of my youngest grands for their birthdays. Working on jean fabric for my first project turned out great. So now anytime I do anything on jean fabric, I don't use stabilizer or wss.

But experiment and see.

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by pldc 15 Oct 2014

sounds like what I was thinking too but it pays to double check. thanks Linda I really appreciate it. I want to make two for Christmas too

I don not use stabiliser unless the denim is the slightly stretchy type, not the original jeans. I never used wss on top, but sometimes the stitches do look a bit irregular due to the weave with that diagonal appearance. So maybe it might be worth experimenting a bit.

2 comments

by pldc 15 Oct 2014

well if you don't use it either that is good enough for me! Thanks Martine. I will try one & see how it works with out wss on top & maybe one with

by katydid 15 Oct 2014

I don't see any reason to use it on top. There is no nap. I would use a medium weight either tear away or cut away in the hoop. I no longer hoop my projects , only the stabilizer. Good luck with your project!!!