Questions from a Machine Embroidery Virgin.

[Bodgeitandscarper]

Do you need the wss on the top?  I generally only use it if the fabric has a pile to stop the embroidery sinking into the pile.

[Iminei]

I also have a pack of Avalon that you so kindly gave me when I picked up my box of dreams ... sorry ... threads.

So what are we saying, which one is good?

I need the soluble on top as the fabric has a slightly more open weave than a plain cotton and I found when I embroidered the label for Kenoras cushion in a swap that the threads sort of disappeared a bit.



linky

BTW I put one of the mugrats into my machine for a rinse and spin yesterday and its come out lovely, just needs a quick iron ... so maybe thats the way to go ... quick rinse after they're completed!

[Celia]

That sounds good to me, I wasn’t sure if I gave you the Avalon pack or not, that is my favourite for on the top of difficult fabrics.
I do use the more material type of water soluble but not usually as a topper, love it for free standing lace.

[Elnnina]

I used Avalon soluable on my daughter's wedding veil - this was a very last minute request as originally she was not going to have a veil.  I bought some tulle and scalloped this and then she wanted the edging that I had used on all her underpinnings, a pretty scallop stitch from my Elna SU stitched over two pieces of perle thread No.5.  I used the Avalon underneath so that the tulle wouldn't get caught up with the feed dog,  and just used narrow strips around the scallops.  I then just dabbed the scallops with water over the tulle and patted this area dry with a towel.  I did not want to run the risk of immersing the veil in a bowl of water and perhaps get the fine holes of the tulle filled with the wet avalon - it worked like a dream

[Iminei]

Well Im pleased to say that the rinse and spin after finished has worked beautifully ....



linky

I now need to talk about stabilisers and suppliers ... general and more specifically I need a heavyweight soluble for freestanding butterflies.

[Ohsewsimple]

They look great @Iminei
Like @Bodgeitandscarper I wouldn’t use a topper on a linen, only fabric with a pile.  With a loose weave you need to change the font itself to a bolder one which will give more coverage. 

[Bodgeitandscarper]

They are lovely, well done!

[Lowena]

@Iminei do you actually have to do anything to get those designs...like fmq? Or does the machine do it all on its own? What I mean is, could you tweak it as you go along? Do you move the fabric around?
I'm asking because I like doing embroidery and wondered if there were any limitations with a specialist machine

[Acorn]

Once it's all set up the machine does it automatically, you just have to change the thread colours as required.  The hoop is attached to an arm that moves the fabric around underneath the needle.

[Celia]

When I do free standing lace I use 2 layers of the fabric type water soluble like Avalon plus, I find this works better than the really thick plastic stabiliser.
I find the really thick one can tear and then we all know what happens, also be very careful if you change the size of freestanding embroidery.

[Lowena]

Thank you @Acorn  ,so you have little actual input once it is set up?

[fajita]

You getting tempted, @Lowena ?

[Lowena]

Well @fajita I am....except....I have no room for one, I am not tecchy and, if it did it all for you, I wouldn't think it was my work plus... I wouldn't know what to use it for. But ...I love gadgets, I love embroidery and I love new things....hmmm 

[Acorn]

Once it's set up you can leave it to get on with it.  You may need to rethread it if the thread breaks, change the bobbin when it runs out, and change the colours when necessary. 

But you will be responsible for choosing the fabric, the design, the colours, the placement etc, and for setting it up correctly with the stabiliser in the hoop.  You can bet that if Iminei and I were to do the same embroidery design, the end results would be far from identical.

[Lowena]

Thanks for that information @Acorn ,very helpful