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From: Rosedanie
Date: 01-16-2006, 09:13 PM (1 of 12)
| Help, I am trying to make a quilt with embroidery squares. The fabric is puckering around the design and is distorting the squares. What am I doing wrong?? |
User: Rosedanie
Member since: 07-08-2005 Total posts: 10 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 01-16-2006, 09:30 PM (2 of 12)
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Are you stabilizing properly? When you embroider the fabric is drawing up in the center which will distort the outer edges of the block. Your stabilizer should counteract that effect if it is the right type, weight, and used properly.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: Rosedanie
Date: 01-16-2006, 09:50 PM (3 of 12)
| Thanks for the information, I am sure that is probably the problem. I am new at this and not sure what stabalizer to use. The fabric is cotton and I am using a tear away stabalizer under the design. Should I be using a stabalizer on the top as well? I am making this quilt for a friend, to be raffled off for charity and I want it to look nice, but I am getting frustrated with it. Any help will be greatly appreciated. |
User: Rosedanie
Member since: 07-08-2005 Total posts: 10 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 01-16-2006, 10:06 PM (4 of 12)
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The more dense the design the MORE stabilizer you use. Fabric and stabilizer MUST be DRUM tight in the hoop. You can always float more stabilizer on the bottom or top. For quilts I wouldn't use a solvy on the top, no need. I would use a med to heavy weight CUTAWAY for quilting. Tearaway is not always the best choice because a dense pattern will actually chew (as the needle punches) the stabilizer away and it's NOT enough to keep the pattern from puckering and being ' off line'. Too much stabilizer is better than not enough. You can always cut the excess away. But when I quilt. I leave the stabilizer on, if it's not obvious. That way your design will last through all the quilt washing, scrunching, etc. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: Rosedanie
Date: 01-16-2006, 10:15 PM (5 of 12)
| Thank you Chrys, what kind of cutaway stabalizer do you use? The tearaway I used is pretty heavy and I just floated it under the hoop. I am afraid I will break my hoop if I put it in the hoop with the fabric. I guess I am being too careful. I will try a cutaway stabablizer and put it in the hoop with the fabric to see if that helps. |
User: Rosedanie
Member since: 07-08-2005 Total posts: 10 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 01-16-2006, 10:39 PM (6 of 12)
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I don't know what machine you have but hoops are (supposed) to be pretty sturdy. Mine are...I use OESD. (cause my dealer has sales and such and I can get discounts.) But I also have some Simply Stable comes 100 sheets to a pack (8x8) I don't know who makes it, but I get it at my dealers too. I know Janome sells stabilizer. You can get all kinds...Floriani, OESD, Sulky... You can get it off the bolt too, if you wanna use that. (can't remember the company name now...they make inner facing and stuff....have for yrs..you can buy it everywhere..) Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: Rosedanie
Date: 01-16-2006, 10:47 PM (7 of 12)
| Ok, tomorrow I will get some cutaway stabalize. I work at WalMart so I will check out the different kinds they have. Thanks for all the info, I think your advice will help. |
User: Rosedanie
Member since: 07-08-2005 Total posts: 10 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 01-17-2006, 12:33 AM (8 of 12)
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The cutaway is the best to keep it stable but you can also use an iron on that is cutaway also. The more stable the less chance it will pucker. Also you can cut your square after the embroidery is sewn out making up for the loss in pucker. Try not to use too dense of designs when you need less pucker. The denser the design the more pucker as Kath said. I went to a conference with Walter Floriani and he said that emboridery should be on fabric like butter on bread. Not tight. The design must be able to move with the fabric. He knows his stuff. His website has a guide to go by to the correct way to stablize different fabrics. http://www.rnkdistributing.com/askkayly.shtml
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: CinneBunz
Date: 01-17-2006, 11:16 AM (9 of 12)
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I have also pulled my fabric too tight when I hooped it -stretching it- and then when I unhooped, it puckered around the design..-when it relaxed- Yes, it needs to be tight... but I was pulling it after hooping. Please don't think I'm saying this is your problem, 'cause stabilizer is usually the main reason for puckering.. Good luck with your quilt ... 
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User: CinneBunz
Member since: 11-05-2005 Total posts: 3 
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From: Rosedanie
Date: 01-17-2006, 09:35 PM (10 of 12)
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Thanks everyone, I bought cutaway stabalizer and tried it today. It worked alot better than the tearaway. Now all I have to do is get the time to finish the embroidery and then quilt it. Thanks again for your help.
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User: Rosedanie
Member since: 07-08-2005 Total posts: 10 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 01-17-2006, 10:06 PM (11 of 12)
If you're using stretchy fabric you don't hoop it. You hoop a sticky and lay the fabric on top. Cotton for quilts usually doesn't stretch and if it does, it's not all cotton. I NEVER hoop a stretchy fabric. 
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: paroper
Date: 01-18-2006, 04:16 AM (12 of 12)
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I noticed that you said that you initially did not hoop the stabilizer. It ALWAYS has to be hooped. You can spray and stick your product, but the stabilizer is made to resisit the normal pucker and stretch of the design as it is moved and stitched. It doesn't have the grainline problems of the fabric! As stated earlier, it needs to be drum tight. It reminds me of the military style made bed where you can bounce a coin off the bed. To avoid stretching your fabric, you may want to spray and pin baste the fabric as suggested by Chrys. When getting your stabilizer tight, you don't want to stretch your fabric. I would also suggest that you be sure that you are using a sharp embroidery needle. A universal or ball point will not pierce the fabric as cleanly. I would also go for the cut away stabilizer. I don't use tear away often because it does break down. I realize this post is late, sorry, but perhaps it will help if not now, later. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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