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From: Ria
Date: 03-04-2006, 02:15 PM (1 of 12)
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All you new embroiderers out there have to read this one...all you seasoned ones get out your kleenex..You'll have a good laugh..LOL.. I was sewing some watercolor leaves on a pale yellow towel...very pretty design...I was using for the first time the sticky back stabilizer "peel N stick" before I got the peel n stick I was loosely basting my towels to the stabilizer and it only took a few minutes and it was a great system...but I have to learn new things...so I bought the sticky stuff....my needle kept breaking...my thread kept breaking...it was awful...I wondered how long I would continue to sew like this as my blood pressure was going up for sure...  I finally gave up and took the hoop off and tore off the darned sticky stuff which I now hate with a vengeance..this has got to be bad for the machine...I kept brushing off the fuzz and cleaning the needle as I went along but it was no use...so like I said...I took the hoop off the machine removed the sticky stuff and layed out my nice soft clean stabilizer and put the towel on and basted it....well...when I put the hoop on ( yeah...I know you seasoned embroideres are really laughing at me now...of course the machine lost its place...how could I possibly get the towel in the exact place it was before....throw the towel out or try to finish...I was determined if nothing else to learn a good lesson from this so I turned my needle towards me to where it left off...removed all the basting and towel and tried to find where I left off..then just pinned the towel around the edges of the nice clean soft backing....I was amazed at how close I got...it is not something I would give away as a gift but it is really pretty...the only place it really mattered was when the veins in the leaves were being stitched and when the stem was being done and it was a tiny tiny bit off...I was really amazed that the towel was salvaged...well you are probably all laughing now...I learned a lesson...How do you people deal with that sticky stuff...I HATE it....have a good day ladies...I'm back off to do another towel..... Ria
Ria
"Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them" (Oliver Wendell Holmes) Brother 6500.....Brother 8060......PED Basic... Embird...... |
User: Ria
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 121 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 03-04-2006, 09:29 PM (2 of 12)
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I LOVE sticky...but you have to be careful what brand you buy and what weight it is...I buy OESD Stab-Stick Tearaway. (I buy mostly OESD stabilizer). For spray I use Sulky KK 2000. (it doesn't have a bad smell or goo up your hoops/needles.) It just takes time and practice with all the 'stuff' you gotta have to make pretty things...I've been working at it (by machine) for 4 yrs now. (my mother taught me to hand embroider when I was 5). Trust me...I've made MORE mistakes on simple things, than on the more elaborate ones... Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: Ria
Date: 03-05-2006, 09:49 AM (3 of 12)
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Thanks so much Chrys. I wish I had known that before I bought this..I got it from Kens online and it is called Peel N Stick...I will try the OESD and sulky spray before I completely give up on stickies..LOL...I appreciate your help very much....Ria
Ria
"Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them" (Oliver Wendell Holmes) Brother 6500.....Brother 8060......PED Basic... Embird...... |
User: Ria
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 121 |
From: Linda L
Date: 03-05-2006, 07:32 PM (4 of 12)
You mentioned you were embroidering a towel. Did you put a clear water soluable stabilizer on top of the towel? If not, your needle could have been getting caught in the loose threads of the towel. They will break if you do that. With clear stabilizer on top of the towel, this prevents that and it allows the embroidery to lie on top of the towel very nicely. If not it could get lost in the loose threads that make up the towel.  I am not familiar with the brand of sticky stabilizer you used. So not sure if that is the culprit or not. That's just my two cents worth. Glad you were able to save the towel somewhat. 
Linda LaMona
"Change is the only constant thing in life" |
User: Linda L
Member since: 02-11-2006 Total posts: 9 
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From: paroper
Date: 03-05-2006, 08:52 PM (5 of 12)
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I only use the sticky backed stabilzer with the GHIA. Otherwise, I use 505 and something else. I quite often even use an aqua mesh on the back of towels.
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 |
From: Ria
Date: 03-05-2006, 09:19 PM (6 of 12)
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Hi Linda, yes I used Clear N Melt on top and that was great...the stitching came out so beautifully..it all stayed on top of the loops...the only problem I had was with the sticky...I did many towels today and did it my old fashioned way of med weight stabilizer under and clear n melt on top and just pinned it all around on the hoop being careful that the pins did not interfere with the needle...it was a great sewing day...I got a lot done my way LOL....but I will try some of the ones you guys are using on here since you are more seasoned at embroidery than I...thanks much.... Ria
Ria
"Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them" (Oliver Wendell Holmes) Brother 6500.....Brother 8060......PED Basic... Embird...... |
User: Ria
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 121 |
From: Ria
Date: 03-05-2006, 09:22 PM (7 of 12)
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Hi Pam...I will keep all those things in consideration and try them..I have seen the mesh on the net when ordering supplies but I have no clue what it is or how to use it...I will order some...I need to try new things and learn as I go along. So far my darling brother 6500 has been good to me...I hate to gum it up...I take such good care of it and clean it often...I love this machine and cannot see any reason I would ever want to upgrade unless I need a bigger sewing field...thanks much...you ladies help me so much on here...Bless you all....Ria
Ria
"Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them" (Oliver Wendell Holmes) Brother 6500.....Brother 8060......PED Basic... Embird...... |
User: Ria
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 121 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-05-2006, 10:14 PM (8 of 12)
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The Aqua Mesh looks is light weight and soft but strong. It looks a little bit like finely perforated paper. When you dampen it, it disappears. I know that a lot of people say not to use water soluable on towels but I do. I always wash towels if they are inexpensive and 100% cotton so the towel won't shrink when it is washed. If it is dark, I don't wash and I usually use a different type of stabilizer like a tear away or a good cut away. If I use a cut away I use black on dark towels and cut it really close. When it comes to towels, I always wash them before I use them anyway because they are more absorbent so I don't feel bad if I wash towels before I give them away. I don't think dark towels are as pretty after they are washed so I don't wash them before I give them away.
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 |
From: Ria
Date: 03-06-2006, 11:57 AM (9 of 12)
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Thanks Paropler , I sure do appreciate your help... Ria
Ria
"Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them" (Oliver Wendell Holmes) Brother 6500.....Brother 8060......PED Basic... Embird...... |
User: Ria
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 121 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-06-2006, 12:10 PM (10 of 12)
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You're welcome.
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 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 03-11-2006, 01:16 AM (11 of 12)
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Thanks Ria for the laugh today. Not that I was laughing at you, but I've been in your shoes really recently and I swear I was ready to throw the silly machine into the garbage along with all the threads, cards, etc, etc. It certainly is a learning experience, doing embroidery, but all in all I am quite liking it too. I did almost the same thing on a bib and I did end up tossing it out. Then I did a great job on my GD tshirt I was embroidering, but then when I cut out the fabric, I cut too close to the embroidery and didn't have enough room to put the facing on without taking off the edge of the pattern. Live and learn!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Ria
Date: 03-11-2006, 09:14 AM (12 of 12)
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Hi Laura...I agree that nothing teaches lessons better than these bad experiences....although at the time we don't appreciated the learning end of it all LOL...I have learned so much from things gone wrong...and the funny thing is these are the ones you NEVER forget.....It's just so great that we have more "good" experiences than "bad"....I mean...I don't have to really learn that much do I? LOL....I am lucky I have not had to throw anything out yet...but if I do...it will be well worth the lesson learned....Right?..thanks for the reply....I love sharing with the people on this board...have a great day...Ria
Ria
"Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them" (Oliver Wendell Holmes) Brother 6500.....Brother 8060......PED Basic... Embird...... |
User: Ria
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 121 |
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