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From: LadySloPokes
Date: 05-19-2006, 02:45 PM (1 of 17)
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I have come up with an idea for a Christmas present for my darling GS using my embroidery machine. I want to make him a patchwork quilt using flannel blocks. Each block would be embroidered with a different design using cars, trucks, cartoon characters, Elmo, etc. My questions are: 1) Does flannel fabric embroider well, or do I need to do something other than just hooping it well? 2) What kind of stabilizer is recommended for use with flannel? 3) Would I need to use a top cover with flannel like you do for terrycloth? When it comes time to assemble all of the blocks, backing and batting, you'll see my questions in the Beginner Quilting forum--LOL! Any assistance and guidance is, as always, greatly appreciated!  Cookie 
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198 
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From: paroper
Date: 05-19-2006, 03:58 PM (2 of 17)
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As far as embroidery, the flannel should be fine. However, I would really prewash it. Since embroidery has a strong tendancy to make the design draw and because flannel is prone to shrinkage, I would use a really good stabilizer, probably 2 layers of polymesh after I had preshrunk my flannel. Try it one scrap but I don't think that you'll need a topper. You'll know pretty quick if I am wrong. There are a few little things to poke up but my thought it that they are insignificant. There are others who would always err on the side of caution and use it.
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: Jeke
Date: 05-19-2006, 04:36 PM (3 of 17)
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I would also make sure to use a good quality flannel with a tight weave. J Jay
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User: Jeke
Member since: 11-10-2004 Total posts: 232 |
From: chris b
Date: 05-19-2006, 07:50 PM (4 of 17)
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Besides the other great advice, make sure that you cut your squares larger than they need to be when embroidering and trim them to size after embroidering. It will be much easier to get in the hoop and because embroidery does shrink the fabric you won't end up with too small of quilt squares.
Pfaff 2170,Pfaff 7570,Elna 945
Singer 301A,Singer Redeye,Singer 15 HC Simplicity 2/3/4 Pfaff Creative 3-D digitizing,3-D Fabric Decorator Pfaff PCDMac2.2 StitchBunnyPro,FlutterWhumper Embird,Studio,cross stitch, EQ5....and adding all the time! |
User: chris b
Member since: 01-10-2001 Total posts: 109 |
From: LadySloPokes
Date: 05-20-2006, 11:26 AM (5 of 17)
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Thank you for your advice ladies! Pam, I do prewash all of my fabrics before I use them (learned my lesson well in that department). Would you suggest that I prewash the flannel twice before cutting and embroidering it? My intention is to use solid color fabric so the designs will show up nicely. I was at Joann's last night to look at their flannel, and one of the employees' told me that some of the lighter thinner flannel might not do as well as a medium weight one will. I wasn't aware that there was a difference, but it's something to keep in mind. As for the size of the blocks, yes I will be cutting the fabric bigger to begin with so there won't be any hooping issues. After each block is done, I'm going to cut them to 4"x4" each. The rest of my plans belong in another forum. If anyone has any other suggestions, fire away--I'm all ears! (er, eyes...) 
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198
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From: paroper
Date: 05-20-2006, 12:03 PM (6 of 17)
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The former owner of my dealership is a retired home ec teacher who sold the business to her child. Over the last several years, her favorite area of construction has become quilts. She says that all quilt backgrounds, regardless of fabric type should be printed. She says that a subtile print adds richness to the quilt. She also says that you should buy high grade 100% cotton for a quilt that you want to last and use a good grade of 100% cotton thread. It has to do with the tightness of the weave and stability.
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: chris b
Date: 05-20-2006, 11:03 PM (7 of 17)
If you cut them 4" x4" you will end up with 3.5" finshed squares so my advice is to cut them 4.5" if you want a finished 4" sqaure....don't forget the seam allowances! 
Pfaff 2170,Pfaff 7570,Elna 945
Singer 301A,Singer Redeye,Singer 15 HC Simplicity 2/3/4 Pfaff Creative 3-D digitizing,3-D Fabric Decorator Pfaff PCDMac2.2 StitchBunnyPro,FlutterWhumper Embird,Studio,cross stitch, EQ5....and adding all the time! |
User: chris b
Member since: 01-10-2001 Total posts: 109 |
From: DawnP
Date: 05-27-2006, 02:25 AM (8 of 17)
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Some advice: don't hoop the flannel. Use a sticky stabilizer or spray adhesive and just place the flannel on top of the stabilizer. The hoop will mark your flannel. You can always add more stabilizer under the hoop if you think you'll need it. The more dense the design, the more stabilizer you'll need. Make sure you sew a test square first. Flannel is very good for a rag quilt, too. It ravels very nicely. There are so many beautiful flannels out there now! There is a fossil fern type print that is perfect for what you want to do, in very pretty colors. I'm sure your GS will love it! Dawn |
User: DawnP
Member since: 08-15-2002 Total posts: 39 
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From: vickit
Date: 05-28-2006, 03:19 PM (9 of 17)
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I recently made quite a few burp cloths for a new mom out of flannel. I did a lot of embroidery on them and it worked great. First, yes, prewash it. I prewashed mine twice in very hot water since flannel will shrink and then dried in the dryer after each washing to be sure it was really shunk well. For stabilizer, I used a tear away and it worked great. For the items I made, however, the stabilizer wasn't a problem since I also was enclosing it inside where it wouldn't be seen. I had no problems with any type of burn marks from hooping it either. After unhooping them I just hit the fabric with a steam iron and they were great. Here's a few pictures of the things I made using the flannel.(I hope they will showup since I've never posted pictures here before) http://tinyurl.com/qrc2j http://tinyurl.com/qfgtw http://tinyurl.com/q6dx9 |
User: vickit
Member since: 05-01-2006 Total posts: 2 |
From: LadySloPokes
Date: 05-29-2006, 06:02 PM (10 of 17)
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You ladies are awesome! I truly appreciate the tips and advice you've been so kind to share here. Dawn, I'm not sure I completely understand how to do the embroidery without using the hoop, but I will look in to it. I still am trying to find some spray adhesive but it seems to be very expensive. Vicki--I love the burb cloths! You did a great job on them! I was going to use medium weight cut-away stabilizer for the designs. Does tear-away work better? Will it hold the embroidery designs for a long time? One more question: what's the difference between quilters flannel and garment flannel? I bought some quilters flannel at my local Hancocks store and it seems much thicker and denser that other flannel that I have. Can it be embroidered too? Again my thanks to one and all!  Cookie
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198
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From: paroper
Date: 05-29-2006, 06:59 PM (11 of 17)
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The spray adhesive is expensive but you don't use much, just spritz lightly on the stabilizer. The quilters' flannel is heavier, better made, will last longer and won't shrink or sag as much...is much more stable. It is worth the investment. 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: vickit
Date: 05-30-2006, 08:31 AM (12 of 17)
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Thanks for the compliments on the burp cloths. For these items I have just used the tear away because it's just easier and they are being sewn inside. Some of the burp cloths I have done I used a batting in the center also because just using the flannel made them really absorbant and the batting gave a bit more thickness in them. I also bought some thin vinyl which will be sewn in the center of some others that I'll be doing as a test. So far the woman that got all those I have done has had good luck with washing and no problems with the stability of the designs. To answer your confusion on how to embroider without hooping. I've done it this way, and there are probably a few other ways some others will give. I'm sure there's quite a few different ways to do things. I hoop the stabilizer and then use a small amount of the spray adhesive to attach the fabric to the stabilizer. The hoop is already on the machine ready to go and you just lay the fabric over top pushing it down onto the stabilizer. One hint that my Viking dealer gave me was to be sure and cover your hoops so the spray won't cause any sticky buildup on them. There are things you can buy to remove that stickiness but I prefer to protect them so I don't have to clean them later. Then, on my machine I just have to hit "fix" and it will do a basting stitch around the entire outside of the design area of the design I'll be stitching out. By doing that it adhere's the fabric smoothly to the stabilizer and you're all set to run the embroidery. I'm sure there are similar things that you can do the same with other machines. Mine is a Designer I. |
User: vickit
Member since: 05-01-2006 Total posts: 2 |
From: paroper
Date: 05-30-2006, 09:40 AM (13 of 17)
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You don't want to get a lot of adhesive buildup in or around your machines or computer. Be sure that you spray it well away from there. Use newspaper or a box to catch the overspray. Try to avoid breathing it too much because many of my friends with asthma had problems around it. It can really coat your glasses if you are doing a lot of projects. I would think that laying a burp rag on an attached hoop wouldn't pose much of a problem but for larger projects I wouldn't attempt it. I think that you'd find that it would just add to the frusteration of trying to get the item properly centered. Be sure that you do use some sort of attachment besides the spray. The weight of the portion of the garment not being embellished can pull it loose from the hoop easily and it can really mess things up. When you attach, if you don't hoop baste, pin baste CLOSELY around the edges to avoid pulling. Some fabrics adhere better than others. THis is just really good insurance. 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: LisaMercer
Date: 06-04-2006, 08:06 PM (14 of 17)
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OESD has a stabilizer that you wet to activate the adhesive and I like to use this when I'm not hooping the fabric.I think it comes in tearaway and cutaway. It may come in different weights too.
Lisa
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User: LisaMercer
Member since: 01-13-2003 Total posts: 2 |
From: ClareSS
Date: 06-05-2006, 10:15 AM (15 of 17)
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When not hooping the fabric, I either use spray adhesive to fix the fabric to the hooped stabilier, OR, I hoop adhesive stablizer, then use a needle to score the area a little larger than the size I want to embroider, remove the paper, then press the fabric on to that. As far as print or solid, I'd go with the solid so the embroidery shows up better. I'm rather surprised that an experienced quilter would say all quilt backgrounds, regardless of fabric type should be printed. I have one thing to say about that...Amish quilts! They make theirs almost exclusively in solid colored fabrics and they sell for hundreds and thousands of $. |
User: ClareSS
Member since: 04-05-2006 Total posts: 17 |
From: paroper
Date: 06-05-2006, 10:28 AM (16 of 17)
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She uses tone on tone prints.
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: LadySloPokes
Date: 06-11-2006, 09:31 AM (17 of 17)
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Well, I think I have all the flannel I'm going to need for this adventure. I have already washed it all and it's ready to get cut for hooping. I went to my Singer store on Friday, and my lady there said to use a fusible mesh for the designs, cutting it the same size as the block and keeping it on the block. She said that this will strengthen the thinner flannel blocks while holding the design in place. She also said that it shouldn't add too much bulk to the 1/4" seams. I bought a roll of the Floriani Fusible while I was there (good thing too-it was the last one she had), so I'm ready to start planning out the designs and gathering the embroidery thread that I'm going to need. One step at a time...
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198
|
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