February 27, 2013

Put to good use


I enjoyed the stabilizer I reviewed in my last post so much I wanted to try it on something without batting. This time I photocopied some ginkgo leaves and embroidered some kitchen towels*. Love!


I did one denser than the other. I like the denser one better.


When I do free motion stitching on something that doesn't have batting, I find I need something on the backside so the stitches won't make the fabric pucker. I use a wash away stabilizer called Paper Solvy. I just cut the size I need from a sheet of paper, so one pack goes a long way.

Now the towels are being used in a happy new home. I love to see something I've made getting used. So much better than waiting in a drawer or on a shelf until it goes out of style. 

*photocopied in the fall when leaves were around, but not stitched until the new year. That's the sort of timeline I'm on right now! You understand.

February 13, 2013

Experiment


Objective: To quantify frustrations encountered with using a commercially available, sticky backed wash away stabilizer.


Background: The author's previous experience with a similar sticky backed product resulted in skipped stitches and grumbling. The author hypothesized that all sticky backed stabilizers were a terrible idea for free motion stitching and were for those people with embroidery machines.


Methods: Using a home printer, leaves were photocopied onto one sheet of the stabilizer. Leaf shapes were cut out and removed from the paper backing, then affixed to a quilt sandwich. The author stitched along the outlines and veins of the leaves, going over each line twice or more in a loose, sketchy manner. Skipped stitches and grumbling events were recorded.



Outcomes: Much to the author's surprise, no skipped stitches were encountered. The only grumbling happened when the author's child began her own experiment involving a paper bag and some water. The author's child eventually enjoyed matching the stitched versions of the leaves with their originals.


Discussion: This Wash Away Stitch Stabilizer* can be used without skipped stitches. The author sincerely recommends this product to sewists who like to finish things in a good mood. This study should be repeated using better fabric now that the author knows it won't be a disaster.


*C&T sent me the sample, but they didn't ask me to review it. I just wanted to share my good experience because who knows when you'll need something like this?