Help with an embroidery for quilt block question

Hi Elly, if your block size is smaller than the hoop - the stabilizer to use is the 'sticky'. Otherwise, I would use the 'tear-easy' one for your purpose. Totally stable was designed basically for use on knits or other stretchy fabrics; heat-away is meant for delicate embroideries where tearing a stabilizer away would distort the work - as in lace work or some open work techniques - the solvy is perfect to use for free-standing techniques or lacework, or to use on napped fabrics like towelling to keep the fibres from migrating through the embroidery motif. Solvy and Heat-away are usually 'topper' stabilizers while the others that you have, work underneath the embroidery. If you only wanted to hoop your block but stabilize under the area where your text will go - then you could also use the 'totally stable' pressed in place - it does tear away when finished. It is always a good idea to test out the effect of your embroidery on various stabilizers before deciding on the one that you like the most

- then buy lots of it! jennellh (@gmail.com)

Thank you Jennellh, I never thought of a hoop so thanks for that too. I'll have a few practice runs at it too on some scrap. Elly

Elly, using a hoop is a little awkard to maneuver but does a pretty job. Do you understand that you put the fabric in the hoop upside down? Well. Not exactly that. You want the fabric to be firmly down flat against the bed of the SM instead of raised up like it would be for hand embroidery. Clear as mud? Polly

Thank you Jennellh, I never thought of a hoop so thanks for that too. I'll have a few practice runs at it too on some scrap. Elly

Thanks for the reminder Polly. Yes I did know but haven't done it before so would have been fumbling around until the memory chip clicked in. I hope to give it ago sometime today later on as I've got lunch out with a non quilting friend today as it's her birthday. It's okay to use an ordinary hoop I hope as I don't have one specifically for a machine. I have tried using a hoop (quilting one) with some machine quilting once, so I guess an ordinary embroidery hoop should be okay.... Hmmm I think I answered my own question. Elly

On Tue, 4 Sep 2007 13:02:46 -0500, Elly wrote (in article ):

I'd say the Tear Easy would be stable enough if you're embroidering on cotton.

Maureen

If you are using a built-in alphabet in your machine, I assume you are working with the feed dogs up and a regular presser foot. In that case, I don't think you need a hoop.

Julia in MN

I always machine emb. my label for the quilt back, and just use Stitch 'n Tear under the fabric - no hoop, and it goes like a dream. I just tear the paper away at the end.

Thanks everyone for your inputs... I'm going to have a go.. fingers crossed.. Elly