I have 4 tote bags that I picked up at JoAnns that I would like to embroider for my daughter's bridesmaids but I have never worked with this fabric. It is like a microfiber with a little of a rubber like backing. Any tips as to needles or if it is even possible. I have a home machine so hooping may get tricky too. Thanks much!
I wouldn't want to actually put that fabric in the hoop. I'd be afraid it would leave hoop marks. I'd hoop a sticky back stabilizer, then place the part of the bag you want to embellish onto that then use a spray adhesive and put a med to heavy water-soluble stabilizer on top. Test a little spot somewhere to make sure that it won't water spot. Normally microfiber won't water spot but it wouldn't hurt to test first anyway. You might not even need to put a stabilizer over the top depending on how thick/heavy the knap is. The top stabilizer would only be to keep your stitches from sinking into the knap so if it's short enough you wouldn't need it. Maybe buy an extra bag for 'spearmenting' and then keep it for yourself ;)
I don't think I would even embroider directly on the bag....I would do the embroidery like a applique patch and glue it onto the bag. There are some very reliable glues on the market these days that would adhere the applique to the bag forever without any problems. I have done this type of glue-on applique patch on ball caps with great success. Good luck.
I would like to know what kind of glue you've used for the ball caps. Since they get hot and sweaty it's hard to find the right stuff to work with.
It is called "Liquid Stitch" and you can even machine wash & dry this glue. It drys clear so if you get some outside the edge of the design/patch, it doesn't show very much. That's what makes it so nice if it gets wet in the rain, etc it stays fixed. I thought about using it on umbrellas, but haven't gotten to that yet. It is distributed by Prym-Dritz Corporation and I believe I bought it at JoAnn's.
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