Freestanding embroidery

I looked in my txtfiles but everyone is talking about 40wt thread, they do talk about spray starch.

Dorothy, I've made a few FSL bowls , baskets and decorations. I have no problem with the stiffness and I haven't used any extra starch. What are you using for stabilizer? I am using some called H20 gone and when I ammaking a bowl or something that needs to be stiff I hoop 2 layers. They are a lot of fun to make aren't they? I usually do one of them on a day I am piecing at my SM that way I am not wasting time watching it stitch out. Feel free to ask me any more questions. Take out the first te and an extra l in my addy if you want to email off the group ...should read tbaytel.net Donna inNWOntario

What sort of stabilizer are you using? the thread for embroidery should remain as usual- but to get stiffness, you may need a good stabilizer. Fabric bowls require a very heavy stabilizer in them.

georg

I've made many embroidered bowls, using the regular 40 wt. thread. The secret's in the stabilizer, not the thread. I use 2 layers of badgemaster and don't wash it all out. If you get all the stabilizer out, they won't be as stiff. Gen

I usually buy mine at shows, such as the one in MI next week. I know Discount Embroidery on the web carries it, as do many other sites. Actually, the Ultra Solvy should work. They're about the same weight. Try

I have used Peltex and Timtex. Neither are water soluble! They are a very thick stabilizer, almost 1/8" thick. I've used this to make a purse and it's very very sturdy. I've used for fabric bowls and ATCs. They hold up very well.

I'd use something that isn't water soluble and is either really thick or many layers of it.

-georg

You use Peltex or Timtex for freestanding EMBROIDERY bowls. Interesting, especially since most of the ones I do are lace and that would defeat the whole purpose of the lace. Gen

I missunderstood. I'm sorry.

-georg

Also check out the fiber-based washaway stabilizers. They also wash completely away, but look more like stabilizer, not a film like Ultra Solvy. Vilene is probably the best-known brand. I use H20 Gone. These work well for freestanding lace and similar projects, and are easier to handle than the film types. At least I think so.

Iris

Dorothy, you don't need to get the badgemaster. The key is to not wash all the stabilizer out. You need to have the "goop" left to make the thread stiff. The more you wash out the limper the bowl will be. If you have rinsed too much, try leaving the bowl on whatever you have shaped it over. (Do put a layer or two of plastic or foil or something over the form first. ) Then coat with a couple of coats of something like Mod Podge. Let dry between coats. When dry the Mod Podge is permanent and you won't have to worry about the bowl getting wet or damp. Often times we are so used to rinsing out all of the stabilizer that we don't adapt well to not rinsing it out.

Good luck and congrats for experimenting with this "new" skill.

Pati, > Thanks everyone for all you help. I'll see if I can find