Ann The Gran Community

For those of you who have sewn on silk or cotton  'fabric'  before...is there one brand name you'd recommend? (I have heard Kona black is great for quilters for example.) What do you machine embroiderers LOVE to use?

The fabric you choose to embroider will usually be determined more by its end use than by a brand name .  I have used everything from hankerchif linen to silk to terry cloth to denim to cotton duck to felt to fleese to satin  to vinyl.  I find ANY fabric can be embroidered successfully when combined with the correct stablizer.  I have worked on everything from sheers to card stock-- many bought from the dollar table at Walmart.  With designs that are appropriate for weight of the fabric (not too dense a stitch count) the proper stablizer and the correct needle try them all.  When in doubt, stitch a sample first.

I'm using Kona black for my embroidered blocks for the "Beyond Color Purple" quilt I'm making.  Worked well.   But, I just discovered Michael Miller's Jet Black Fairy Frost.  It is beauuuutiful!   Of course I found it after I'd completed the blocks.  Just may have to make another one.  It's more expensive, but is wonderful fabric - as is all of the Fairy Frost line.

I don't have a brand, but I really enjoy using denim and canvas like materials.

They are easy to use because they hold their shape; they don't need a lot of stabilizer, just something to keep it in place, and they have great coloration for sharpness of design. 

I often use them for my 'test sew out' if they meet my project requirements and I find that they can be just great on their own.  I sell some of my work (see my profile) and I will send the 'test out' with the order.  I give instructions as to how to 'frame' the 'test out' so that the people can have a little something to have in an empty corner of their home. 

Pat

I will sew on anything that isn't nailed down,but I prefer denim,canvas or canvas like fabric. I found some canvas like fabric and just love it for making embroidery that I am going to frame for a gift. I sew on a lot of cotton as well.I make baby quilts for  family members,and cotton is soft and washes well for kids.

But mostly anything is fair game,LOL.

Hey Pat, what fabric do you sugest for quilt blocks. I am using muslin as of now, but it is very light and may be causing some of my puckering problems, don't know yet. It is very hot here in Ala now also, just under 100%

Mary

Hi Mary,

I use muslin for a lot of my squares for redwork to be used for quilts.  Muslin does come in different weights so maybe you have a very thin muslin.  I have run into some muslins that actually were very close to cheesecloth; very thin.

Try placing a water soluble stabilzier on top of the muslin piece if you continue with the same weight.  I also use Kona cotton for embroidering and a very good manufacturer of muslin would be Moda.  If you utilize a lot of muslin in sewing and embroidering, various sites offer Moda muslin by the bolt - usually 10 yards for a good price.

Joan/NJ

Mary - I don't do quilting, but I would think that you would have success with a cotton-polyester blend.  I personally like that fabric because it is durable and generally remains wrinkle free. 

I would love to see your projects.  I feel that I don't have the patience for quilting because of the time involved.  But, I have certainly seen some wonderful quilts and am in total awe of anyone who does this time-honored craft.  

I know that embroidery has been found in artifacts that are 3,000 years old (where they survived!) but I think quilting must be much older.  After all, we get cold and need covers, whereas the embellishment followed soon after I am sure.

Show Me The Quilting!!

Pat

Oh Pat, gonna have to buck ya here.  Maybe other quilting ladies will come forward in this as well.  For me:

No polyester in quilting.  Only 100% cotton in quilting.  Quilts lasted ages due to the fact fabric was made very well way back in the day.  They had no synthetics..only the good, hearty stuff. 

Problem being with synthetics, they lose their shape in time becoming "bunchy".  Quilters have a tendency to iron their blocks as they go.  Snythetics are not tolerant of hot irons with steam.  Polyester will melt all over that iron.  Synthetics have sizing; making the fabric stiff.  Even after pre-washing, not soft as cotton and not as forgiving when sewing.  In time, I believe polyester breaks down and tears very easily and does separate at the seams.  I, personally, do not see many 1960s still around.

When Wal-Mart moved in two towns away, I remember the quilting ladies complaining that Wal-Mart only carried polyester/cotton blends.  AND then slowly, 100% cotton started showing up on Wal-Mart's shelves.

I won't even sew my quilts with polyester thread.  Only 100% cotton in sewing pieces together and in free-motion quilting.

Hi Mary,

I also do a lot of quilting. Joan is right with the different weights with muslin. If you want to continue to use up what you have ,Joan suggested that you use water soluble stabilizer on top, that will help. But I think what you could do is maybe double the fabric,use a heavy stabilizer on the bottom to give the fabric more stability,and water soluble on the top. Keep in mind that muslin does have some stretch to it as well.Not much but it is there,so be careful when hooping,in fact I would maybe use a sticky,heavier weight stabilizer underneath, and use some Totally Stable on the back of the fabric(it is an iron on ) a water soluble on top,and not hoop it .  What I do a lot of the time is cut away the stabilizers on the back,getting as close as you can to the design without cutting into the embroidery threads,  as you are going to put another piece of fabric,and batting on it anyway,so it is not going to make much difference there.That will also help to stabilize the design during washings.You can get the Totally Stable from Ann's Store,or most places that sell fabric.Have you done any hoopless embroidery? Once you do ,you will love it.  Good luck and let us all know how you come out.

Ooops, I put my 2 cents where I had no idea of the rules.  I stand corrected.  Thanks for the info because quilting is really a fine art.  I do enjoy seeing the exciting designs created by quilters. 

I was watching a quilting program the other day and saw them making 'windows' in the fabric, how cleaver it really is!

Thanks for the polyester information.   Very interesting!

Pat

Quilters:  What do you suggest?  This is rather significant puckering.  The outer frame of the design is on the dense side. 

I did think about skipping that border and using one of my own choice.  It would depend on how effort intensive it would be on Mary's machine.  Newer machines can frame this with a few button selections, but doing the border via a program could be more trouble than it is worth.

Pat

Oh Pat, how I love that design.  I think I just gotta have it! Would you please share where you got it from? Now on the puckering....yes it is a lot of puckering and we quilters usually have every block ironed just as stiff as possible. If you put the block together in your quilt with other blocks, when you go to quilt the block you will have to be extra careful and pull the puckering out as you quilt. The older antique quilts are all puckered once they have been laundered, this adds charm and character. I really think your block can be saved just as is with heavy quilting. I would love to see it once you are all done with it. I just had a request today to make a lap throw with some inspirational verses like yours. What a coincidence!

(P.S.) Is the fabric a lightweight muslin?

Good luck,

AL

Wow.  This is tough Mary.  It did pucker.  Your muslin could be a lightweight; difficult to tell from photo the weight of the fabric.   Pat, it looks like the border did Mary in.  I would guess the border is the pulling factor on this piece.  Too much embroidery design for the fabric.  Mary, are you pulling the fabric tight enough in the hoop?

As I had suggested previously if you have to use up this fabric...use the water soluble on top and try Judy's suggestion of upping the stabilizer to a heavier one. 

One other trick; since this is a quilt block, is to put the batting between the fabric and the stabilizer.  I would still go with the heavier stabilizer however.  Even with the batting, you will still be able to join your other pieces; a quilt as you go project.

Good luck and let us know how your blocks progress.

Joan/NJ

Thanks Joan for all the info. I plan to try each method that was sugested. It is a light weight
muslin. I have used it before without so much problem.
This may not be allowed on here, but that set of designs came from EMB LIBRARY under religious. Check them out. I am going to try no hoop and sticky paper and see if that helps. And I did use a topper.

Thanks everyone for your help. This is a wonderful website and I love it.
Mary