For a while I have been wondering how to fix this little problem below. While I was thrilled with the overall look of this stitchery for a bolster cushion for my daughter, I would love some help with how I have used/misused the Weaveline iron on stabiliser. While I was stitching it seemed to be lifting and puckering off the fabric. Have I ironed too hot, too cold, stitched too tight, pulled the fabric in my hoop too tight?? Or something else altogether? I do like how the stabiliser hides threads on the back that might show through otherwise, but now no matter how I press the finished piece I can't get rid of the little puckers and creases. They are especially noticeable in the photos below in the beehive and in the fairy's wings.
This design is from the Fairyland book by Natalie Bird, and it was so much fun to stitch(apart from my disappointment with the stabiliser. If anyone has any ideas on what I am doing wrong, how I can fix it, or your opinions on stabilisers generally, I would be very grateful. If there is anything I can do to rectify it, I would like to give it a go before I finish the cushion up. In the meantime I have been stitching on my next Gardener's Journal block, and have almost completed a wee table runner which I will share next time.
Would love to hear your thoughts, thanks so much for stopping by..............Nicky
17 comments:
Dear Nicy
I often get this problem with the stabilizer, I think the iron is to hot. I try to put the iron on low, but then the stabilizer wont stick! sight....
But the stitchery will look better after using it! It`s like something gives...and after a wash and a new meeting with a not to hot iron I think you`ll find it nice.
All well Hanne-Kristine :oD
That is such an adorable piece of stitching. I've had the same problem with iron-on interfacing and I have never really figured out the problem. I always thought it was just me. Hope somebody can offer some better advice.
Such a cute piece of stitching!! I've had the same problem too with interfacing and I haven't figured out the problem. One time I know that I had some steam coming out of the iron and figured that was the problem because it caused my fabric to shrink a little I think. Other than that, I don't have any idea, but I've run into the same problem.
I'm afraid I can't offer any advice--just want to say what a darling piece you've stitched :)
I'm not sure if this helps but i make sure the steam is turned off when i iron on stabilizer. I don't get the puckering. Jeanette
When I do my stitcheries I use pellon, or the weaveline but I don't iron it on. After I have washed away the wash away pen, I then press it all with a pressing cloth. I find that works for me and I do a lot of stitcheries.
Nicky, my guess is that you used a cotton hot setting on your iron. Too hot for fusible stabliser. Fusibles of any kind behave very badly when they get too hot and do all sorts of horrible things. Wool setting and no steam and holding the iron in once place for no more than 5 seconds is what I have learnt. The wrinkles wont really go away no matter how much you iron. Simplest fix is to put a very tiny snip in the fusible (not the cotton top) where it has separated from the stitchery, in the areas of the greatest wrinkles. This will ease the fusible just a bit and lessen the wrinkle. Kinda like a face lift in reverse. Oh and another thing, which most of us dont do is let the piece go cold after ironing before moving it. This lets the adhesive bond properly and you have less chance of the fusible coming away from the fabric. I aways hoop very tightly, so the hooping isnt the issue. Stitching too tight would show puckering before removing from the hoop. This has all come from what I have learnt over 30 years of playing with fusible.
Hope this helps somewhat.
p.s. super cute stitchery.
What beautiful work you do! I have not used the iron on stabilizer because this has happened to me and I thought it was just me, lol. It is not a new thing from what I have read above. I have "fixed" my issue with pulling the fabric, that is puckered, taut and stitched with tiny stitches under the embroidery. I think I would follow Hanne-Christines advice and not fiddle with it to much. You do realize that YOU are probably the one that is ever going to notice this? Your gift is priceless. Best regards, Elaine
Hey Nicky! I found the same problem with weaveline ... so you have the comfort of knowing it's not just you, but many of us! :0) I've switched to using vliseline (think that's how you spell it) and find it much easier to with with. I never iron directly on to the stabiliser, always onto the stitchery fabric or cover it with a piece of fabric. Sometimes if you dampen the wrinkled areas and press with just the tip of the iron it can help, but in the long run ... your stitchery is gorgeous and if it really annoys you ... hide it with pretty buttons! :0) Most of all ... enjoy the stitching! Bear Hugs! KRIS
Your stitcheries are beautiful!! So even. I would love mine to be that way.
Never use iron on with stitching you should use Pelon a stabiliser that Emroiderers use, it will also give your work a little puffiness which helps the look by being not so flat... I would remove the stitching piece from your work .. then sometimes if you are careful you may be able to remove the iron on by ironing it again then wash the stitching. I do hope it is not all the stitching panels that this has happened to.
I can't help with what has happened but I like how it adds a bit of character to your stitchery. Great pattern xx
Beautiful stitching! I can't help with the problem but learned some new things from reading the comments.
I think the problem was that the iron was too hot. I always put a piece of baking paper between the iron and the iron on interfacing.Your stitchery is beautiful.
Happy Days.
Bev.xoxo
I have no idea if this will work, but could you try it out on a scrap...spray starch?
The other thing which may help a little is if you were to hand quilt around the design.
Probably both useless but what comes to mind.
I do use iron on pellon both for machine embroidery and for hand embroidery where I use a lighter one. But now that the horse has bolted it is rather useless to say that I sometimes test piece before I iron it on the real thing. Did you do the iron on after? I just realized that may be the case....I always do it first. Went back and read and you said when you were stitching...so I guess you did iron it on first.
What a beautiful piece. I think it looks perfect :)
I am a bit late here, but just looking at everyones advice, we all do things a little bit differntly,I frequently use iron on, somtimes I iron with cool iron,sometimes I don't iron,
using baking paper or applique mat is useful and gets nice even iron. I seldom use pellon now, as I really like the nice look that you get with the fine weaveline (altho you sometimes do need to be careful with darker or bright threads). Of curse that lovely stuff that we got at Leanne & Rosalie's workshop is really quite nice too!
Post a Comment