Peggy (SewAsylum) Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 My next quilt is going to be white blocks with a vintage embroidered design in each block. My question is this: I read somewhere that you have to cut your blocks a little larger, than recut them after the embroidery because they might be slightly smaller. Also, what kind of stabilizer would I want to use on the blocks so they don't turn out to be too stiff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Are you embroidering them on a machine or by hand? I like the water soluble stabilizer because you can just peel it off and anything left will melt on first washing. You should cut them about 1" bigger and then trim down after stitching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delld Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Ditto! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 If they will be hand-embroidered--very popular now--a great hint is to use two layers of white fabric instead of one. This will make sure any jump-stitches or knots don't shadow through on the front. And a second ditto on oversizing the base fabric to trim after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neher-in-law5 Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 The hand embroidered blocks can be pulled tighter with the stitching and create a puckered look so you need the extra to keep it the right size when finished. Also, hand embroidered blocks have the chance to fray more at the edges while being worked on and some people keep pulling out those loose threads on the edges, so again, bigger is better. It has been nice to serge the edges before giving them to be worked on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy (SewAsylum) Posted October 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 I should have been more specific. I am going to be embroidering by machine. I am going to emb. them on Kona cotton, and then piece them with sashing and some vintage looking fabric. I am going to make it up as I go I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy (SewAsylum) Posted October 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 If I wash away the stabilizer, will the stitches be stabilized enough to hold up on a quilt? Don't I need to leave something there to stabilize the stitching long term? Thanks for all your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anette D. Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 If you are doing hand embroidery, consider using Pellon's SF 101 to back each block. I got this idea from some hand embroiders when I attended a workshop. The up side is that you do not have to use a hoop; the SF 101 gives the block enough stability. Also, it is attached to the back of the block and will not shift as a second layer of fabric might. Also, it does hide jump stitches, knots, etc. And, ditto on making the block bigger and then cutting it down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy (SewAsylum) Posted October 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Thanks Anette. I going to emb. by machine but I will look at the Pellon SF 101 and see if it is the stabilization I need. I want the stabilizer to be soft, so the quilt has a soft hand. I have tried fusing on light stabilizers and starching the fabric and it really seems to work pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy (SewAsylum) Posted October 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 BTW, I am going to try cutting 9 inch squares, emb. on them, and then recutting them, fussy cutting, on my Accuquilt Go. We shall see how that works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 You won't need the stabilizer in the top to quilt it. I always starch my fabric first and give them some body. Use the washaway, pull the stabilizer away in the big areas and quilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neher-in-law5 Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Since you are going to do machine embroidery, don't cut your blocks first. Try to mark your fabric into block sections and keep it as a strip or piece. Then when you hoop the fabric you can hoop it taking advantage of the "next" blocks background in the holding of the hoop. You won't waste as much fabric with this method. As for stabilizer, you could use a softer tear away or cut away for the back and then trim it close when done so your block will still be soft and flexible. Are you doing vintage looking designs that are more open and airy or a fuller more solid embroidery piece? The airy look won't need as much stablizer and still should handle life well. The more solid design will still be heavier and stiffer when done and requires a heavier more supporting stabilizer in the process. I hope you are able to share pictures with us when you get this one going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy (SewAsylum) Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Thank you everyone for your help. I am using light and airy emb. designs from emblibrary.com. I bought some featherweight fusible today and I am going to do a test, trying it with and without the fusible. I have found in the past that if I emb. on cotton, it puckers a little. But since these designs are so light, I will try without it, also. Not in a hurry, no deadline, so I have time to play with it. It is just for ME!!!!! Also have to get busy making a quilt for my daughter, daughter-in-law wants one, too. Jeez, I have only had my long arm for 2 weeks and already getting requests from family! lol I am not even good at it yet! My 7 year old granddaughter has shown great interest in the machine and I let her try it with my supervision. She did great! We are going to have a lot of fun with this machine. She saw the quilt I was making and said, "Is this for me?!!" No, it's for me and my wall! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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