Places to buy Embroidery Designs
- Urban Threads
- Embroidery Library
- OESD
- Anita Goodesign
- Etsy is not recommended. Always test sew an Etsy design.
Stabilizers
Knits
Fusible polymesh by OESD. Cut a piece at least 2” larger than your hoop. Iron to back of garment and hoop it. When you’re done embroidering, peel back the edges and cut off excess. It prevents the fabric from stretching and puckering.
“In the Hoop” projects
Regular polymesh is strong yet soft. It can be hooped and then stuff stitched on to it. Cut away extra when done. This is available from OESD, Madeira, and online from a brand called brothread (this is the only brothread product I recommend).
Heavy Stitching
Medium or heavy weight tearaway provides extra strength. It’s like paper. OESD, Pellon (Stitch n Tear) or EZ Crisp are all good. You put it under the hoop just before stitching, and baste the hoop to hold it on. When you’re done, pull off the excess and pick out any bits with a pointy tool of your choice. It will remain under the stitching and be a little stiff, but without it you’ll have puckers. OESD’s Ultra Clean & Tear washes away over several launderings.
Light-colored and lightweight woven fabrics like quilting cotton
Pellon Shape Flex (SF101) permanently fuses to the back of your fabric. Flexible and opaque. Use when you want to make the fabric sturdier, more opaque, or completely remove the stretch, as in t-shirt quilts.
Quilted projects
Any batting can be used except lofty polyester, which won’t stay in place well. Cotton and 80/20 are fine. Hoop it with polymesh or fabric under it to prevent snagging.
Pellon Thermolam and Soft & Stable are two synthetic products that are very stable in the hoop and quilt well without anything under them.
Thick items
Denim jackets and other bulky items don’t fit in most hoops. OESD makes a product called Stabilstick; I’m not aware of any other brands that make something similar. You hoop the Stabilstick, then peel off the top paper to reveal a strong adhesive. Stick your jacket to it. There is a tearaway and cutaway version.
Freestanding projects
Some items, like freestanding lace, are made with just thread, no fabric. Sometimes you don’t want to see any stabilizer on the back (like towels). In these cases you use a washaway stabilizer. They are not as strong as a tearaway or cutaway. There are two main kinds: starchy and filmy. The starchy one is strong enough to hoop (OESD’s Aquamesh, Pellon 541 Wash ‘n Gone). The filmy kind is made of PVA (like glue). For best results, use a layer of each – hoop the starchy one and just lay the filmy one on top. When you’re done use warm water to rinse it away; keep running hot water for a few minutes afterward to ensure it’s washed through your sink drain. The filmy one can also be used on top of textured fabrics like toweling so the stitches don’t get pulled into the terrycloth loops.