Posted by McKenzie on November 15, 2010 | No Comments
Minky, or microfiber plush fabric, is quite popular. It’s great for babies, children, tweens, teens and adults. When it comes to minky, everyone loves the soft texture and the happiness it brings (how can you not smile when snuggling a minky blanket or pillow?).
Another plus for minky is the variety that it now comes in — plush, ultra plush, rasied dots, raised rows, etc. The new variety makes me want to use it more, becuase I can mix and match the different types in my project, making it fun and more creative.
The down side to minky — it can be a bit pricey. So, when I purchase it for a project, I want to be sure I don’t mess it up. Here are a few tips on achieving great embroidery on minky fabric:
• Needle — use a sharp 75/11 embroidery needle to help achieve a crisp sew out
• Design selection — you want a design with solid areas of embroidery (a redwork or running stitch design can disapear into the mat) and designs with open spaces will allow the fabric more flexibility
• Embossed embroidery — these designs look great on minky, the plush fabric really pops off the embroidery part for an amazing affect
• Stabilizer — since minky has a little bit of stretch to it, you should use a medium-weight cut-away stabilizer; this will give the fabric the stability it needs for the embroidery
• Topping — to keep the mat down while embroidering, keep the fabric from poking through the embroidering and to achieve a stitchout with less gaps, use a water-soluable topping while stitching
Happy stitching!
Posted by McKenzie on October 11, 2010 | No Comments
A couple of years ago I had the wedding circuit that made me hate cake and buffets — 12 weddings in one year. By the end of it I was broke and tired. Now, a few years later, everyone is starting to have babies. I 
recently attended a baby shower, the baby’s due any day now, and wanted to give the mom-to-be something fun, cute and seasonal for the little one.
So, I put on my thinking cap and started looking through the seasonal designs from Amazing Designs. I landed upon a cute mummy design and put with it “I love Mummy” (I used Personalize ‘N Stitch for the lettering). I think it turned out pretty great and seeing the mom-to-be’s face when she opened it assured me it was the right fit.
Here are some quick tips to make yours come out perfect:
• Use wash-away stabilizer
• Hoop with onesie with the stabilzer (use spray adhesive to stick the stabilizer to the inside of the onesie)
• To keep the test of the onesie out of the way while stitching, I like to use office binder clips
• Don’t walk away from it, the moment you do, it will get caught!
Tags: Amazing Designs, baby project, easy project, embroidery lettering software, embroidery stabilizer, fun project, halloween project, lettering software, stabilizer, wash away stabilizer
Filed Under: Embroidery Designs, Projects
Posted by McKenzie on August 5, 2010 | No Comments
Looking for a stabilizer for your lightweight knits, wovens or sheer fabric? Need something to stabilize dense embroidery designs, open weave fabrics or complex designs on lightweight fabrics?
Amazing Designs Stabilize It! No-Show Mesh cut-away has you covered. Stabilize It! is a line of stabilizers in easy to store, pre-cut sheets (no more messing around with the huge roll and forgeting which stabilizer is which).
Stabilize It! No-Show Mesh cut-away resists stretching, making it great for woven and knit fabrics. It eliminates show-through and is comfortable next to your skin. Every embroiderer should have no-show mesh stabilizer in their stash!
Posted by McKenzie on July 27, 2010 | No Comments
I hate it when my embroidery doesn’t turn out the way I expected — am I not talking about my color choices. I’m talking about the unusual pull, puckers and just plain weirdness. Whey doesn’t mine look like their’s? Here are some tips to try when your embroidery design just doesn’t seem right:
• Rethread the machine, including reinserting the bobbin and removing and reattaching the embroidery unit
• Does the bobbin thread show on the right side? If so, use a lighter-weight bobbin thread
• Clean the lint from the bobbin area — a can of computer air spray works great for this
• Change the needle — make sure it is the right size and type, we recommend Klasse embroidery needles for most designs. And, make sure there is no adhesive residue on the needle
• Slow down the machine stitching speed — the faster it stitches, the more stress it puts on your fabric and embroidery
• Slightly loosen the upper tension
• Make sure the fabric and stabilizer are secure — you could also add a piece of wash away or hydro-melt stabilizer to the design
Posted by McKenzie on June 25, 2010 | No Comments
Words of embroidery wisdom from Debbie Cleek:
With all the stabilizers available selecting the proper stabilizer can be confusing. Many of stabilizers come in black and white, adhesive and non-adhesive, heavy and light weight. As your embroidery skills grow and you experiment with new techniques so will your stabilizer collection. The stabilizers listed below are great ones to get you started and you will find they are stabilizers that you will not want be without.
Cut-Away Soft – This stabilizer is good for heavy duty projects and great for sweatshirts. It is a cut-way stabilizer which means the excess stabilizer around the outside of the design will be cut away while the stabilizer will remain behind the design to support it through many washings. When using this stabilizer, you can hoop it with the item to be stitched or hoop the stabilizer by itself and float the item on top of the stabilizer.
No-Show Mesh - This stabilizer is perfect for baby’s items and linens; items that will be laundered but do not require a heavy stabilizer. This is a permanent stabilizer that will not wash out when laundered. After embroidering, trim the excess stabilizer leaving approximately ¼” around the outer edge of the design. This stabilizer will be soft and gentle on a baby’s skin. It is also light enough so it will not leave a stabilizer shadow on your linens and home décor items.
Tear-Away Firm - This is great stabilizer to use for denim, canvas, corduroy, and other heavier fabrics. It also works great for craft projects like embroidered note cards. This stabilizer provides just enough support for the stitching to help prevent puckering, tunneling and distortion with designs of all stitch counts. It also tears away easily after stitching making it the perfect choice for stitched note and greeting cards. After stitching, the excess is torn away. The stabilizer left behind will soften and wash away after multiple washings.
Hydro Melt Topping - This is a must have stabilizer when embroidering anything with a nap such as towels, fleece blankets and velvets. This stabilizer holds the nap down and prevents it from poking through the stitching. When stitching heavier knits it also prevents the stitching from sinking down into the knit. It is very easy to use, simply hoop your item as would normally and layer a piece of this stabilizer on top to cover the design area. When your design is finished, tear away the excess from the outside edge of the design, the remainder washes away when laundered.
Press -Away Topping - This stabilizer is perfect for times when you need to use a wash away stabilizer but cannot get the item wet. It works just like Hydro Melt with the exception of the need to wash it away. Hoop your item as you would normally and layer a piece of this stabilizer on top to cover the design area. When your design is finished, tear away the excess from the outside edge of the design, the remainder is removed by pressing with a medium to hot iron. This is also great for red work and open work designs like Sashiko. You can press away the stabilizer and not have the time delay of rinsing and drying the piece before continuing with your project.
You can find these stabilizers at Amazing Designs or Sew and Craft Club.
Posted by McKenzie on June 10, 2010 | No Comments
Tags: Amazing Designs, embroidery design, embroidery design collection, Embroidery Designs, embroidery stabilizer, eye mask design, in the hoop embroidery collection, in the hoop project, in-the-hoop, in-the-hoop design collection, stabilize it, stabilizer
Filed Under: Embroidery Designs, Projects, stabilizer
Posted by McKenzie on May 5, 2010 | No Comments
Amazing Designs offers several stabilizers in pre-cut sheets designed for the 4×4 and 5×7 hoops. One of my favorite stabilizers is the Light Weight Tear-Away.
The Light Weight Tear-Away prevents show-through and multiple layers provide added support. It’s great to use on lightweight wovens and knits, small motifs on blouses, jackets or wind-breakers, denim shirts or knit turtlenecks.
Posted by McKenzie on April 27, 2010 | 1 Comment
Choosing the right stabilizer can be overwhelming. There are so many types and uses, it can be very confusing. So, over the next couple of weeks I’m going to introduce you to the stabilizers in the Amazing Designs line — Stabilize It!
Let’s start with one of my favorites and a staple in my embroidery stash — Stabilize It! Self-Adhesive. This elminates hooping the fabric, replaces those nasty spray adhesives, and doesn’t leave a gummy residue on your needle or machine parts.
I use this product when I’m embroidering items too small or irregularly shaped for hooping, such as cuffs, collars, pockets, and children’s garments. It also prevents a knit fabric from stretching in the hoop. And, don’t foret to use it to prevent hoop burn on fine fabrics, napped fabrics, synthetic suedes, leather and fleece.
Oh yeah, and the best part about Stabilize It! — it’s pre-cut for your 5×7 or 4×4 hoop, I suggest one of both so you’ll always have the right one on hand.
Fast in-the-hoop construction makes these whimsical eye-masks an easy gift idea. Requires the ![LARGE 1 5oz Med Wt Self Adhesive|](javascript:displayHTML('LARGE 1 5oz Med Wt Self Adhesive','/res/Large/nnfid1669_lrg.jpg','<b><font color="#0694c7">Stabilize It!™ </font></b> pre-cut embroidery stabilizer. <br><br>Large box of <font color="#0694c7">self-adhesive tear-away</font> stabilizer contains 50 sheets, size 9" x 12-1/2" to fit 5" x 7" hoops. <br><br><ul> <li>Ideal for items too small for hooping, delicate surfaces that may show hoop marks, or items that cannot be hooped because of thicknesss of fabric or other physical limitations <li>Can be used in multiple= "Stabilizer - Amazing Designs Stabilize It!")
