I have been sewing lately using a lot of WWS. There is always a lot of bits left over after you have cut out the design. I use some of these pieces as a second layer when doing my next design on a new piece of WWS. Has anyone any great ideas what to do with the left over bits. I don't want to use them as a spray but are you able to join them easily (even Crudely) to use them again. Any Suggestions?

Saw some water soluble sticky tape online at Spotlight. That might work.

1 comment

by mi30kaja 20 May 2017

Sounds interesting. Will have to check it out. Thanks.

The small pieces come in handy when piecing quilt blocks. Better than a piece of material for the start of a seam so it's not pulled down into the machine. I don't change to a straight stitch plate, and the hole is quite large. So easy to get rid of when done.
Jo

1 comment

by mi30kaja 19 May 2017

Thanks Jo, Maybe I can give some of my bits to my Quilting friends.

Great post Lyn. Thank you

1 comment

by mi30kaja 19 May 2017

Thank You, Not only did I want to know what everyone else did with their bits but thought others might also be interested in the replies.

When I took some heirloom sewing classes we used these scraps up by dissolving them in water. I think we pressed them compactly into a 1-cup measure and then added 1 cup of warm water in a jar so that we could shake it to mix. It makes a solution that can be painted on to the fabric. At the time we were making table runners. For class preparation we "painted" our fabric and let it dry. If needed we did a 2nd coat. However, don't make it too stiff or when you stitch on it the threads of the fabric will break. This eliminated the use of a stabilizer. We marked the cross hairs of where the design was to be placed and then hooped the stiffened fabric. It's a great way to prepare your fabric even if you are using the decorative stitches on your machine. Once the embellished stitching is completed we just rinsed our project in warm water and the invisible stabilizer disappeared. I keep my scraps in a ziplock bag and always have a jar of this mixture ready to use. It's a great way to prepare a small portion of a project if you are wanting to put just a small design on something that is rather plain. You don't have to hoop another large piece of w/s stabilizer (more scraps to add to your pile!)...just need to hoop the area to be embroidered.

Sorry this got rather long. Feel free to ask questions if I lost you on the way. Perhaps I'll take some pictures of the process I use when I do another project using this. Avis

5 comments

by pennyhal2 19 May 2017

After you paint the solution on the fabric, doesn't the fabric dry sort of wrinkled? How do you get the dried fabric flat after it dries?

by cooperal 19 May 2017

Once I start wetting the fabric I square it on my cutting board so that the fibers are on grain. Once it is dry I give it a light press with a tiny bit of steam and then hoop it. I usually paint my fabric in an evening so that it has all night to dry.

by mi30kaja 19 May 2017

Thank You, I found this interesting.

by pennyhal2 20 May 2017

Thanks for the info!

by crafter2243 20 May 2017

This is very helpful having the ratio of material and water available. Consistency of starch was always a ? for me.

been reading the posts, and I think I am going to buy some of the Water Soluble Thread. sounds like the way to go

Morning Lyn, I use the Water Soluble Solvy thread you can buy. I see Marian has got hers from PunchwithJudy. I got mine from a local sewing shop here in Newcastle. Good luck with what you decide to do. Love Chris

P.S. You can go on line to PunchwithJudy and their delivery is first rate. I've often bought Stabiliser from them. Also try Creek Creations in Victoria, but I don't know if they sell the WSS thread. Love Chris

1 comment

by mi30kaja 18 May 2017

Thanks Chris. I do stick the larger pieces together to use as a second Layer but it is all the smaller pieces that concern me. Hate to throw them away. Guess that is my Scottish Heritage. Sewing them together would be too much trouble for me.

Like everyone else I have lots of bits and pieces left over. I use the larger pieces to make a 2nd layer. With smaller pieces I use a wet sponge to stick them together into larger pieces making sure I overlap the edges. The edges dry rapidly and seem to stick together well enough.

2 comments

by mi30kaja 18 May 2017

This is virtually what I do as well but still have lots left over.

by airyfairy 19 May 2017

Brilliant Karen. Thank you for the tip

My usable size pieces I stitch again into a sheet using water soluble thread available at punchwithjudy.com or put them in between 2 sheets to make it 3 thick for heavier lace designs.

My wss comes on a roll, 5x5 or 8x8. I keep a stuff it Ziploc on the floor by my machine for scraps. Then, when I only need a "bit" of wss, I reach in the bag for it rather than on the roll. But, I do use my bits as a spray, especially when I wash my FSL too clean!

1 comment

by mi30kaja 18 May 2017

I use my bits as well but have so many now. I wouldn't have any use for a Spray.

Several years ago on here we had a post with instructions using a Windex bottle with water and a drop of bleach . Place the tiny pieces in and then spray on fabric. I now have 3 bottles in my sewing room and have never used them. If any one has used this idea , let me know if it worked. I assume you would have to wash the item to remove the stiffener. I went along with it as I hate to waste. Kay

2 comments

by mi30kaja 18 May 2017

Kay I would never use the WWS as a Spray so was hoping to find another way to use the off pieces.

by pennyhal2 19 May 2017

I'd heard about how to use it as a spray too, but never could figure out the ratio of water to wws.

I take my "larger" pieces and use a Elmers Water Soluble Glue stick to put them together...you know, the purple glue stick...if I am in a hurry, I press them with an teflon sheet to speed up the bonding (no steam)...I have never had a "seam" fail...and I have pieced together four or five pieces and used them even in my 8" x 12" hoop without a problem. If the pieces are too small, I "melt" them into a "goo" and use the goo for stiffening my FSL pieces...I use a mason jar stuff in the WSS pieces and then add small amounts of water until it is the consistency of laundry starch...add a small bit of alcohol to prevent it from mold...then use a paint brush to brush it on my FSL pieces...You can also use this "goo" to stiffen linen, organza or other fabrics to help them hold better when embroidering designs that are somewhat dense....

3 comments

by mi30kaja 17 May 2017

I have a lot of these and put them into plastic bags to keep for later but now have so many plastic bags of the stuff. Also have it from one end of the house to the other from where it sticks to my clothes. Hope no one visits without letting me know first.

by sewist1 18 May 2017

LOL.

by sewtired 18 May 2017

I too have a ziploc bag of wss scraps and I also have a washable glue stick. I have just put the glue stick into my bag so that I can remember this great hint and start piecing new sheets of wss. I may also try the dissolved wss now as I like the idea of using alcohol instead of bleach to prevent mold. Thanks so much for this hint and thanks for this post.

If the pieces are big enough I make a sheet by sewing together with water soluble thread. I also put some in water with a capful of alcohol and paint it on material. When I make scallop sleeves, I lay the sleeve in a plastic tray and paint the mixture on. It will be stiff as a board. I use it also when making an embroidered neckline.

1 comment

by mi30kaja 17 May 2017

Thank You for the hints. I am sure others can always learn from these Hints as well. Lyn