I've been thinking about making some pencil toppers for my friend. The directions I have for some of the designs I've collected call for stitching them on using stabilizer. The way the directions read, the stabilizer would stay inside the pencil topper. I'd think leaving it in there would cause all kinds of problems when a kid tried to actually insert a pencil in there. Does anyone make them without the stabilizer?

I use cutaway stabilizer (no show mesh) and leave it in the topper. Right before the last step I put another piece of stabilizer on the back (so it is against the stitches) and then put my back fabric *so it is to the outside of the hoop). That way all of the stitches are covered up. Once I cut out the toppers I put a tiny drop of glue to hold the stabilizer against the stitches so the pencil slips in and out easily.

1 comment

by pennyhal2 31 Oct 2018

Glue to the rescue! Covering up the stitches that show inside is a good idea. Is the stabilizer you put on the backside a cutaway/tearaway/no show mesh?

I agree - I have made felt pencil toppers and simply hooped the felt. I would suggest when you are finished to clean out your bobbin holder. Felt bits can sometimes can accumulate there. Can't wait to see them! Hugs, Laura

1 comment

by pennyhal2 29 Oct 2018

I would never have thought that felt would filter down into the bobbin area. Thanks for the heads-up on this!

I have made them and used tear-away stabilizer. I used tweezers to pull out as much stabilizer as I could. Hugs

1 comment

by pennyhal2 29 Oct 2018

Thanks! I was thinking of doing that, but what a pain!

If you are using felt as the fabric, you can just hoop the felt and stitch your pencil toppers...felt holds up well enough so you don't need stabilizer....

4 comments

by crafter2243 edited 28 Oct 2018

That was my thought as well. Make sure you have 2 layers. One hooped and a floater

by pennifold 28 Oct 2018

I'd also use Felt. Love Chris

by pennyhal2 29 Oct 2018

That's a good idea! Thanks!

by koalanurse 01 Nov 2018

I make them all the time for my 5 grandchildren that live on both coasts of the US. I follow the directions and leave the stabilizer inside. I do pull out as much as I can with a tweezer and then insert the pencils and send them on their way. Never had a problem with the stabilizer inside.