I have read on a forum that a couple ladies always shrink their stabilizer with steam before stitching. Is this a good idea?

Never heard this before.

I guess you learn somwthing every day. Never heard of this but it sounds reasonable so I'll give it a try. Just hope it dosen't stick to the iron! *

Something fun:
I have look for the word "shrink" in my dictionnary, and I have found: "to shrink" : rétrécir, that is become smaller, and for the word :"a shrink" : un psychiatre!!!funny!

Have not heard this one - would like to know more

Some of the stabilizers shrink when heat is applied. When I'm doing a full back design, I always hot iron it with stream. If it's going to shrink, I would rather it does it before I embroider on it, rather than after. Have you ever stitched out a design on a shirt, and after you washed and dried it, it was twisted,or puckered? I have, so I preshrink my cut-a-way stabilizer before I stitch it. I get much better results.

Never heard that one. Mine never shrink. I get mine from Terradon Embroidery, and never had any problems. Rachel

will be keen to see what the answers are on this one! Good question.

woven stabilizer usually does shrink.

woven stabilizer usually does shrink.

When I'm making garments I do wash the stabilizer by hand and hang to dry. No matter what quality the stabilizer is have found most of them to shrink up some. Have not washed for machine embroidery but might start on some of the larger projects to keep from puckering up especially on knits. The steam sounds like a good idea.

It just seems logical that if something is sold as "stabilizer" it is to make sure the fabric does not move or change shape. If whatever they are using shrinks, then it is not worth using, is it?

I have never heard this before, not sure it's a good idea?will be interesting to see what others think

1 comment

by blueeyedblonde 06 Apr 2011

me too!