I am trying to make some applique type patches to go over an existing embroidery[to cover a previous company name on a shirt] I am getting a lot of 'pokies' when I use tearaway, but cutaway is too hard to get rid of!! Any advice out there in cute-land??

You could use a very sturdy wash away stabiliser. More expemsive but gives beautiful edges!

I use no show mesh as the stabilizer and then use my hot knife - like a wood burning tool - to melt the little bit of edge I left with the trimming. The no show is pretty sheer and melts quite easily so you can hardly see it when you are done. The edge does get a bit stiff where you melted but it works quite nicely for me.

When I put a patch over a mistake, I use cut away stablizer under the patch. I cut the stabilizer about 1/2 inch smaller and then fold and iron the edges of the patch under. Or... I use cut away under an applique patch. It works for me :-)

1 comment

by vickiannette 25 Aug 2012

thank you. Yes I could do this, but I have bought some of the 'satin stitch shapes' from Embroidery Library and some from DBC too, for my outline.

Do you have a wood burning engraving tool? You can burn the pokies off with one. I wouldn't recommend a lighter as it will distort your design. A soldering iron would also work.;)

2 comments

by joansatx 24 Aug 2012

I'll be trying this tip,too. Thanks for posting.

by vickiannette 25 Aug 2012

thank you, it is a great tip. But wood-burning is something that I have not tried [yet!!] Some of our Australian Aborigines do lovely wood burning pictures and music sticks, boomerangs etc. They sit cross-legged by the fire [outside in the dirt] and do it all day!