This week I have been working on some embroidery on clothing. The fabric is a fine knit, which means it is a little stretchy. I figured that it would be best to stabilise the fabric before stitching on it, so that it didn’t pull out of shape during the embroidery.
The fabric is a mid grey, and when I tried to trace the pattern on to the fabric using dressmakers carbon, nothing found its way onto the fabric at all, probably because of the slightly fluffy knit weave. Not very helpful.
Then I remembered that strange product called Solvy, which is a water-soluble fabric. I wondered if I could trace the pattern onto it, and tack it on, thereby also stabilising the fabric during stitching. So off I went to my local needlework shop in search of some.
They had two types of water-soluble fabric. One was the Solvy, which is a little like a cross between cling wrap and waxed paper lunch wrap – neither of which I would like to stitch through! But they also had another one (I must find out what its called) which was more like a thin non-woven interfacing. I decided that I would use that one.
So I traced the pattern onto the water-soluble fabric then tacked it onto the fabric in the position that I needed it. I worked all the stitching, then came the moment of truth. (I did wonder if it was going to work!)
I filled the sink with a little cold water, and lay the embroidery face down in it. I wasn’t sure how much effort it would take to get it to dissolve, so I wet it well, and then waited. Within a couple of minutes, all the water-soluble fabric was gone. It really took very little effort from me at all. I thought I might have needed to slightly rub it or agitate the water, but no, I didn’t need to at all.
I’ve never used anything like it, but it worked really well. It made it extremely easy to apply the pattern, and also stabilised the fabric. I’ll certainly be using it again.
Now I just have to find out what it is called!
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
A follow-up to the post. Now that the fabric has dried, it is all a bit stiff, so I obviously haven’t properly washed the water-soluble “fabric” away. Its probably made of some sort of starchy stuff, so the fabric is basically starched – not so great for draping!
I still have more embroidery to work on another part of the fabric, so once that is done, I’ll need to give the whole thing a really good rinse.
Yvette,
I’ve used Solvy just for this same thing. But if you can find Super Solvy, try that. It’s much heavier and easier to draw on. Of course, you really have to make sure you rinse it all off. I used it when I made a Christmas stocking designed by Jenny McWhinney in an old Inspirations magazine. It was very easy to draw on and stitch through, and washed out quite well. You can also use it as a topping for machine embroidery, especially on knits. It keeps the embroidery from sinking into the knit fabric. Make sure you store it in an airtight bag, especially if you live in a humid climate, and only use with colorfast threads.
Great tips, thanks Cynthia. I don’t know that I’d want to use a heavier version though. I liked the fact that I could still feel the fabric through it. I don’t think I’d want to feel like I was stitching through plastic or cardboard…
And I went back to the shop this morning to check the name of the one I used. It was called Avalon Plus.
Hi there Ladies,
Sounds like a great way to get your designs transferred.
May I ask the age old question of you; what pens/markers/pencils do you use to draw the design?
Some people swear by the good old fashioned pencil, some water soluble pens, but I find that they dont come off all fabrics ( thank goodness I remembered to test the fabric first) so it can be a bit of a lottery.
Hi Marysia,
Years ago I used to use the water soluble pens. But then I got a bit scared about it, so now I RARELY use them, and only on unimportant things. Most of the time I use a sharp pencil, with a light touch. Sometimes I use tacking which I then remove or cover over.
Whatever you do, avoid the disappearing felt tips used by quilters. The colour (bright shocking pink) reappears when you wash it and takes a couple of hours of soaking (not in itself great for embroidery) to get rid of. I got ten years older in that two hours!…..