Embroidery
Subject: Machine Embroidery Stabilizing
I've been lurking mostly lately as I've gone into almost strictly embroidery
work, but thought some stabilizing tips might help you all out and
produce a higher quality stitch out. After all we want the best for
our Lord.
On delicate thin, filmy material I would use an Organza.
Organza is stable enough that you can embroidery directly
on it w/o any other stabilizer. You could match the organza's
color closely to the material you are working on.
For light weight & white material I would use fusible
knit interfacing and a poly mesh (like from www.5ts.com)
has. It is light weight and has like a brick or chicken
scratch design embossed in it. This method works well with
knits that are white and shows through as well. On knits
run the fusible knit stretch opposite the material's stretch.
This keeps that area from stretching as the stitches are
laid down during embroidery.
For Medium weight I would use a Medium weight cut away
or if the fabric is stable a tear away.
For the heavier weight like upholstery fabric, I would
use the heavier cut away.
If the design is on a sheer type fabric and the organza
would even show through it I would use a layer of tear/rinse
away like MESCO, inc carries (mescoinc1@aol.com)
and maybe even a type of water solvable on the top.
When using tear away be very careful not to just yank
the stabilizer away as you will pull stitches and could
cause puckering to the design.
Another tip - use Polyester thread as it will last longer
than the Rayon thread, withstand dry cleaning and bleaching
better, and will not have color fading.
Also when ironing or pressing a design it should always
be done from the back side with a towel or something with
a little nap laying on the ironing board for the front
of the design. Then steam with bursts of steam. This will
help the design to become more 3D in appearance.
Hope some of you can use this information...it is what
I've learned by trail and error in the last 4 years of
business. (NAYY with either company mentioned, just have
found them helpful...also both carry thread - 5t's Maderia & MESCO
FuFu.)
Bakken's Sewing & Embroidery
Newburgh , Indiana On the Ohio
DBakken@Sprynet.Com
Owner Sewbiz List
www.quiltropolis.com
Liturgical Dance
When my daughters did inspirational Christian dance I
made them skirts that were cut on the bi as...better"twirl
factor"...I do not have a pattern. I also had them
wear culottes or bloomers under the skirts.
Here are some sites that would give ideas. I love the
first one I listed. www.christiandance.com/sdance4g.htm
www.katherinerosecollection.com
~.::.Robyn.::.~
Glory Designs
www.glorydesigns.com
Ooo! This looks like what you are looking for!
Sacred Dance Patterns by Valerie Henry
Double Circle Skirt $10
Angel Blouse $7
Feast Dress $10
Culottes $9
Shirt for men & boys $10
Shipping & Handling $ .75/pattern ( U.S. and Canada only - other
locations, send EMAIL for costs)
Sacred Dance Costumes
P.O. Box 304
Southeastern, PA 19399
Email: patterns@vhdance.org
Hope this will help
~.::.Robyn.::.~
Glory Designs
www.glorydesigns.com
Making Altar Bread
I have used this recipe and like it (it is not my recipe,
It was given to me):
7/8 cup of lukewarm water
1/4 cup honey
1/8 cup oil
2 cups whole wheat "pastry & bread" flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 package dry yeast
Measure the water into a mixing bowl and add the yeast,
stirring until dissolved; then stir in the honey, oil,
and salt.
Add the flour and with the hands, mix it in completely.
If the flour does not completely dampen, add a tablespoon
or more of water.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead
thoroughly for 5 minutes. This kneading is important. Replace
the dough in the bowl, cover with a damp cloth or towel
and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in
bulk, (1 to 1-1/2 hours).
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board again
and knead for 2-3 minutes. Divide the dough into three
loaves. Press crossed lines on each loaf with a knife,
(not cutting through), so that the baked loaves may be
easily divided into quarters.
Place the loaves on a lightly oiled baking sheet and
bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Cool.
Adapted from the recipe by the Sisters of the Community
of St. Mary, Racine, Wisconsin
NOW...if you want to stay true to scripture you would
not use a bread with yeast (no leavening) and you would
always use fine ground whole wheat ... according to the
following verse:
Exodus 29:40
~.::.Robyn.::.~
Glory Designs
www.glorydesigns.com
Linens and Vestments
Just a note: One mistake made by those who are just starting
to make the Roman style vestments is to line them with
a slick fabric such as satin or taffeta. It causes the
chasuble to slip & slide around. A fine poly/cotton
poplin is much better.
Removing stains from Linens
I am an antique dealer as well as an embroiderer and needle
worker. I deal often with vintage linens (my mother deals
only in vintage clothing). The best thing I have found
for cleaning stained white or light colored linens is a
product called sodium perborate (sold sometimes under the
name "vintage soak"). Of course, you can buy
the vintage soak from dealers at a fairly high cost, or
you can pop over to a local dry cleaner's supply and purchase
it directly for pennies of the cost of the vintage soak.
Now, you won't get the cute little bag and charming label
at the supply house, but you will get the cheap price.
If you have a tax resale number you will have no problem
purchasing this from a wholesale source. And if you don't
personally have one, I'm sure that the church you are working
with does. I live in Dallas so I purchase mine from a supply
house that wholesales to dry cleaners, but I'm sure you
could purchase it on the web also. This product is only
good for WHITE or light colored linens. I never use it
on anything else, especially anything with metal threads.
I mix it according to directions (x amount of sodium perborate
per y amount of cold water) in a big stock pot on my stove.
Then I put the garment into the pot and bring it to a boil
and then turn the heat off. Then I let it soak, sometimes
for days, until the stain is removed. Sodium perborate
is POISON. I keep mine clearly marked with a skull and
crossbones in a container up on the washer so my children
can't get anywhere near it. Annette
I have always used the following solution on Heirloom
fabrics with great success:
1 part Dove dish washing liquid
1 part water
1 part Clorox 2
You can soak items a long time (weeks even) in this.
This is the other *recipe* I use:
1/2 Cup Ammonia
1/2 Cup Liquid Laundry Detergent
1/2 Cup White Vinegar
1/2 Cup Water
Another good ingredient to add is a little dishwasher detergent, if the
fabric is not too fragile.
Here are some other ideas I found:
meat tenderizer will take out blood stains.
white wine will take out red wine stains
The Tightwad Gazette offers
the following recipe: Add one cup each of powdered Cascade
and Clorox II to five gallons of the hottest water to come
out of your faucet. Soak several articles overnight, and
launder as usual. I have endeared myself to my granddaughter
as I was able to soak out a red pop or something stain
from her red and white polyester cheer- leading outfit
using this recipe. The article goes on to say that she
does not use this recipe for delicate fabrics, or fabrics
that are not color-fast. It is particularly good for removing
food stains.
A link with all sorts of stain removals: www.ezresult.com/Home/Homemaking/CleaningandStains
Hope that helps!
~.::.Robyn.::.~
Glory Designs
www.glorydesigns.com
We have an 85+ year old christening gown in our family
that we have cleaned the same way for years.
Take one gallon HOT water, add 1 cup powdered Cascade
and 1 cup Clorox. Mix well to make sure Cascade is dissolved.
LET MIXTURE COOL until tepid!! Also MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
2 CONTAINERS OF CLEAR COOL RINSE WATER. (you may have to
double this for large items....) Dunk items several times
in mixture...you can watch the discoloration disappear..
then IMMEDIATELY RINSE IT IN CLEAR WATER. If you want to
go whiter, repeat process, always using clean rinse water.
When you are finish ed...rinse very well even to washing
on delicate cool water wash.
The key is to rinse well so as to preserve the fabric.
The enzymes in the Cascade are a wonderful whitener.
Hope this helps.
Lynne M.
Sewing Tips
I have a lined gothic chasuble
that needs to be shortened all round. If I want to resew
the outer edge by placing fabric and lining right sides
together, am I correct in assuming that it will be physically
impossible to turn the chasuble right side out again unless
I completely undo the neck edge all the way around? There
is a zipper at the neck that I would like to avoid undoing.
I was told that I could do this by just partially opening
up the neck seam, but I can't see how to make it work.
Am I missing something?
-- Thanks, Karen
Hemming Chasubles
I usually serge the edges and them roll the hem and blind
stitch by hand. This takes a while, usually about 2 good
movies! I am currently making 100 chasubles for the diocese
and am serging then machine stitching. I just don't have
the time to do them by hand, but they do look better!
Sharon
I've used "seams great" a sheer bias tape to
finish the seams....it's lightweight and doesn't add any
bulk to show through loosely woven fabric.
Karen
What about a rolled hem that is top-stitched? I have a
couple of presser feet for my sewing machine that roll
the fabric into itself to make a really nice hem finish.
I use it all the time.
Anne L.
Teaching Others To Sew
Books:
Quilting by Biz Storms
Kids Can Press
Kids Easy Quilting Projects by Terri Thibault
Williamson Publishing
I Can Quilt
House of White Birches Press
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