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Dry CoverUP for Embroidery Undercover Trouble
by Evy Hawkins of A Bit of Stitch
Monogrammed towels look lovely right after you stitch them. Do they look as nice after washing a few times? Denim shirts are such fun items to embroider, but have you tried to embroider light colors (especially white) over dark denim and gotten muddy or strange shades of color in your embroideries? Love the look of embroidery on printed, striped and dotted fabric…and hate the show-through that can happen?
These problems can be solved with a wonderful product created by Hoop-It-All, Inc. -- dryCoverUp. This embroidery stabilizer is actually thin vinyl sheeting, sold in seventeen different colors including clear. Most embroidery enthusiasts know that when stitching on textured fabrics, such as terry cloth, a water-soluble topping will keep the fabric nap from poking through the stitching. It also helps prevent the stitching from getting lost in pile fabrics. Yet this topping is water-soluble…it goes away when you wash it, just like it’s supposed to. Then what?
Less than satisfied with my beautiful monogrammed towels after the second time through the wash, I decided to try out the new roll of clear vinyl topping from Hoop-It-All. Placed directly on the fabric, held in place with a very light spray of temporary spray adhesive, it worked just like a water-soluble topping. The excess tore easily away, and my embroidery looked great with no loopy show-through. Many washings later my towels still look good!
Using dryCoverUp under light or white colored embroideries when stitching on dark cloth will keep your thread colors true, and even lend a little 3-D effect to the embroidery. It will also prevent unwanted show-through of fabric patterns in your designs. This vinyl can also be used as a permanent stabilizer on the back of embroidery when the stitching needs a very firm, permanent foundation.
The manufacturer recommends that you match the dryCoverUp with your thread color. I have found that the colors I need help with the most are white and yellow, both of which tend to turn blue and green when stitched on dark denim. White dryCoverUp works well with a variety of pale colors. Although the cover-up is intended for use only with fill stitching, I’ve discovered that it also works wonderfully with large monograms that have a good layer of understitching beneath the satin stitches.
On the down side, dryCoverUp is a little hard on thread. Using a slightly larger needle helps with both the stitching and the tearing away of the excess plastic. Don’t use a ballpoint needle, and stay close to your machine while stitching. If not pulled quickly and cleanly off, tiny pieces of the vinyl can show around the edges of the embroidery. If the area has an outline stitch, remove the excess dryCoverUp before stitching the outline, and this will help cover up those pesky little edges. As always, preshrink your fabric or garment before embroidering.
DryCoverUp is available in a Variety of Colors.
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Dry Cover Up Blending Colors |
Dry Cover Up Primary Colors |
Using dryCoverUp takes a little extra care, but the results are well worth the trouble!
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