Hi there,

I make quite a few quilted articles.  I would like to know if there is a stabilizer or a special way of doing the embroidery designs where when the article gets washed and dryed the embroidery would lay nicer, as you can’t press when the article is quilted without pressing the batting flat.  I hope someone can help me with this one.  Thanks so much. - Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Embroidered quilts can be a challenge to wash, especially as it’s nice to use 100% cotton fabrics which do like to wrinkle after washing! However, I have had good results by taking my 100% cotton quilted projects out of the dryer (drying on LOW heat only) before they are completely dry…still rather damp to the touch…, give them a good shake or brush with my hands and then allow them to finish drying hanging up. Sometimes I pass the iron over any especially wrinkled spots, barely touching the fabric, and blast it with steam. While the fabric is still hot and damp with the steam I “iron” with my fingers. A bit more trouble than usual, but it seems to work well.

I might point out that for best results on any embroidered project, especially quilts, one should always preshrink all fabrics. If you use cotton batting, that needs to be preshrunk too.  (Unless you are going for an “antique” look!) A properly embroidered fabric should not exhibit wrinkles or pulls around the design. If it does, it has most likely been caused by improper hooping and/or stabilizing…or the designs used were too dense for the project fabric.

As for a special way of stabilizing for quilts…I have found that stabilizers that can be almost completely removed, or else are thin and soft, seem to work best for me. Using a stabilizer that is heavy (like a firm cutaway) or stiff (like some tear-aways) seems to create an uneven and lumpy look after washing. I like to use Terradon’s Sheer Mesh stabilizer ( Terradon Embroidery site) and also their Wash Away.

Hope this helps! Good luck
Evy
A Bit of Stitch

In Carolyn Duncan’s new 3D Digitizing 2 DVD tutorial you will learn how to create quilt designs from images. Carolyn took photos of sections of a quilt she has and used tools in 3D Digitizing to create 3 different quilt designs. This DVD tutorial will show you how to use the Freehand Satin Stitch, Freehand Curved Satin Stitch, Freehand Curved Satin Fill, Freehand Motif Fill, Double Trace, Freehand Triple Stitch and Encore tools. Running time approx. 50 mins.

You just won’t believe your eyes when you see the cute new Paper Baggie Maggie teddy bear made out of paper bags and embroidered with gorgeous pink flowers all over. She is huggable and lovable, and if you print your bag on two pieces of printer fabric she’ll be totally washable too. Click here for more Teddy Bear projects and designs.

Feb 09 Update - Solution now available for this problem - see the Comments

I am having major problems loading my 3D Embroidery software onto my new computer which has Vista operating system. It will not recognize the HASP, and the computer tech who installed my software spent hours trying to resolve the problem. Can you help? - Y. Gunn

Hi,

Unfortunately I have bad news.  3D is not compatible with Vista.  You will need to divide your hard drive into two separate sections and run XP on one half for the 3D software.  This is a relatively simple process and was one that I had to do when XP was first introduced in the days of the Version 5 software.  VSM introduced the VIP software which was XP compatible. Everyone that wanted to upgrade their computers to XP had to move to what was then the new version of the software.

VSM have done the same thing this time with the 4D embroidery software which is Vista compatible. I guess once Microsoft release a new platform then the 4D will not be compatible and VSM will have new software available for us to purchase. Good for their cash flow!

Carolyn Duncan
Author of Pfaff, Husqvarna & Sewing Tutorials
Sew What Designs

Hello to all the customers of Secrets and especially to all Emileigh Designs customers.

This is my first time to blog and I would love to hear from any of you regarding Emileigh Designs.  I especially would like you to know that the Cuddly Friends Cot Quilt designed by Emileigh Designs is appearing in the current Embroidery Magazine Volume 14 No 5.  This magazine has 7 projects and they are mainly quilts.  The Cuddly Friends Quilt and the instructions cover 6 pages starting on page 46.  The actual magazine I think does not make the newsagent stands until later this month in Australia and probably later for the rest of the World.

Also Emileigh has submitted the Christmas Runner Project to the Embroidery Magazine and that will be published in Volume 14 No 7 which is covering Christmas in July.  In Australia because we have a very hot summer and instead of the usual baked dinner with all the trimmings we mainly have Salads, Fish, Prawns etc and often have the traditional Xmas Dinner in July. 

As I am very new blog I would love to hear from anyone with feedback; questions and also you may like to send me photos in JPG format of projects created using Emileigh Designs.

I look forward to blogging (if that is the correct term) with you.

From Robyn
Emileigh Designs

Have you tried making 3D flowers? There are different ways of sewing out these exquisite flowers, such as applique on organza like the Applied Flowers, or as freestanding embroidery sewn on dissolvable stabilizer as in the new Just Flowers 2 pictured. Choose from roses, irises, pansies, lilies, violets and orchids, or pick a mixed bunch. Learn how with the easy to follow instructions included with the designs.

Our Husqvarna/Viking & Pfaff machine owners can learn about the latest 4D Embroidery Software through a couple of very helpful tutorials. If you are wondering what would be gained by upgrading to this software, Carolyn Duncan’s 4D Embroidery & Embroidery Extra DVD tutorial focuses on the features that are new in the 4D software. Carolyn also has a free tutorial with useful (and amusing) tips on the ups and downs she encountered when installing 4D Software on her computer. If you don’t want to create your own designs from scratch, but do want to be able to add text, change the color, change the size and generally play around with a design, then the 4D Software in Baby Steps tutorial from Jo Strong is for you.