Helping the Outline to Behave

If you have checked the design to be sure the outline is positioned correctly, what can you do to keep the outline stitching where it should?

Select a design that is appropriate to the fabric. A heavy fabric will easily support most any design, but a lightweight fabric needs a small or open design that will not spoil the fabric's natural drape.

Be sure you are using the correct stabilizer. If you are stitching on a knit, your stabilizer should be a cut-away. This will help to keep the design from stretching the fabric. Use a stabilizer that matches the weight of the fabric. If the design is fairly large or somewhat dense, you may want to use a sticky stabilizer or a spray adhesive.

While embroidering, check that the hoop can move freely. If embroidering a thick towel or heavy sweatshirt, you may need to support the weight of the item with your left arm to keep the hoop from being pulled in the wrong direction. Also watch for fabric bunching up to the right of the hoop, between the hoop and the machine. This can keep the hoop from moving all the way to the right, which will shift the outline when stitching on the left side of the design.

Make your life a bit easier by selecting an outline thread color that will be a darker shade of the dominant fill color instead of using black thread. Minor deviations in the outline will be less noticeable and the finished design will have a more life-like appearance.

Here is a reader tip from Edith: I have heard a great suggestion – stitch the outline first, then stitch the design. If you see it starting to pull, you can work on fixing it before you finish and have the gap; then, do the outline one last time and it gives it better definition.

Next issue: should you re-size?

from Mary Jane Allen of Perfect Little Stitches

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