by Estelle
Don’t know if this is helpful or not but it sure worked for me!
I live in Georgia where the humidity can get UNREAL.
Using WSS* is very challenging at times, ESPECIALLY when making Lace!
I was NOT having any fun until I got the idea to use plastic mesh screening.
I hooped the heavy WSS on the bottom, the screening in the middle and a lightweight WSS on top.
The result: NO MORE DRAMA.
No tearing, NO shifting and NO ugly flowers!!!.
I find this is also helpful when I’m too cheap to throw away the bits of fibrous WSS that are too small to hoop alone but too big to throw away.
A WSS sandwich with screening in the center works like a charm.
Once the WSS is out, fussy cut the edges and you have a GORGEOUS piece……..and it’s VERY durable.
*Water Soluble Stabilizer
Is plastic mesh, screening, and bridal tulle all the same thing?
Very good idea. That works as long as there aren’t open areas in the middle. I live in a rain forest so have the very same problem, different area of the planet.
I suppose a low temp soldering iron would work to take out the center parts of FSL if the netting covered them up and clean up the edges. . I’m going to give it a try. Thank you!!
I really like the suggestion you gave for using the tulle. Makes a lot of sense. They needed something to grasp onto. Great idea. I am definitely going to use this tip. Thanks for sharing!!!
No, bridal tulle & mesh screening are different Terri. I actually used some leftover plastic screen material from the hardware section of Walmart. It’s the stuff you use to replace window screens. I have also read where screens are embroidered and then installed for a decorative effect!
Yes, DeeLyn, a low temp soldering iron will work just fine.
Thanks , i guess mother nature effects EVERY thing that we do , again thank you for the tip.
I’m confused too. Are you using plastic mesh screening or bridal tulle? I was taught to use bridal tulle 11 years ago when I first started machine embroidery. I will start looking for plastic mesh screening next time I go to the hardware store.
I must agree with Terri, I got confused by the plastic mesh, screening, and tulle. Are the one and the same and if not, could you tell us where to find them? I have used tulle often, especially when I wanted enough of an edge to stitch the lace to some other project, such as my Victorian ornament covers and did not want to use organza
Great tip. Can’t wait to try it.
Thanks
The visual before and after clearly explained the article for me. Kudos on the article Estelle.
Sometimes when the humidity is so high I have to dust my hands in powder and put a tiny bit on the WSS to make things move smoothly. I liked your article. Cecile
I’ve used bridal tulle on some fsl pieces for stability of some designs, but it has to be trimmed very close before the last outline satin stitch is done otherwise you have ‘pokies’ that stand out and are not desirable. I live in Florida and have never had that problem with WSS, my machine is in an air conditioned environment. Furthermore, if the fsl design is well digitized for fsl, it should not require any further stablization other than 2-3 layers of WSS.
Thanks for clearing that up I was just confused because at the beginning of the article it said screening then at the end it said bridal tulle.
Blessings
Terri
Thanks, I appreciate all the tips I read here. I love embroidering, and Lace is my favorite thing to do.
Thanks again.