Released December 14, 2009
by Sharon Balcezak
I like to do FSL designs. Usually they are done on WSS and rinsed in water to remove the WSS. Then they need to be dried. This can be difficult with a large or delicate design.
What I do is lay the design to be rinsed on top of a stove splatter screen. (it is round and has a handle and is made of screen–like on a window–$5-$6 at Walmart for a set with 2 sizes)
I tear off the excess WSS and lay the embroidery flat on the screen. Then I hold the handle and put it under the faucet with running water. You can use hot water without burning your fingers. But….the best part is that the pieces stay flat and don’t get misshapen from handling, so they dry just like they were stitched.
After I am done rinsing, I balance the screen over the sink to drip. When it is done dripping, I balance it over a couple of coffee mugs to dry–lets air circulate and they dry faster than if they were laying on a towel.
[Editor's note: Some folks have asked to see a picture of a splatter screen - so here you go:
huggers,
rob]
great thinking will have to try it i have the screen pieces u are talking about. thanks for sharing
Comment by cinnabarb315@aol.com — December 14, 2009 @ 1:03 am
This one I absolutely will try!!! Sounds like a good solution.
Comment by Donna Scarbrough — December 14, 2009 @ 5:43 am
Oh, great idea Sharon, many thanks for that!
Comment by June Minister UK — December 14, 2009 @ 7:14 am
Totally brilliant
Comment by Shelley — December 14, 2009 @ 7:44 am
What a great idea! I’m off to Wal-Mart today, I think I’ll buy a couple of these and give it a try. Thank you Sharon.
Comment by Marie — December 14, 2009 @ 8:07 am
That is an excellent idea! I’ve ruined a couple of delicate FSL’s myself and your hint will definitely fix that problem the next time. Thanks.
Comment by Chris — December 14, 2009 @ 8:43 am
VERY good idea. Perfect solution! Thank you!
Comment by Marjorie Paul — December 14, 2009 @ 9:17 am
This sounds so cool. I can’t wait to try. I am going shopping now!!!
thanks
Comment by eileen — December 14, 2009 @ 9:29 am
Terrific idea. Thank you.
Comment by maggie — December 14, 2009 @ 9:57 am
Wonderful idea! I will definately try this. Thanks.
Comment by Deanna — December 14, 2009 @ 9:59 am
Great idea! thanks
Comment by Brenda — December 14, 2009 @ 10:08 am
This idea sounds great and will be trying it soon.
Thank YOU Eva Mueller
Comment by Eva Mueller — December 14, 2009 @ 10:33 am
That sounds so much easier than what I usually do! But has anyone really had pipes clogged up with WSS? If it’s water sol. why doesn’t it just move on! We have a septic system & would hate to not only mess up the pipes, but the whole system!
Comment by Gerry B — December 14, 2009 @ 11:24 am
This is a great idea!!! I will be doing some FSL for my DIL this week. I will have to try it. Theres nothing like a disapointment when seeing your FSL mishapened after all your hard work. Thanks for the tip!!!
Linda King
Comment by Linda King — December 14, 2009 @ 11:56 am
Great tip!!!!! I have not done much FSL, but I always have a problem rinsing it out enough, and afterwards having it lie flat. I have to try this one!
Comment by Sunny Chandonais — December 14, 2009 @ 12:16 pm
What a great tip - I just made a lot of fsl bookmarks for Christmas gifts at church. This sure would have made the process cleaner and faster!! Will keep in mind for the future. Thanks!
Comment by Judy — December 14, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
Excellent idea!
Comment by VWRoby — December 14, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
Great idea. I have seen these screens at the Dollar Stores for a dollar.
Comment by dlmds — December 14, 2009 @ 6:27 pm
This goes in my “Why didn’t I think of that” catagory. I do a lot of FSL and have struggled getting it clean and dry. What a great idea! Thanks so much.
Arlene
Comment by Arlene — December 14, 2009 @ 7:56 pm
Thank you over and over again. This is the first tip in a very long time that I will most definitely do. The unsqued design will be great. But you know the BEST? I’ll finally get some use out of those splatters screens! Betty
Comment by Betty Louise — December 14, 2009 @ 9:15 pm
I think this is wonderful idea. I have some cookie cooling squares and I will try that. I am sure this would work also. Thanks.
Comment by 1939quilter — December 14, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
Thank you for sharing this great idea. It is a “Gee, why didn’t I think of this. I have been drying them on an old washcloth. Sometimes they stick to the nap. This is much better!
Comment by Katie — December 15, 2009 @ 1:28 am
This is a great use for the spatter lid. I no longer cook but love to sew FSL!!! Thanks for the idea.
Comment by Dreama — December 15, 2009 @ 8:50 am
This is a great tip! Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Juanita Davis — December 15, 2009 @ 10:03 am
I haven’t attempted any FSL designs yet but have been collecting them and when I get ready to make my first FSL ornaments and bookmarks, I am certainly going to dig out those splatter screens that I’ve held on to for so many years…even though I don’t fry foods anymore!! Waste not…Want not!!!!
Comment by Ginny Cox — December 15, 2009 @ 11:26 am
Great idea - thanks, I’ve always blocked my FSL with small pins onto a medium sized piece of 2″ coarse styrofoam. it also allows for circulation and drainage too.
Comment by Margaret — December 16, 2009 @ 1:40 am
That is a great idea I hate it when they curl.
Comment by Beverly Brown — December 16, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
I love your idea and will be useing it in the new year. I want to try to make some of the boxes i have collected. With thanks.
Comment by b.fly grandma — December 18, 2009 @ 11:13 pm
This tip is just what I needed, I just finished my first FSL project and have been trying to get it rinsed out. I have been trying to blot them with a towel, but they still feel sticky, I’m going back and using my cake cooling rack. THANKS.
Comment by Mary — December 24, 2009 @ 9:38 pm
I love the idea of rinsing the FSL on the screen.
I have not made any yet, the idea of drying them over mugs is good too. I am wondering about laying them on a rack like you would put cookies on to cool.
Comment by Wanda — December 29, 2009 @ 11:48 am
drying on a cookie cooling rack, maybe, i have never done any yet, the idea of rinsing on the screen gave me the idea
Comment by Wanda — December 29, 2009 @ 11:50 am
Great Idea. Thankyou.
As for septic tanks, which I also have. How about holding
the splatter screen over a tall bucket and discarding this water
outside ?
I do not know where my splatter screen is, so I also will be going out to purchase one also.
I do have a large, never used yet, bird feeder tray with 4 legs and a
mesh top which I can transfer the rinsed designs to after they have set awhile and moving won’t disturb, but are not dry yet.
I have something like this
Is anyone using weights on top of the fsl while it is drying
to prevent curling ?
Comment by summaries — January 1, 2010 @ 12:55 pm
I made many, many FSL ornaments this Christmas, and just laid out many of them at one time and put a small electric fan on them. This worked real well with the large amount I did.
Comment by Pat — January 2, 2010 @ 4:11 pm
I don’t know, but my cookies racks would leave impressions on the lace when rinsing. (too big of holes) Maybe for drying. Be aware of items that have already been used for cooking. The oil and ingredients will be much too willing to adhere to your lace product.
Comment by JoAnn — January 4, 2010 @ 12:45 pm
Excellent idea! I’ll head to walmart to get this!
Comment by Gwen Settle — January 11, 2010 @ 8:12 pm
I tried it and IT WORKS!!!!! Thank you, thank you
Comment by Deanna — January 18, 2010 @ 10:33 am
An update to my previous comment.
I purchased a brand new splatter from Walmart for use only with FSL.
I also had a brand new open bird feeder with 4 legs intended to sit
on the ground, with a mesh screen to hold the seed. So I was
able to use the splatter to rinse the FSL and keep it flat and
undisturbed while rinsing. Then I was able to either transfer immediately to the open bird feeder, or slighly later if the FSL
was very delicate, and then rinse some more FSL.
The open bird feeder was able to sit on my table and was
very strong so I was able to cover the FSL with was paper
and then I weighted it down with various things. This time I used
square or rectangler plastic kitchen storage containers that
were filled with dry goods stuff from the kitchen.
One was filled with dried apricots and the other with natural almonds. The weight was perfect. There was no worry of getting the lace rusty or dirty from the weight. The rectangle shape was large enough to cover 2 FSL ornaments.
This worked for me because I could keep using the splatter
screen for rinsing and the open bird feeder is quite large and
can hold alot of FSL at one time, plus accept alot of weight.
The idea of using a splatter screen suggested by Sharon, has
really helped with my FSL this year. Thankyou for the wonderful idea.
Comment by summaries — January 19, 2010 @ 5:55 am
Thank you! Great idea, I do a lot of FSL and am excited to run to Wal-mart today to pick-up some splatter screens.
Comment by Coni — January 24, 2010 @ 8:39 am
The splatter screen is excellent idea for small project. I use a window screen when I do larger project. I have also used my dehydrator racks screen(the one used for fruit lather)and run the dehydrator for a few minutes. Also, to dry them in hurry I put the window screen over my sweater drying rack that I use in my dryer and dry them for a few minutes. In summer I like to rinse outside with the spray setting on the garden hose. This works great.
Comment by bertha — February 3, 2010 @ 12:34 am
Thank you so much for such a simple yet incredibly helpful idea. This will definitely be part of my FSL routine from now on.
Comment by Joy — February 4, 2010 @ 8:42 pm
I seen there at our Daves super market for only 1.00 each and I’m going to run down and grab me a couple in the morning but I love this ideal and I’m going to grab 2 because I think it you put it inbetween 2 of them it will really lay down nice and flat thanks for the ideal I LOVE IT …
Lois In Akron,Ohio
Comment by LoisLouise219 — February 7, 2010 @ 10:34 pm
Thank you Sharon for your excellent tip. Will it be possible to have a photo of the stove splatter screen? I live in France and would like to buy one.
Cheers.
[editor's note: I just uploaded one to the article for you! rob]
Comment by belinda — February 9, 2010 @ 3:52 am