| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Jami |
Posted - Sep 21 2008 : 07:50:14 AM
I'm hoping some of you gals can help me out. I am attempting to embroider some kitchen towels and am not having great luck with the wax pencil transfering method. It just doesn't transfer clearly enough or dark enough so I can really see the details to embroider. I am using the patterns from MJ's Ideabook, had them blown up to size, went over the lines with the red wax pencil I just purchased and then ironed per the wax pencil instructions (cotton setting, no steam) and it's just not great. I need a clear crisp line to embroider from especially since I'm fairly novice at embroidery. Any ideas? How are the purchased embroidery patterns done? Are they clearer? I'm getting pretty frustrated...using towel (not terry cloth but more like flour sack but a bit thicker) material that is new at our local fabric store. Thanks for any ideas.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/ |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Jami |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 12:39:03 PM
Kathy, that is a great idea and one I hadn't even pondered! I bet one could use wax paper or anything tearable (not terrible...ha ha). Thanks.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/ |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 10:36:39 AM
Welcome, glad I could help. :)
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| Suzan |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 10:04:59 AM
Oh ok, Heather, now I get it! Thanks! |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 09:05:14 AM
Yes Suzan exactly! :) It needs to be a bright sunny day! :) OR you have really good eye sight! lol :)
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| nut4fabric |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 08:50:41 AM
Jami I recently embroidered a satin baby blanket and I didn't want to use an iron on pattern so I traced the pattern on to Stretch and Seal plastic wrap and then stuck that to the fabric. It worked great, when I was done stitching the wrap pulled off the fabric just fine and no marks on the fabric. I use a light box sometimes to transfer patterns but now I am sticking (no pun intended) to the Stretch and Seal.
Kathy |
| Suzan |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 08:20:18 AM
Ok, I'm not getting it...haven't tried the window method but trying to understand how to...tape the transfer on the window, tape the material over it? How does the pattern show through the material? |
| Jami |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 08:09:03 AM
Thanks for the input, girls. Sounds like the window method might be a good choice for me and then going over the design in the No. 2 pencil afterwards or washable marker. I have all of the notions I need, just seems I am doing a couple of things in error (sliding the iron over the transfer) and not comfortable enough with my stitching abilities to go freehand...also my close-up eyesight is not as great as it used to be...I have to use a needle threader and my cheater specs.
Again, thanks for the help. I'll give it another go with the improvements in place. I did enjoy doing the first one...so will keep on truckin'.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/ |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 04:54:06 AM
I don't do well with markers either.
Aunt Martha's will give you a CRISP line!
Other purchased vintage home made type ones not so much (like patternbee.com her's a little faded on the material).
I use a sulky transfer pencil. It's specifically for embroidery.
The other thing is, once you get the pattern onto your material, you can go over it with a number 2 pencil, until it's dark enough for you to see. The only real problem is.....towel fabric, sometimes the tip of the pencil gets caught up on it, and it's hard to get a good crisp outline on a towel.
You may want to start making your own towels out of 200 thread count or higher muslin. This will give a flour sack look, but have a tighter weave, there for easier to get a solid outline to print onto it, and to use a regular old pencil to go over the pattern with. Cause I like to use my iron on patterns a few times, I usually don't make them iron on very dark, then I just use a regular old pencil to go over it to darken it.
However, if you don't want to make your own towels, and you aren't set on towels. I will say pillow cases are generally easier.
Aunt Martha's stamps out very dark (the longer you leave the iron on the pattern). And they are fairly cheap, so if you only can use each transfer once or twice, it won't break the bank!
To prevent smearing, NEVER, EVER go "back and forth" with a iron over the transfer. What you do is ALWAYS pin the pattern in place. (or better yet, I like to use scotch tape as well!, I've never had a problem with it melting to the fabric or distorting anything in any way, and I find it holds this kind of project in place much better, then pins-the pins wiggle and make the holes larger in the paper, then the paper can wiggle around!). Always place the iron on the transfer, let set for a certain amount of time, at least 20 seconds on Aunt Martha's, and closer to 1 minute on home made ones, or reprints like pattern bee, then lift the iron completely off the transfer, and move it to a different section of the transfer.
I find the back end (fat end) of my iron to be hotter and more effective then the front end (narrow end), and I find that the back end of my iron has to sit on each area of the pattern for quite a while with home made or reproduction patterns (like patternbee). Aunt Martha's aren't as tricky and seem to be more sensitive to heat.
I LIKE all patterns, this is not a prejudice against patternbee, I love her and her products, it's just a fact in the difference in how the patterns are. Aunt Martha has been around forever, and is a huge company, they probably can afford machines that does these crisper prints.
If I was a beginner I would start out with Aunt Martha as they are cheap and easy to learn. Then move on to making my own.
BTW, I use a transfer pencil sulky! I was at Joann's last week though and seen one by Dreisl? (I'm probably spelling that wrong). But, it's a red pencil, and it says TRANSFER pencil right on the package. That is probably what you will want to make your own, again you will not get a crisp line, that would be better suited for YOU on pillow cases and the like where you can go back over it easily with a regular old pencil. And I bet you would get a clearer cleaner transfer from a Aunt Martha pattern, on your towel.
OTOH, you can still try to use a number two pencil on your towel right now to help. Just be careful, it's rather hard to do on those thin flour sack towels.
I happen to like a crisp line as well, that's how I know all this stuff. OTOH, remember this is home made and doesn't have to be perfect. I've noticed when I am micromanaging every stitch, and thinking this isn't going to look good! It always looks great when done, even with a few wrong stitches! lol And "wavy" lines, as you can't really tell in the end product! So try not to worry too much about being a straight line etc.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 21 2008 : 4:23:41 PM
Sometimes ironing smears the printer ink when you go over it with the transfer pencils...I have found that out the hard way. I use the window method alot...or just tracing onto the fabric and then having the design nearby to freehand in the details before I start. I know it may be a little scary for some, but I use a sharp point ball point pen to draw the lines I will embroider..always have....it washes out well, makes a thin crisp line, and dosn't smudge ever. The worst thing to use is an eraseable ball point pen. I learned all this the hard way too.
I don't do well with markers since I never feel like it is a crisp enough line, and like Madelynne said some don't last...with pencil it smears easily..really easily. Anyway..thats my 2 cents anyhow.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| wild daisy |
Posted - Sep 21 2008 : 1:04:24 PM
This has always worked for me too. Watch what type of invisible marker you choose. One lasts longer and is only removed by washing. I found the cheapest place to get one at Walmart.
Madelynne |
| Alee |
Posted - Sep 21 2008 : 09:28:26 AM
Hi Jami-
You can always tape the printed pattern to a bright window and then tape the fabric up as well. Then find a washable pen, pencil or marker and carefully trace the lines.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
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