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Stitching & Crafting Room:  embroidery on flour sack towels?  |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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karla
True Blue Farmgirl
1308 Posts
karla
Pella
Iowa
USA
1308 Posts |
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Dorinda
True Blue Farmgirl
1023 Posts
Dorinda
St. Cloud
Florida
USA
1023 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 22 2011 : 09:53:02 AM
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Most definately use an Embroidery hoop! I never embroider with out a hoop but I have seen some people who do. Have you ever Embroidered with out a Hoop?
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13666 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13666 Posts |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2011 : 2:37:29 PM
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hoop! I used to NEVER use a hoop in fact despised them! But, I found I had to have one for flour sack towels, the thread count is too low and too loose to do it any other way. It's just not stiff enough fabric to do with out. I had been given tons of hoops in the past cause every one knew I stitched, I literally gave them away to some one else when I would get them cause I was such a anti-hoop person, but when I started the flour sack towels I found there was no way around it had to have a hoop, and had to buy one! lol Oh boy I had been given tons of them and had to break down and buy one! lol haha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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alterationsbyemily
True Blue Farmgirl
696 Posts
Emily
Chambersburg
PA
USA
696 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2011 : 3:49:03 PM
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I use a hoop, it helps alot.
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Farmgirl #2951
Currently renting-farmgirl wannabe |
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forgetmenot
True Blue Farmgirl
3602 Posts
Judith
Nora Springs
IA
USA
3602 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2011 : 8:05:22 PM
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I almost always use a hoop. I think the only time I didn't was in the 60's when embroidering my toddler's jean jacket and jeans. It would have to be very heavy fabric before I would trust these old fingers without a hoop.
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something is more important than fear." Ambrose Red Moon |
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J.F. Brown
True Blue Farmgirl
130 Posts
Jamie
Beaverton
OR
USA
130 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2011 : 9:55:41 PM
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| Judith, I was thinking the same thing! Those jeans and jackets everyone wore, and some really darling little Oshkosh overalls I embroidered for my son, then all his sisters wore as well! But yes, anything else you really want the fabric taut, and the area held still, not slipping around! |
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doglady
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Tina
Howard
Ohio
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2011 : 5:44:46 PM
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Where does everyone find really nice/heavier flour sacks to embroider on? Thanks
Dogs never judge people, they only forgive!
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2011 : 6:01:04 PM
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um you don't want a "nice/heavier" flour sack towel cause that defeats the purpose of why people use flour sack towels. I used to think they were not good quality cause they were so thin, and loose weave, but that's what you want in a flour sack towel (and why I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER go back to terry cloth for the kitchen!). The thin loose weave dries super FAST, and you can dry and dry and dry dishes with out it being soaking wet. Same with if you are like me and near OCD with washing your hands. If you wash your hands several times each time you are in the kitchen to make something, you can just keep on drying your hands on a nice loose weave thin flour sack towel, cause it will stay near dry. (it gets damp with a LOT of use, but still dries well, unlike heavy terry cloth and what not.)
And contrary to what you think (or at least to what I thought) even though it's super thin and loose weave, they seem to hold up really really well. I have been stitching them for about 5 years, and heavily use mine, and have yet to wear one out! Not threadbare, and no fraying, etc. I really thought from the looks of the ones I got that it must be bad quality and it would fall apart fast, so I just left them in the closet. Then some one gave me one as a gift, and I started using it and noticed it was much better quality then I thought it looked, and held up so well. So I went to the closet dug em out and started stitchin'!
I just get the cheapest ones. So far I have been using the ones from walmart that are now 5 for 6 dollars, when I bought them they were 5 for 5. Martha Stewart has some at Kmart for slightly more, but I haven't tried them. And then Ikea has some for only 50 cents. I bought of bunch of them but haven't had a chance to try them out yet.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2011 : 6:30:51 PM
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Oh and if you have more money to spend. (I don't right now but would like to in the future). Aunt Martha sells them at various stores, Hobby Lobby, Joann's etc. Or directly from their site colonialpatterns.com Then there is also henicles or something like that, henchels maybe......I'm sure another one here could tell you better. They are a online store, and are supposed to have good quality ones too.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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doglady
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Tina
Howard
Ohio
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2011 : 8:32:48 PM
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Thanks Heather, I purchased some really nice medium weight flour sacks a few years back to embroider on and I liked the material but all of them were sewn very crooked on the hem. I'm not sure I want to redo a companies product. It's almost as if they were overstretched when they were made. I guess I can use them just plain so as not to waste them. It's too late to send them back. Tina
Dogs never judge people, they only forgive!
www.kennelcreations.com |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2011 : 9:05:07 PM
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The ones I bought from walmart were not perfectly stitched either, and it bothered me for a long time. And I wouldn't stitch them. But, when my friend gave me the one, you really don't notice it when hanging in the kitchen. I was being perfectionistic, they look really cute stitched up and you don't notice the hem at all! Now I haven't seen yours to say if they are worse then the ones I bought or not. But, I can say I think I was looking at them too closely and too hard. Cause after I just went for it and started stitching them I seen you can't tell the hem is a bit off and crooked, etc. You just don't. But, I think they weren't that bad though either, I think I was looking just too harshly at them. also I think once stitched it draws attention off the manufacturer's stitching, and onto your stitching. lol
So you may want to see if it's the same for you. I know mine even with their crooked hem have never frayed or came loose.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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MaggieMB
True Blue Farmgirl
217 Posts
Mary
western
Pa
217 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2011 : 10:15:54 AM
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| Can anyone tell me how to make the backs of the flour sack towels look nice, when embroidering them? I recently bought some (at Dollar General) and I have never embroidered anything that the backs can possibly be seen. Do you tuck all thread ends, etc? I try to be neat, but maybe not neat enough! MaggieMB |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2011 : 10:36:51 AM
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The thing that really helps the back look neater s to not do cross overs to the next spot you plan to use the color you are working with. Work in the end, cut it, and start new at the next place. Don't worry to much about the back. Look at some old ones at a flea markets or antique stores. After a few washings they seem to hug the flour sack and kind of blend into the fabric. I am really particular about visual stuff but the backs of towels don't bother me. It is one sure way to tell a machine didn't do the work!
Have fun!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2011 : 11:55:41 AM
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I am copying and pasting what I posted on another thread about such. If you have more questions let me know.
I do not use knots. To start out, put your threaded needle through the fabric from the back how you normally would. Pull the thread through the fabric but not all the way out, leave a tail of thread on the back side of the fabric. The length of the tail is up to you. For me it depends on how much use the fabric will be getting, a towel or pillow cases I may use 1 to 2 inch tail, for a wall hanging maybe only 1/3-1/2 inch tail. This is all kind of by sight though not actual measuring. Then go back through your fabric to make your first stitch, you can hold down the tail with your finger for extra security that it doesn't pull through or just be very careful with your first stitch and watch it and go slowly, I do a combo of both. Then when you come back up through the back of the fabric to start your second stitch, maneuver the tail piece of thread where it will get caught in the loop/stitch that is made on the back when you are pulling the thread up through the fabric for the second stitch. Pull your second stitch as taught as you normally would, and then go back down through the fabric finishing your second stitch, you no longer should need to anchor or watch your thread for coming back out as that should anchor it. Continue making stitches however, and maneuvering the thread so that it keeps getting tied/sewn in to each stitch on the back, until there is no more tail. By, the time the tail is completely sewn into your stitches it is VERY secure, I have never had one come loose. And I use my towels heavily and same with pillow cases.
That being said you don't really see it that much once used and washed a few times like Connie said, but I'm OCD about my backs! lol haha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
Edited by - MagnoliaWhisper on Apr 27 2011 11:56:11 AM |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2011 : 12:00:07 PM
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Heather- If I ever run into you at a gathering you are NOT allowed to look at the back of my work! LOL
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: embroidery on flour sack towels? |
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embroidery on flour sack towels?
