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Stabilizer Solutions – Say NO to Droopy Freestanding Lace Embroidery

No one likes droopy freestanding lace embroidery designs!

We Carry
by Sara Snuggerud in Embroidery, Sewing Tips

Say NO to the DROOP!

We have been doing some in-store testing of wash-away stabilizer combinations to see which ones provide the best freestanding lace results.

No one likes droopy freestanding lace embroidery designs. All that time, thread and stabilizer, all to end up with a floppy looking embroidery design.

We have often used 2 layers of AquaMesh stabilizers because we like the feel of the stabilizer and it does not rip or perforate apart with the heavy stitches of freestanding lace during embroidery.

But after decorating the entire store Christmas tree with while lace designs (bucket list)! for the holiday season, we started to wonder if there was a better solution for stiffer designs. Some of the designs started to look droopy over time.

After our Facebook fans voted for us to leave the Christmas tree up and decorate it for Valentine’s day, we started testing…

The following three test where completed…

  1. One layer of Inspira Dissolve Away topping + one layer of Inspira AquaMagic
  2. Two layers of Inspira Dissolve Away topping + one layer of Inspira AquaMagic
  3. One layer of Inspira Dissolve Away Max + one layer of Inspira AquaMagic

Our favorite was Test #3 – One layer of Inspira Dissolve Away Max + one layer of Inspira AquaMagic

The combination of the stiffness of the Inspira Dissolve Away Max and the base support of the Inspira AquaMagic to support the high amount of stitches to form freestanding lace embroidery designs.

After embroidery, the hearts washed out in very quickly with warm running water in a sink. Set wet lace embroidery on wax paper or parchment paper to dry. Use a steam iron to finish the flattening of the designs once they are completely dry.

If you live in a humid area, select the OESD StitcH2O in place of Inspira AquaMagic to keep the embroidery machine’s embroidery foot from sticking to the plastic like feel of water soluable stabilizers.

The final results: Amazingly stiff free standing lace ornaments that will look sharp for years to come!