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Spray Adhesive: How much to spray?
By Serena Nabeta | November 14, 2007
How do you know how much spray adhesive it too much or too little? There are two factors to consider when using spray adhesive: (1) the fabric being used (2) the design being stitched.
Some fabrics will stick better than others. Flannel and fleece grip the stabilizer very well with just a little bit of spray adhesive. More spray adhesive is needed for cotton, denim and polyester. Stiffer fabrics and fabrics with a finish will usually require more adhesive to hold it to the stabilizer. After you have stitched with several different fabrics, you will get a feel for which ones need more adhesive and which ones will require less.
If you are stitching a dense design (for example 10,000+ stitches), it will need more adhesive to hold the fabric down to the stabilizer. Each time the needle is inserted into the fabric, it weakens the hold the fabric has on the stabilizer just a little bit. For lighter designs such as satin stitch and redwork outlines, you may not need quite as much adhesive. If you are sticking stabilizer to the fabric for decorative stitches, only a light coating is needed as most decorative stitches contain open stitchwork.
Always remember to spray the stabilizer and not the fabric. Also be sure to spray not only the area that is going to be stitched, but also around it. Many times we (me included!) will spray the center of the hoop and stick the fabric on it. As the design is being stitched, the fabric tends to pucker toward the middle where the design is because the fabric near the edge of the hoop is not stuck down to the stabilizer. Be sure the fabric is completely stuck down before beginning to stitch and you will have less puckers in the fabric.
Note: If you spray on too much adhesive and it leaves a spot, check this post for some helpful removal tips!
Topics: Embroidery, Helpful Lessons, Stabilizers | Comments Off
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