We know cottons should be preshrunk before we stitch but did you know that some stabilizers can also shrink?

Some of us pre-shrink fabric although many contend that today’s quilt shop cottons are a better quality and don’t have problems with shrinkage like we did in the past.

Have you ever embroidered a design and you know that it was stabilized properly but, when you pulled it out of the hoop and ironed it, the puckers started to show up? More than likely, that's because either the fabric wasn't preshrunk or the stabilizer wasn't preshrunk. When either one shrinks, it pulls and puckers stitches.

This is especially true with poly mesh stabilizer and other woven stabilizers. If you cut two pieces of polymesh stabilizer and pre-shrink one, there can be anywhere from 1/8” to 1/4" difference between the two. That creates puckering.

Here is a tip from SewInspiredByBonnie.com. To preshrink polymesh stabilizer, iron it with the same heat setting that you are going to use on your fabric.

If the fabric is cotton, iron the stabilizer with a cotton setting. If you use spray starch on your fabric, spray starch the stabilizer. If you will use steam on your project after the fact, use steam on your stabilizer. Treat the stabilizer like you think you're going to treat your fabric – before you start stitching.

Some embroiderers also wash and dry their stabilizers to accommodate any shrinkage.

Always test your stabilizer to determine if preshrinking is necessary. It really makes a difference!

Debbie SewBlest