Interfacing for Hand Embroidery?
 

I bought some vintage towels on eBay. They are stamped with a very cute design to be hand embroidered. I've done a bit of hand embroidery but it has always been on a fairly tightly woven, stable cotton fabric. This toweling is loosely woven and kind of stretchy even after I starched it. I'm thinking I might need to stabilize it, but I'm not sure what to use. I thought maybe a washaway type stabilizer. I'd appreciate any thoughts or experiences. Thanks.

I think you would probably need to try a few different types first, both iron-on and normal, and you may also have to use a hoop. You will find several kinds of stabilizers at the shops that sell embroidery machines, and look for those that are wash-away and light, not heavy. They may even have some scraps you could test out for hand sewing, as the adhesive may make it difficult.

That's part of my problem. I have several types of stabilizer but I don't have scraps of this fabric to use to test since these are vintage towels I bought so I'm not sure how to test them. I just have the towels with the design stamped on them. I'm going to have to think about this.

are you talking hand or machine? machine definately stablize, but this sounds like a hand embroidery project.
I always used a hoop, a 4ish" round and a 4x8". keeps the background taut, and the finished project is smooth rather than lumpy. stablizer on hand work would make the stitching unnecessarily difficult. If you don't like to use a hoop, starch it?

Yes, it's for hand embroidery. I always use a hoop, but this fabric is kind of loosely woven and not stable. I'm afraid that hooping it will stretch it out that why I was asking about stabilizers. I have starched it but its still not that stable. I may have to just deal with that.

CashsMom ... My thoughts would be to try one of the iron-on wash-out stabilizers. That way if you are not happy with how it works, you can turn back. Of course, that's only going to work IF the stamped design is a permanent stamp, not a wash out one!

The other option would be to try embroidering it as is, with it as straight and true as you can get it in a hoop. It may work out easier than you think. At least, that leaves you with the option to remove the embroidery if you are not happy. And then try something else.

I do a lot of hand embroidery, but so far have gone against the "new rules" and never used a stabilizer. So, I have no true experience to speak from. But I can totally understand your need in this instance and will look for your updates, to learn from your experience ... and hopefully remember, when I need to do the same!

Thanks QuiltE. I've done a bit of embroidery in the past but never worked with this type of fabric. I may starch it again and see how it seems. As you said, I can always try it starched and if it doesn't work, take it out. Hmmm . . . I'll have to work on that.

I’ve done lots of hand embroidery on flour sack towels using both no interfacing and a tacky wash away type interfacing. I preferred not to use the tacky interfacing as it made my needle gummy and I had to constantly wipe the needle with alcohol to remove it. Ugh! The embroidery and the towels have held up well. I washed the towels first, not sure if you can do that with yours, to eliminate shrinkage or at least lessen the possibility. My towels are used often. Not sure if this is helpful.

It is useful, Lena. Thank you. I think I'm going to starch them again and try it not using interfacing. I'm thinking about more and more problems with using stabilizer/interfacing.

You can also use a thin layer of tight cotton or organza sewn with large stitches on the back, to be removed once the embroidery is finished (or not if it doesn't bother you).