Dissolvable Stabilizers - heavy
Cedar branches, coral, or other organic shapes can be created with free motion thread work stitched onto a dissolving fabric. Also referred to as water soluble stabilizers, these products may look like fabric, paper or plastic.
The images to the left show how to make organic shapes. We recommend using Avalon Ultra, a strong, thick stabilizer, good for heavy applications of stitching for sewing cedar branches. It has the appearance of a stiff plastic, can be used as is, or placed in a hoop for more control while stitching.
In our second sample, we have take a sharpie and drawn the approximate placement for the stitching. With a free motion foot and the feeddogs down, stitch along the drawn lines, making at least 5-6 passes of stitches. It is important to ensure all stitches are secured to each other.
Cut of any excess stablizer and set aside. Pin the organic shape to a meat tray or similar base, and rinse away all of the stabilizer. Leave the shape pinned to the base and allow to dry. If the shape still feels stiff, simply rinse again to ensure all the stabilizer is removed.
With Avalon Ultra, take your left over bits that were cut away from your organic shape and wet the edges. You can then join these pieces to create a larger piece and eliminate any waste. Remember, any unused dissolvable fabric should be stored in a zip lock bag to prevent moisture from dissolving your material before you use it!
