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 Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off (2006)
Author: ErinElizabeth 
Date:   07-26-06 13:49

When I do embroidery, I trace the design onto starched fabric with a fine pencil. It works very well, except for the fact that the tracings fade as I progress with my work (particularly on intricate or large designs) and I lose it. I would appreciate any ideas for how to prevent this. It is very frustrating. I'm hesitant to make the design darker when I first trace it because of the risk of not being able to remove it when I complete the stitching. Ideas?
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: Laurel 
Date:   07-26-06 15:05

You have encountered the Catch 22 of hand embroidery. The more visible you make the tracing, the harder it is likely to be to wash out, and vice versa. I don't starch much, use a thin-lead mechanical pencil and wash by rubbing with bar laundry soap. One option would be a blue marker, but those have risks, too.
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: Elizabeth Clark 
Date:   07-27-06 10:04

One thing I do is trace it out with pencil, then thread-trace it. Takes some extra time, but the threads stay in well, and I can pull them out just before I do each section.

Regards,
Elizabeth C.

www.elizabethstewartclark.com
www.thesewingacademy.org
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: ErinElizabeth 
Date:   07-28-06 00:15

Thank you for the responses. I had not thought of thread tracing. It sounds quite time consuming, almost like embroidering twice!
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: Elizabeth Clark 
Date:   07-29-06 19:31

It is. I use a quick basting stitch by hand, but it does take time. The one thing I like about it is that I can tie off my tracing threads, then wash the whole section if I want, and I don't have any fear of moving graphite or marking chalk into white threads (I trace with cream threads, so they show up, but won't bleed.)

It's a pill, but I like the results, and I can move the whole piece around without moving any markings.

Regards,
Elizabeth C.

www.elizabethstewartclark.com
www.thesewingacademy.org
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: lib 
Date:   07-31-06 19:23

I do starch quite a lot, so that the pencil marks come out of the fabric nicely - the pencil lies on the starch, not the fabric. However, if the marks are very dark or the lead is a soft lead, they not only wear off, but embed themselves in the thread that you are using for embroidery and that can be hard to remove. I've had good luck with getting the fabric wet after the embroidery is finisge, putting Dawn dis-waching soap on the fabric, and gently scrubbing with an old, soft toothbruch, then soaking for awhile.

There is less risk of the lines being picked up by the thread if you use a 4H pencil or a Dixon pencil and mark lightly to begin with. You can always trace over the marked line again if you see it starting to fade out.

I'd rather use the pencil than the blue washable marker because of some sad experience with them.
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: love2sew 
Date:   08-03-06 07:48

I just mark lightly with a mechanical pencil on starched fabric also. I retrace when necessary. I don't care for the blue washable marking pens either. I like the fine line I get with the pencil (it doesn't bleed). Also, once it's washed out it doesn't reappear or turn brown like I've had happen with the blue pen. Many like those washable pens though.
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: Tass 
Date:   08-04-06 21:23

I dont know what your are embroidering., but a small piece of solvy or water soluble vilene.
Trace the design onto the vilene/solvy then place/pin/tack, on your fabric.
Please test first on a scrap of fabric.
Rosemary

Tass
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: MariaP 
Date:   08-05-06 21:54

Just this week I used a fine mechanical pencil on lightly starched 100% cotton. After embroidering, I soaked one hour in Bix, rinsed then did the Dawn on a very soft toothbrush. It all came out perfectly and my embroidery never knew the difference.
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: ErinElizabeth 
Date:   08-06-06 23:17

I usually do very small, detailed embroidery. Because of all the detail, I end up handling the piece quite a bit before it is finished. That is why the marks rub off.
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: Mary Corbet 
Date:   08-26-06 14:12

I like the lead pencil, too. I have never had a bad experience with the blue markers ----- but your posts have put me in a panic!!!!

Normally, I use pencil, heavily starching the fabric and lightly drawing the design with a mechanical pencil. But I began working on a small white linen piece and thought, what the heck, I'd use the blue pen, because other people seem to use it ok.

Am I going to regret it!!!??????? Aaack. I've put heaps of time into this piece!! I wonder if I can Biz it when I finish, and that will remove any trace that the blue pen was ever there???!

Mary Corbet
www.needlenthread.com
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 Re: Embroidery tracing keeps wearing off
Author: lib 
Date:   08-26-06 14:32

NOOO - first soak the washable marker at least 30 minutes in PLAIN, COLD water, no soap or detergent or anything. Soap or laundry additives like Biz will set the stain, and so will heat. Had a friend in Charlreston who left her piece in her car on a hot summer day, the heat set the marker. I know that in may of Miss Martha's classes, they have you use a blue marker on starched fabric and press over it, and it gives me the shivers every time - won't do it.
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