How To Choose Fabric and Blanks for Test Stitching

Frog Buddies

I recently read a social media post asking what people use when they are test stitching embroidery designs. Some of the responses surprised me.

You may be amazed at the things some machine embroiderers use for test stitching. Out of around 66 respondents, one used drop cloths purchased at home improvement stores and another simply used two layers of cutaway stabilizer.

You can read why it’s important to test stitch here but, basically, you are doing a dress rehearsal of a project before taking a chance on ruining the actual item upon which you are embroidering.

Farm Buddies

Almost 11 percent said they use fabric by the yard or scraps of fabric to test. You probably noticed that many of Bonnie’s designs are shown on quilting cottons. That is because not only is it the most popular fabric used for machine embroidery on the market, she also uses them personally in quilt blocks, table toppers, pillows, totes and the sort.

Some 21 percent stitched on felt to test and the same amount used thrift stores for their clothing blanks. Favorite thrift store finds were clothing, toweling, and bed sheets as a substitute for quilting cottons.

The majority, almost 32 percent, used items from their closets to test embroidery designs. Multiple stitchouts can be made on a single shirt, towel, or table linen.

 
Airplane Adventures 

To compare apples to apples, it is always best to test on the same kind of fabric that you intend to use for your final project. That allows you to be sure that your stabilizer, needle, tension, and thread colors all do their jobs. It is much easier to make adjustments before starting rather than replace a ruined project.

Perhaps most surprising was that just over 12 percent of those who responded didn’t test stitch at all. Think that test sews are a waste of time and materials? See tips for how to use them here.

What do you use for stitching test sews?

Debbie Henry
Sew Inspired by Bonnie