Replies

1. 
   mem1 | Mar 31, 2005 05:36am | #1

   I havent worked on pashmina fabric but have worked on delicate fabric. The problem is in hooping up the fabric.The stretching ruins the fabric. The way to get around this is to use a stabilizer which has a sticky side on it . The stuff I used has a paper side and a tear away side . The stabilizer is hooped up paper side up without the fabric and then the paper side taken off and the fabric adhered to it so the fabric is stabilized by being stuck to the hooped up stabilizer...You can then do your embroidery and when you have finished you can gently tear away the stabilizer.I have bought this stabilizer at sewing machine shops . If you couldnt find it you could just use a spray on temporary adhesive and spray this onto ordinary stabilizer with a paper guard stopping any over spray. The other thing you could try is actually sewing the pashmina onto the stabilizer and then hooping up only the stabilizer.Some people would suggest using a soluable overlay on top of the pashmina so that the stitches are laid onto the fabric . This is how you do it with towells or knit fabrics . I havent ever used it though and have found it fine .I would experiment with some fabric of a similar weight. Also think about using a coloured thread in the bobbin so that the decorative effect is carried through to the wrong side.Hope this helps.

2. 
   carolfresia | Mar 31, 2005 04:56pm | #2

   Mem's advice is good--I'd second her recommendation of using a sticky stabilizer or temporary adhesive spray so you don't have to hoop the fabric itself.

   Equally important is your choice of embroidery design. Because the fabric is lightweight, you're best off using designs that aren't very dense. Delicate, outline-type designs would probably work well. Since you'll want to use a tearaway stabilizer and remove all visible bits of it, you need to avoid heavy designs that need the support of a cutaway stabilizer.  

   Carol

3. 
   SewTruTerry | Apr 04, 2005 04:42pm | #3

   Also think about the design as well. I would recommend one that is lighter and perhaps airier than you may think so that the end result is not board like and bullet proof. Remember you love the pashmina because of the drape and the softness of the fabric so do try to keep that in mind when comtemplating the design.