Embroidery test sewing help

We have found a "new" way to see how well the stabilizers and methods you are using are working with so that your embroidery designs look GREAT without any off outlines, puckering, cupping or warping. This is a TEST - Only a Test - but  if You and your stabilizers pass -  You will have great looking designs. And if your methods and stabilizers don't pass - you can just try again - Till you get it right.

I think and recommend that we should test stitch all designs every time that we stitch-out any new design for the first time. With testing we get to see how the colors work out and whether we have used the right stabilizers and methods. After the test stitching - we can easily see if the outlines are off and if all the parts line-up -  BUT - we don't know if the fault is in the design itself or in the stabilizing. This is where our New "stabilizing test" is really useful. It can show us if we have used the right stabilizers and methods. It's real easy - just baste a "picture frame" around the design. And when you are finished stitching - you can easily see if the basting stitch is still straight or if the design stitching has pulled it in - in some places and made the straight basting picture frame no longer straight. If it is not straight - then the conclusion has to be that either you used the wrong stabilizer for this fabric and design or that you didn't use enough or in the right way (method).

And conversely - If the basting frame stitch is still straight and the outlines are off or certain parts don't line up - then the conclusion has to be that the stabilizers and methods used are  OK - And the problem is the fault of the design. ( Of course in any test we need to make sure that everything is working properly and that we are using the right needle, have the right tension settings and ect.)

Please let me know what you think about the "stabilizing test" above and if you tried it - and what the results were -  I think is is a great idea - I wish that I could take the credit for it - but Sandy gets all the credit for this - But I can take credit for writing this and passing a good idea along. - I hope.

Below is some more  info and thoughts on stabilizers from Sandy - and a Basting file to download and more testing info.

Terry   E-mail - ThreadArtist@qx.net