I want to embroider words on some fabric that will be used for a quilt patch, but I want to cut it out first..

Question

and then do the iron on transfer, and then wash it, so the remainder of the iron on transfer comes off. Will the shape I cut change at all? In other words will it still be accurate enough to be used as a quilt piece?

Answer 1

best to do a test piece first, wouldn't want to go to all that effort without testing first.....and if the fabric is cotton, well, cotton usually shrinks a bit so you would need to certainly prewash it..

Answer 2

Cut it a little bigger, and finish off the edges with a narrow zigzag stitch. After you wash it, trim it down to actual size.

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Answer 3

Yes, your quilt piece will change -- and possibly quite a bit! It's best to do your embroidery first, hand wash the piece to prevent fraying of the edges, press the piece nice and flat with an iron, and then cut it to the proper size.

Answer 4

No...it will distort.  Actually, what I would suggest is that you cut the patch out about 1" larger than needed.  Do the transfer process.  I would first iron the patch to freezer paper, with the paper ironed on the back of the patch to keep it square while putting the transfer on it.  Remove the freezer paper.

If you are going to hand embroider...you may want to make sure your patch is large enough to fit securely into a hoop...should not be hard to find a hoop small enough...but... I hate fighting the edge of the hoop when I am stitching...keep that in mind.  

Once embroidered...soak the patch in a small pan/bowl (glass or plastic) that has dish soap, water and a little oxyclean in it... peroxide (stuff used for cuts) will work also.  

This should remove all the transfer.  Soak until the transfer is no longer visable...rinse, roll in a towel to remove as much water as you can..then let it air dry....press from the back while still slightly damp...I use a bit of spray sizing or starch to add body back to my embroidered pieces before I square them up with a ruler & my rotary cutter.

You will be PRESSING the patch, not ironing it...Press by putting the iron onto the patch, then lift and put on another section..repeat until the patch is pressed & dry.  

Hope this helps

Marge

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