Sewers - please could you give me a little bit of advice?

[Astrophe]

I have decorated a t-shirt for my DS by sewing on fabric in a rocket shop. I bought the double sided iron on stuff, ironed it on, then zig zagged around the picture. I'm really happy with how it looks but when I washed it some of the threads unraveled. Is there any way I can stop this happening? Do I just cut the threads off really close and hpope for the best?

TIA

er...I mean rocket shape!

if you're zigzagging round the edges, it will look messy to do the usual "backtack" that you would on a straight line of sewing.

i would go to the end and stop sewing, but pull out a long bit of thread from the bobbin (before cutting it off) and put a knot in it on the wrong side of the teeshirt.

if you chop it off really close you risk it unravelling more.

thanks nickelbabe, I will try that.

Do you think the front will still unravel though? Maybe I should try getting a needle and sewing the front cotton through to the back, then tie the front and bobbin thread together....hmmmmm, I can't help thinking there must be an easier way!

If you gently ease the long thread at the back, you should be able to get it to coax the loop through from the front - you can then pull the loop and get the thread through from the front - knot these two threads together and all should be well.

if you're still worried it'll unravel (and i'm assuming you mean the patch rather than the sewing), then make the zigzag shorter (ie the stiches closer together)

and echo what mistle just said!

(hey - nickle, that's two threads in a row where we've agreed, and one not!!!)

i was just thinking how unusual it was for us to agree on something!

But, as far as I can remember, we've only disagreed on what a 'sponge' is - and not really a big deal then anyway!

Hi Astrophe,
Did you cut out the shape of a rocket from some fabric? Did you seal the edges with something like 'fraystop' before you stuck it to the tee shirt? If not, then this might explain why threads came loose once you washed it. You probably can trim these ones close if you are careful.

Nickelbabe is correct that doing a closer zigzag should stop those threads from coming loose.

If it was the zig zagging that came loose then I would check the quality of the thread used. Chuck if its 100%cotton and more than a few years old - no strength in it. If the threads ok then check the needle size is right for the thread and fabric as this can make a difference.

I enjoyed making things for my boys when they were young - happy memories

Thanks everyone!

It is the stitching that is coming undone, not the actual patch.

Thanks for all those tips. I have no idea if the needle is the right size, only that its as old as billio as its my mum's machine and she rarely uses it. Will pop down to local quilting shop and see if they can advise.

you'll want a 80 or 100 size needle.

(thanks mistle! wwas worried you thought i was some weirdo that followed you around disagreeing! )

with a ballpoint.

Thanks

I thought this was going to be about drainage...

I think pulling the thread through (like what the others said) then stitching a knot will fix the loose ones.

(For future projects) when doing a zigzag my book recommends that you start and end with a running stitch which you backtack which stops the end of the zigzag unravelling (used to happen on all my appliqued cushions until I read this - in the machine manual...oops!)

lol captain nancy
thanks herethereandeverywhere