Solvy

[Cindy]

What am I doing wrong? I read on this board how easy it is to remove the solvy topping, but yet every time I use it, I have to practically soak the item or wash it before I get the topping out. I have used Melco's and OESD's water soluble, but I get the same results with both.

[Judy]

Solvy is a pain. I cheat. I cover my ironing board with brown paper, lightly mist the Solvy, then put the garment face down on the paper and iron the back of the garment using steam. It makes it melt and stick to the brown paper.

HTH,
Judy

[TinaK]

Cindy:

It depends on the solvy you are using. I used to use solvy that was a fiber looking and had to wash everything that I used it on to get it off. I am now using the solvy that is clear looking and use a steamer to get it off. I believe I got it from Madeira by the roll.

Another thing is you can't spray the solvy ontop of the sewing area or you will have problems. You must always hoop the solvy as well.

Hope these help you and good luck!

[Cindy]

How do you get the solvy off the top if you can't spray on the top? The larger areas I could just tear off easily, but the smaller areas was impossible.

[levelbest]

We're now using the heat n gone instead. Have found it creates much less a mess.

[signman]

We use the 'clear' solvy-and pick off what we can with tweezers, then on most fabrics we have the little hand held 'steamer' (free from Oreck if you buy a vacuum from them...LOL...) and with the 'clothing' head on it, that gets rid of the rest easily. On plain sweats, heavy fabric, we have a moist sponge (just barely damp, not dripping) and a couple swipes with that and the solvy is gone.
Real fine detail that has solvy left, we tell the customer that the first time they wash it-it's gone...and no one has complained about it.

[TinaK]

Once I am done sewing I tear all the solvy off which I would say 95 - 99% comes off this way and the rest I use the steamer on. I will wad up the solvy I just pulled off the design and then use that to help pull up the unused solvy around the design in conjuction with the steamer. Hope that makes sense!

If you belong to Embroidery Tips and More that is where I learned to take the solvy off and let me tell you it has made a huge difference in things as I do alot of towels and it cut my time in half now...no more washer and drier for me!

[Rod or Sharon]

Basically the same thing Tina is saying... We keep a spray bottle of water in the sewing area and after picking off what Solvy we can, mist the garment lightly then use the "pulled off" Solvy to dab against what is left on the garment. It will lift right up. Just remember to keep the dry Solvy turning in your hand or it will become a sticky mess in your hand!
Sharon

[GF]

I do the same as you but what I'm wondering is this. The solvey used as a topping is fine. I'm looking for a tearaway or heat-soluable stabilizer (more like fabric) which could used to stabilize (bottom of fabric) sensitive fabric like wool which felts with water, or silk and the like. I would still use the solvey on top, but solvey doesn't stabilize the fabric enough from the bottom. Like the sticky-back adhesive stabilizer that is water soluable. Would like to know if an equal exists that is heat soluable?

[Steve]

I do the same as Sharon. I have an old Windex bottle which has water in it (This way the shirt isn't soaked with water.)
Pick off as much as you can then spray the water on it.

[Shuffletown Embroidery]

Floriani has a product called heat n gone. It will hold a small number of stitches.
But why wouldn't you use a tearaway?
Mary

[GF]

I do presently use a tearaway. It works fine except the really little gaps of tearaway still exist on the back and I'd like to achieve a really nice, clean, no-stabilizer remaining, finished piece.

[Shuffletown Embroidery]

I've been battling with the same thing. I have many suggestions because I have tried a lot of tricks. If you'd like to call me to discuss some ideas, my number is 704-398-1273. I have unlimited LD, so I could call you. My email address is [email protected].
Mary

[Steve I]

This is what I do and it has worked fine for me for 12 years. I have made a ball out of the solvy I have torn off. Just wet it and roll it around in your palms to compress it (it's a little messy but it washes reght off). If you store it in an air tight container it stays semi soft. When you have solvy to remove from garments, just pull off what easily comes off, give the rest a light spray of water, dampen the solvy ball and roll it around in your palms and it will become sticky (you will have to adjust the abount of water to put on the ball to get the stickyness you need) then just dab the damp solvy on the garment with the ball and it will stick to the ball and the garment will be solvy free.

Steve I.
Trinity Embroidery

[Bill C @ Fineline]

On the topic of Solvy, we have use spray starch for years. Takes very little and dries quickly. Removes hoop rings with ease. We tried steam and water spray, but that was messy. I know that Hart does't reccomend it, but I dont know why