Help with FlexFit caps

[samme]

I am trying to put a US Flag on the back of FlexFit caps but they have just enough stretch that the fill ends up going outside of my design. I have tried a tack down stitch to keep it from stretching out of shape but no luck yet. I have tried a heavy weight tear away cap stabalizer and also a cut away stab. but no worky!!! Thank you in advance for any help I can get!

[samme]

I forgot to mention that the design is a Dakota Stock design....

[Rod or Sharon]

What hoop and how are you trying to do this on the back of these caps other than the backing and tack down stitch you have described? How big is this Dakota design?

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[samme]

I am using a 12cm hoop and the design is about 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/4 inches. The design stitches out fine on regular caps but the stretchy part of these particular ones is kicking my behind!

[MJ]

I would use a fusible stablizer -- if you have a mini iron, it's a little easier to fuse the stabilizer where you need it on the cap. Or I have also used the stabilizer that you moisten on the back and then the adhesive on it adheres to the inside of the cap--let it dry before you stitch on it. The third option is there is a soft stabilizer that has adhesive on the back, but it's not an adhesive that will gum up the needle. (Make sure it says it's the type that says it will not gum up the needle.) I have one that has the adhesive and after you're done stitching, it even dissolves away with water. Besides the adhesive layer, I also use another heavy tear away too. If the needle does get a little gummy, it seems that the heavy tearaway layer helps kind of remove the gumminess with each penetration. I just find that I always get the best results when working with anything that has stretch, is to use some kind of stabilizer that will "adhere" to the fabric to minimize stretch. Hope this helps. MJ, Everything Embroidered