Remember back when the lunch boxes had the pocket on the top? (I must admit I still have several originals in my mint. Retired Colors Museum!) Before I purchased my Fast Frames system, I used to have the darnedest time stitching on them. Sewing through the two layers of nylon and the insulated lining caused the thread to loop on top of the bag, giving the embroidery a hairy appearance--I don't know about you, but I don't do hair. I was very excited when Christi decided to lose the pocket, but was suprised to learn that not everyone felt that way.
A lot of people liked the fact that the pocket hid the stitching and preserved the insulated lining. For those purists, you still have the option to stitch on the front pocket, but for others, especially customers with home machines, stitching through the top is usually easiest.
Here are some tricks I have found to make stitching on the lunch boxes easier:
- Try using a lightweight sticky stabilizer as opposed to a heavy duty one. Some of the super sticky stabilizers can pull at the lining when removing the bag, causing the lining to tear a bit. A couple of good ones I have found are the Sulky Sticky (readily available at most sewing/fabric stores) or Enviro Stick--an envrionmentally-friendly backing from American Embroidery Supply (save a lunch box and a tree at the same time!). When done stitching, gently press on the underside of the embroidery while pulling on the stabilizer to remove excess. If sticky residue remains on the bag, remove with a cotton ball dipped in alcohol.
- Use, reuse and just when you thought your were done with it use the same piece of sticky stabilizer again till it don't work no more! Just keep adding patches to cover the hole. My record was 27 lunch boxes stitched before swapping out the original piece! I don't like to throw anything away--ask my husband, Steve Homemaker, and my neighbors who were forced to view the contents of my garage for 24 hours when our garage door broke. (The trucks from TLC just left--look for Suzi Homemaker on an upcoming episode of "Hoarders.")
- Use a lightweight tear-away or cutaway stabilizer and adhere the bag either with pins or adhesive spray. When done stitching, gently press the underside of the embroidery while pulling away excess stabilizer or cut away with scissors. Again, use a cotton ball dipped in alcohol to remove sticky residue.
- I have heard the suggestion to use a silver tape to cover up the stitches, but I have never tried that. I would be concerned that the edges of the tape would get all funky and covered in gradoo (Southern term for crud), and, much like hair, I don't do gradoo.
I am all for learning new tips and tricks to make my life easier, like the time I jerry-rigged my Grandmother's 1940s ironing board with a bungee cord to hold a very large, very heavy rolling backpack in place. What have you tried that has been successful when stitching on the lunch boxes or what would you caution not to do?
