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[puppyjo]

having just started with machine embroidery,i have a question. i want to make a couple patches to iron on some old comfy pants. what staberlizer to use and basically how to. thank you mary jo

[Cutiepie]

Well, there are a few ways you can make patches. One that I have used (and have been pretty happy with) is to take some heavy twill/light denim fabric for the patch. Stabilize it (1 layer medium-weight cut-away is what I usually use on these) and then sew a satin-stitch outline that is bigger than the design I want to use. Then, I sew the design inside the frame I have made. I trim the patch as close to the satin stitch line as I can without cutting any stitching, run a line of FrayCheck on the cut edge to keep it from fraying, and then sew or glue the patch onto whatever I made it for. I did four dozen hats this way, and it was SO much easier than trying to hoop the hats themselves.

If you want to be able to iron your patches on, you will probably have to use a product like WonderUnder or StitchWitchery. The glues from those will hold fairly well, but not as well as sewing would.

Of course, there is also the option of sewing directly on your garment/pants. It is usually pretty easy to unpick the inner leg seam to give you enough room to hoop most anywhere on the pants, and it's a zip to stitch back together.

Good luck with your project, and when you are done, post some pictures for others to see. We all love to see what everyone else is doing!