Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was very hesitant to use this product, and avoided it for awhile after seeing some of the negative reviews. I'm so glad I took the chance as I've had nothing but great experiences and amazing projects with the use of sulky. I use this for hand embroidery. This product has taken my stitching projects from good to great! This is very simple to use and makes stitching on terry, knit, cotton, waffle threaded and a myriad of other fabrics even, professional looking and beautiful. It not only stabilizes the fabric but allows your stitches to sit on top of the fabric perfectly. The stitches do not sink into the fabric, your stitches don't pull threads of the fabric up with your stitches (as stitching on terry can do without the proper stabilizer). And my favorite part is that this is a stabilizer that also serves as pattern for your stitching. I use it one of two ways. The 1st way I use it is to hand draw with a regular pencil, whatever design or words it is I want to stitch on the sulky sheet. Or, I print what I want to stitch (pictures or specific font for words or a combination of the two) on the sulky sheet. I take whatever hoop I'm using (some fabrics you don't need a hoop for if the fabric has some firmness - but I hoop most of them) and then place that on top of the sulky sheet that has the design on it. I use the outside of the hoop to trace, with a pencil, the outside rim of my hoop with my design in the middle as it would be if hooped up. This shows where my hoop, at its outer edges will extend. Then I trim the excess sulky sheet around that line, adding an additional two or so inches as the sulky should extend beyond the hoop after you have hooped your project. I prepare my fabric, peel off the back side of the sheet and it sticks to the fabric. I hoop the fabric which now has the sulky stuck to the front, and begin to sew! It is very easy and another benefit, if you're like me, is that the sulky has small little dots evenly spaced on the sheet. Not printed dots, but small little dots, almost like tiny depressions that's part of the sheet makeup. I use those to help ensure my stitches are even and spaced. That's just a byproduct I didn't expect. It helps me keep all my stitches exactly the same size. If you don't need them, it won't hurt your project any as I didn't even realize they were there until my 2nd use of the sheets. After I'm done with my stitching, I un-hoop it and pull up the edges of those excess inches of sulky that had extended around my hoop. I then trim off as much of the excess sulky as possible. I then take a bowl of very hot tap water and place the project in it. I agitate, or stir, lightly for 1-2 minutes and that dissolves whatever sulky is left on the fabric. If it doesn't come all off in the first minute or two, dump your water and start with fresh water and repeat. I've only had to do that once, but I think it was because I didn't trim as much of the excess off as I should have. After I have dissolved the sulky in the bowl of hot water. I rinse my fabric it under the faucet with warm water to ensure I have all of the dissolved agent off of my fabric. And I'm not gentle with it (I'm not beating it on a rock or washing board either, but you needn't be overly ginger). After I have rinsed it thoroughly and squeezed excess water out, I let it air dry. After that, I usually either hand wash it or wash it on a gentle cycle after before giving it as a gift or incorporating it into another project I'm working on. That's it! It really is very simple. There are wonderful instructions included. Now, there have been some comments left on other reviews with experiences I have never had or my fellow stitching sisters who I shared this wonderful find with. The only side effect I've had is that you need to keep your needle sharp. They do tend to dull a bit quicker when using the sulky sheet. I think this is understandable as you are going through two layers instead of one and the sulky feels a little thick when you 1st start using it. I've never had a gummed up needle and I've done over 40 projects with this. What I do is have my needle emery handy, or the purple needle sharpener pad is what I prefer to use, and when I change thread colors, or if the needle feels a little dull - I just sharpen it up. Problem solved. The end product is a beautifully stitched product where your stitches threads/design is on top of your fabric evenly as opposed to swallowed by it or, if using knit or cotton fabrics which stretch, it keeps your fabric stable while simultaneously having your pattern as a map directly on the stabilizing agent. Then when your done stitching, that stabilizer isn't visible on the back. It really is great and I suggest it whole heartedly. Stitchers enjoy this great tool for our sewing box! I'd be happy to respond to any questions if left in the comment section. I was really nervous the first time I used it so I did a small project, a sampler, in order to test it. I'm happy to say it passed with flying cotton flouche and over dyed colors! One last warning - you might just become sulky addicted. I did.