Machine Embroidery with Angelina Fibers and Film

Hi I'm back and I have to share my article with you about how to do Machine Embroidery with Angelina Fibers and Film.  Since I'm a big Do-Do and can figure out how to add a link or attach a file- I'll give you a new technique each day.  Hope you enjoy: Toady we are going to learn about Angelina fibers and Film and some of the tings you can do with them.

Angelina is a polyester based fiber developed for the space industry.It does not melt.  It won’t melt on your iron or fabric.  It will only bond to itself.  Best of all, it is completely, washable, dryable and dry-cleanable!  The materials needed to work with Angelina are the most basic and simple.  An iron and a non-stick pressing sheet are all that are needed.  Optional items include powdered fusible (I recommend Bo-Nash magic fusible powder), and a texture stamp (I recommend Stamplates, Texture your Textile Stamps).  For machine embroidery, you will need your design (any kind will work), water-soluble stabilizer and appropriate threads.  The best thing is you won’t need any metallic thread – Angelina  provides all the sparkle your design needs!

First let me give you a little information about Angelina.  This will help you determine which type of Angelina to use in your projects.  Angelina Fiber comes in two different “cuts” – straight cut or crimped cut.  

1.      Straight cut Angelina:  Straight cut Angelina will yield the sparkly results you love, but it delivers more of a sheen.  The straight cut is wonderful to use for needle-felting.  Straight cut will work with needle-felting or embellishing machines as well as hand felting.  You can also texturize it by placing it over a stamp (more on the technique latter) and use that in your embroidery.

2.     Crimped Cut:  My usual recommendation for machine embroidery.  The fiber itself is slightly wider than the straight cut (which makes it unsuitable for needle-felting), and has V-shaped crimps down the length of the strand.  It is highly refractive.  Where the straight cut gives off sheen, the crimped cut yields sparkle and texture.  Tip:  you can mix the two cuts together.   For example, if you love a straight cut color (i.e. copper) and it only comes in straight cut but you want more texture and sparkle, mix it with a crimped cut shade (gold, peacock, pink tickle or watermelon) to get the extra sparkle.

Then there is Angelina Film, which is similar to Mylar.  Why Angelina Film is superior to Mylar, is that Mylar only comes in one color fast color (white) while Angelina Film comes in 18 different colorfast shades – each one which will give you a different effect.  These looks range from metal to glass (wow!).  More on the Film later.

Next we will learn about how to make a cobweb of Angelina to enhance  cutwork lace or snowflake designs.