Soil protector cloth
 

We were at Lowe's today to pick up some things and I asked about "soil protector cloth". This really nice lady showed me where it was. There was 1 roll of it, and it was marked down to $4.34. I grabbed it! I guess I'll find out how well it works. For that price, I can't complain.

Never heard of it but I use a tarp for outside and sheet or scrap yardage for inside.

I'm confused! What do you intend to do with it? Was this part of another thread previous to this post?

If you mean soil separator or trench cloth, I just got some a few weeks ago -I had the opportunity to use it yesterday for applique (stitch on the quarter inch line with right sides together, cut a slit in separator cloth and turn right side out). It works ok for the one piece I tried, BUT - it does melt if you use too hot an iron....... Having said that, the circle came out fairly well, and when appliqued to the base fabric, there was very little extra bulk. I just have to remember to cool the iron down next time!

I have heard of it being used as a stabilizer for embroidery too but I have no knowledge or experience (yet) in that field.

I think some people use it as stablizer for embroidery.

Looks like we all saw this at once!LOL

What does this soil protector cloth look like and what do Lowes sell it for. Is it a ground cover item?

DH did road, sewer, and storm sewer construction for 25+ years. He has used all kinds of soil stabilization fabrics over the years. He says that they would be very hard on your needles. He says that the first cut w/a utility knife will dull the knife.

I have used this many times outside, but for the life of me, I just don't see it being used in sewing. I would NOT risk using that on my machine.

What is it exactly? I didn't know soil needed protecting. Guess I've never heard of it.

I've never used it before, so didn't really know what to expect. After removing the plastic cover, it seems like it would do well for embroidery stabilizer. It doesn't seem as dense to me as a dryer sheet. I would imagine it would melt rather easily. I've seen heavier stabilizer used forr embroidery than this is. I don't see at all what there would be to cause any issues with any machine. It isn't a heavy fabric at all.

Very light weight. Much less dense than a dryer sheet.

Could you post a picture of the label so we can see what it is?

Still haven't found out anything about it. How do you use and and why?

I think I was the one who brought this up...I saw it demoed at a guild meeting and there was a run of it at our Home Depot afterwards.......me included. But I must confess I gave not used it yet. The demo claimed it was good for embroidery stabilizer and also machine appliqué...where you sew, slit, and flip out and machine sew to background. The price is much lower than fabric stabilizers, but good to know about lowering heat on iron when using.....will remember that. Personally, I had never heard of this product....I found it in the plumbing supplies aisle....

I believe I read about it here on the QB, possibly for use as the foundation for paper piecing where the foundation material would not have to be removed. Its original use is for sewer type plumbing outside to filter the dirt from going into the holes of the pvc pipes that are used for water run off for a septic system.

DH did road, sewer, and storm sewer construction for 25+ years. He has used all kinds of soil stabilization fabrics over the years. He says that they would be very hard on your needles. He says that the first cut w/a utility knife will dull the knife.

I think the type of sewer cloth your DH is referring to is very tough, more like a tarp. This product is extremely light weight and very flexible...can wad it up in your hand like a dryer sheet! I use it for machine embroidery all the time, light weight stabilizer and very affordable. Unless it is on a special or discontinued, never found a $5 roll, but usually less than $12. Most home improvement stores carry it (garden dept) it comes in white and in black. The roll is huge and so I feel like I can experiment with it. Hot iron will melt it! Have done some applique with it...shapes on baby blankets, etc. and it works very well for that as well. I can see that it would work for strip quilting and paper piecing as long as you didn't press with hot iron. Does not add extra weight into the final product. Worth the money IMHO for a product to keep on hand for when it is useable.

I asked DH to buy me a roll of it when he was going to Lowes. He came home with six rolls! He thought I was going to use it for my flower beds (?) and wanted me to have enough. LOL I think it will work great to put in the bottom of my planters.

Okay, now I remember that someone posted about using this for applique backing, sort of like Eleanor Burns' "Sunbonnet Sue" instructions. I know it as landscape cloth. I have not seen it in white, brings up all sorts of thoughts for tracing patterns, interfacing clothing, etc. To think that the last trip to Home Depot, I snoozed in the car while husband went in!

Thanks for a good laugh. 6 rolls!

Great DH Onebyone. Got to love him! lol

I've used soil separator from Lowes' for at least 10 years. I use it as embroidery stabilizer (using as many layers as I need) I have also used it to make patterns for purses & totes.

A few years ago I read the tip about using this fiber from the plumbing department. I thought "WOW that sounds great and cheap!". I didn't rest until I had found some in Lowe's after looking in different places. I was so excited to have found something so cheap. I have a Husqvarna Diamond embroidery machine. I used the product once and that was enough for me. It did not work well for me as a stabilizer, melted with very little heat, and was generally yucky. I thought " I spend a fortune on a machine, thread, designs, and all of the gadgets associated with my hobby, why not used nice stabilizer?". Plus, my thought was that I did not want any of this product left in a project that I was making. This big roll was immediately put out in the garage with my gardening tools. I do like the idea of using it in the bottom of my pots. I had not thought of that. Thanks! This is only my experience and it is great if it works for some of you. I do love most of the great tips that I get from this group, my go to group every day:)