If you unpick that terrible wording, how about appliqueing a new banner either over the top OR remove that one and redo it. The only other thing is to see one of our members live near you and can do the embroidery for you first, then you applique it in place over that one or where it was. I am sorry I live too far away for me to do it. I hope you can find some one soon. But you must remove that terrible embroidery FIRST otherwise it will show underneath. Good Luck.

me too...easiest solution...I would take the cut off piece and show them why you had to replace it. At least they won't say "no problem" next time :lol:

The lettering is way toooo dense for the fabric. The other way to explain it, is too thick. If you agreed when it was shown, not much you can do about it. For quilting always try to keep the embroidery light and airy. Somewhat like red work. Sometimes it is hard to get a customer to understand what they picture in their minds isn't always what is best for the fabric. Could you try to press it with a damp cloth to moisten it and then ever so slightly pull in different directions to smooth it out, pin in place until it is dry? Sometimes we do this to square a block to the corret size? If it is a wall hanging that might work for you.

Good Luck

Suzy

Did they put a heavy stabilizer on the back before embroidering?

Oooo....the lettering wasn't the problem , it's all those puckering! Gee, i hope you can get this resolved somehow.
Wondering if the shop will considering fixing it right by asking them? They could have seen how it did not look right before you came to pick it up though, that is sloppy business.

Rachel

It's nice to see that you have found a solution.
I bet that that will be the nicest "Let it Snow" banner that I have ever seen! Please post a photo when you are done!
TreeFrog

This would be my suggestion also. Maybe not cut out the existing one but remove the stitches and then applique a new embroidered banner on top. Sorry this happened to your lovely work. Stabilizing can be tricky but if they are in the business, they should have known better.

That sucks. I would at least ask for your money back. But I think it still looks very nice. after quilting, the problems may not be as noticeable.

Definetly not stabilized properly. I would not recommend trying to take out the stitching as, by the very nature of the numerous needle punctures during the embroidery process, the underlying fabric will have been compromized and no longer be sound. Eddie's suggestion of stippling the banner area seems to me to be your best solution.

Although this does not solve your problem, I was thinking last night (as I went to bed) of some other things that might have caused this that can be avoided in the future. Many embroidery alphas are digitized in a certain size. If the size is changed more or less than 20% problems can develop. Large lettering can be a problem because of the way the letter stitching is done. I am not a digitizer but have delt with large lettering. If hse changed the lettering size from the sample you saw or the size it was digitized for this could also be a cause. Next time pick a font style, pick a size, have her sew it out on a sample of your fabric and see how it looks. Did you have just a single piece of fabric? Is her stabilizer still on your project? Whatever....have them remove the stitches and refund your money. Sometimes people's expectations are unrealistic but I think they should still make good on it. I know I would. If you really like that font she might be able to stitch out just the outline stitching as a template for applique letters....or print them out for you to use. Best wishes on dealing with you disappointment....

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Amazing. (I have been back at least 5 times.)

Oh what a sin :( that really sux I can get my own to look better than that and I'm just learning embroidery. I'm so sorry that happened to you. I know, if you're like you say, and won't say anything, just tell Mom it's made with lots of love. She will love it, puckers and all. Wendy

Ooops, I see you have a solution, that's good too :)

I agree with Eddie, not enough stabilizer or either the wrong kind, ask me how I know? Brr r r r

First, I am assuming you paid for this work and why pay for something that was not done well? If this is a business, I am surprised they would offer it back to you, looking like that. Take others advice and go back for a talk with them about it.

The embroidery was not done well, stabilizer was not used properly, tension was probably too tight, not hooped properly, etc. I hate to confess how many times I have taken out embroidery designs & fonts that I did not like. I would first try taking it all out...or ask the person that did the work to do it.

Using a seam ripper and working mostly on the back, you can pick at the embroidery and remove it. A time consuming job, but for a major project like you have, it will be worth it. I use a seam ripper, hat pin, tiny sharp scissors and work on it slowly...it will come out. As far as holes in the fabric after you remove the stitching, just take a washrag and wet the fabric. The holes will close up. Let it dry, then spray it lightly with starch and iron it. It will look like new! Ask me how I know all about this!

I don't know where you are, I am in Alabama, but if you were close I would gladly do it for you. I have become a "professional" with this. Ha-ha!

Try putting the embroidered piece face down on a very thick bath towel folded several times. then pressing the piece on its back side, stretching out the wringles holding the iron down hard on the back of piece into the fluffy towel. This has worked in some cases when I have had a problem that is similar. Give it a try. I do embroidery. Pat

I would take it back and let them know that you are not satified with the work. :-(

This sounds like the perfect response! Your wall quilt will be done properly and the embroidery establishment will be given a chance to see their mistake (before and after). Perhaps that will prevent this type of thing from happening to another customer! Good Luck.

I agree, they did not use stabilizer under the fabric. I also use a thin water soluble stabilizer on top to prevent this type of puckering. I would take it back and kindly ask for them to make it right.

So sorry this happened to you. I would go back and have them rip and do the the work correctly. That is an awful job. Or have them refund and do what Eddie suggested.

Oh my gosh, they must not have used stabilizer. I'd be disapointed, too.

I am sort of new to this replying but I thought I would add my two cents worth. I work in an embroidery shop and I think your challenge here is embroidery on two layers of fabric. When she put this piece on the machine, she had to use a hoop and that hoop stretches the foundation and keeps it taut for the embroidery. When we add an applique, that piece might be ever so slightly off in the grain and once the machine started stitching, the letters will pull that fabric that is not hooped and hence the puckers. I tell quilters who are planning on embroidery on a quilt piece to mark the pattern on the top of their fabric and leave me a generous margin so that I can hoop it. Then I give them back the piece with the backing on it for them to applique it. I don't recommend their doing the embroidery directly on the quilt. While it is certainly not their best work, many people who do embroidery for a living do not have a clue about what quilting is and they probably think it is okay. Professional embroidery and quilting are really two different things and not every shop has somebody who understands the difference.

Your embroidery can be removed and by whoever did it. They should have a small shaver that they will use on the back side and cut through the bobbin threads and then pick out the top. I would then remove the banner, have them do the embroidery on just a single layer of fabric and then applique it down. The foundation should not be compromised and your finished product will be something that you will be much happier with. I hope this helps your decision.

[quote=LindaR]me too...easiest solution...I would take the cut off piece and show them why you had to replace it. At least they won't say "no problem" next time :lol

What a horrible job of embroidery (as everyone here as already said) but, I certainly would not ask them to fix their mistake. I would be afraid for them to touch the project again. I think your solution is great and also agree that you should send a letter to them and the piece that they embroidered (along with copies of the pictures you took) and let them decide what they 'want' to do about the problem that they created. So sorry for what you are having to go through. Jinnie

This is the lesson I've definitely come away learning. I didn't know the "why's" behind it, but from now on I will not applique any embroidered areas first. I will leave the fabric whole and mark my applique cutting area. You've explained why that needs to be done (thank you), but my reason was so if things got messed up again, I wouldn't be ripping parts of my top out.

I'll post pictures of this hanging when I'm finished with it. Thanks everyone!

I have had an embroidery machine for five years and have never been able to remove stitches from anything I've embroidered and have the fabric look acceptable after. I would take it back to the one who did it and ask them to fix it. This is a question of the person's reputation and I would give him/her a chance to make it right. YOU are the paying customer and the bottom line is whether or not you are satisfied.

am so sorry, you MUST return it ,demand refund AND damages, I would certainly NEVER let them near it again , if you have trading standards report it to them too.

I would take out the stitches carefully and press it. Applique fabric cut letters over it and hand blanket stitch over the edge of the letters. Make sure you put it in an embroidery hoop to keep it smooth. That may have been the problem for the first job. They should had hooped and removed any wrinkles before doing the next letters or words. Good luck. It is a great design.

can we have pictures when you get it fixed

I do hope you let the shop know that you were not happy with their work on your piece. They may not understand that it was unacceptable. If you don't feel comfortable going in person, consider writing a brief letter explaining why you were unhappy - maybe include a picture with the problems pointed out. It doesn't have to be a scathing letter, just a 'wanted you to know' type.

As you can see by my name, I do machine embroidery. Don't take it back to the person who did this, obviously by this big mistake, they will make a mess of the correction. The stitches can be carefully removed. the needle holes can be closed by slight tapping with water & soft rubbing- very gentle..The second stitching needs to be just ever so slightly larger to cover any needle holes- little looser tension and good backing. Have the next embroider run a sample to show you, I usually do this at no charge, customer satisifaction is very important. Lastly, you might want to check out the iron-on lettering at fabric stores. Some are excellent, you can do the rip out & replacement yourself.

I would cut out the green and and sew another green in place of that then cut the lettering out and sew it on.. but before that I would get my money back and some for the whole item and time you put into it to replace it , this would let them know what they did wrong, also if they were a pro at that work they would have stabilize the area so it would not do that puckering..

good luck and I am so sorry that happened
KandiKane

can we have pictures when your done fixing????

What a shame. I would definately go back to the shop that did the embroidery and let them know that you are disappointed. I would also ask them to rip it out so as not to ruin the quilt by doing it yourself. They should then either redo it or at least refund you some money. Maybe they are unaware of how bad the job was done, well maybe not.

It looks like they didn't either put a stronger stabilizer on it or they did get it tight enough on the hoop or both. I would let them know that it was not done to my satifaction. I had sort of the same problem with a local shop. Had my GD name put on a shirt that I made and the letters were not even. I let them know that they were not also. If you don't speak up they will do someone else the same way and think there work is just fine.

did ya get it fixed....can we see????

I would take this back to the shop that did it. It's just plain "wrong". I betting there was no stabilizer underneath, If that's the case, they owe you a refund.

Was the problem solved yet? Did you attempt to fix it? Now you have us curious. Please let us know what You decided to do! Thanks, Beth