Since nylon fabrics are extremely strong, lightweight, and nonabsorbent, it is no surprise that many outdoor items are made from the smooth and sturdy material.

Currently the second most used synthetic fiber in the United States, nylon (a plastic) was invented in 1935 by Wallace Carothers, an employee of the Du Pont corporation. It was the first commercially successful polymer and the first synthetic fiber to be made entirely from coal, water and air. The nylon fibers were touted to be "as strong as steel, as fine as a spider's web," and so dawned the era of nylon hosiery, or "nylons."

Sport and ripstop nylon are more commonly found around the house than the previously mentioned versions. Easy-care sport nylon is a sturdy fabric that is perfect for outdoor items such as backpacks, tarps, outerwear, totes, outdoor flags, and banners. Last summer I made the breezy windsock featured to the left out of sport nylon (click here or on the picture for project instructions).

Ripstop is a lighter and silkier type of nylon that is woven with extra threads in a pattern to help prevent runs or tears. Wind-resistant (and if treated with a durable finish, water-repellant), ripstop nylon is used for sleeping bags and tents. It's also a great choice for light-weight jackets, ponchos, and wind pants.

I wanted to find which combination of fabric and stabilizer gave the best results.

For the first test, I hooped a piece of ripstop nylon with a piece of medium weight (2.5 oz.) cutaway stabilizer.

After embroidering the design, I examined the outcome. The results were not up to my standards. Do you see how there are puckers in the fabric? Nylon is such a slippery fabric -- it pulled away from the sides of the hoop when the hoop was moving around. The design that I'm working with is a light-and-breezy daisy, but even those light stitches are causing the fabric to pull out of the hoop.

Trying again, I used the same medium weight cutaway stabilizer. This time I had a few tricks up my sleeve and felt confident I would achieve better results.

First, I sprayed the stabilizer with temporary spray adhesive (I used Gunold KK100) and smoothed the ripstop nylon over it. The adhesive will prevent the fabric from shifting while the design sews.

Although the fabric now felt secure, another step will even further prevent shifting. I next added water-soluable Wonder Tape to the bottom sides of the inner hoop, but not to the corners. Now, the nylon will not pull away from the sides of the hoop. The tape will last through a few hoopings and can easily be washed away when you are finished.

I then hooped the fabric and stabilizer using a technique that I have found to work well - hoop the fabric somewhat loosely and then hand tighten the screw until the hoop is tight.

Finally, the last step that I took to secure the nylon is to add pieces of rubber shelf mat to the bottom sides of the inner hoop, on top of the Wonder Tape. This is a trick I learned from Anne Campbell and Joan Warr a few years ago.

I cut strips of the rubber mat about 1 1/2" wide and as long as the sides of the hoop. Then I aligned one of the long sides of the tape with the inner edge of the hoop and press in place. The corners of the hoop were left open.

Next, I tightly hooped the fabric and stabilizer together. The rubber mat strips gave a great hold, and prevented the fabric from pulling away from the sides of the hoop.

I stitched out the very same design, and as you can see, the results are fantastic! The nylon remained flat and did not pucker. And, all parts of the design are lined up perfectly. Any marks left on the hoop will disappear in a couple of hours or they can be ironed out using a low temperature setting and a pressing cloth.