Stabilizer

Stabilizer is an incredibly useful tool in the world of sewing. It can be used to provide a foundation for strengthening light, stretchy fabrics, or for securing designs onto denser fabrics. It’s an extremely versatile tool- if you know how to use it right. Our guide on stabilizers can help you choose which stabilizer fits your future projects, and what end result each stabilizer can provide.

Cut Away Stabilizer

Cut away stabilizers are a good place to start. They are required to provide a stable foundation for delicate and stretchy fabrics, and can secure the piece while sewing and as well as withstanding use and cleaning. A cut away stabilizer retains the design’s shape after repeated washings while maintaining the crispness of the design’s details. Having a cut away stabilizer that passes washable and dry-cleaning tests is critical. Cut away stabilizers are normally stronger than tear-aways, good for secure designs.

Use on:

• Blanket (Horse)
• Caps (Knit)
• Double Knit
• Fleece wear – All weights
• Golf Shirts
• High-density embroidery
• Jackets of Satin, Nylon, and Wool
• Shorts
• Sweaters of Fine, Tight, or Shetland
• Swimsuits
• Tie (Knit)
• T-Shirts

Tear Away Stabilizer

Tear away stabilizer is the most popular type of embroidery stabilizer. Designs can normally be completed safely, quickly and more economically compared to using a cut away. Most tear away backings have a density between 1.5 – 3.0 oz. A stable tear away backing should be able to absorb repeated perforations and tear easily and cleanly in all directions. Tear-away stabilizer removes the risk of accidentally cutting an expensive garment, however, pulling a tough stabilizer too hard or quickly can sometimes cause deformation. Instead, using two light layers pulled off one at a time can help you with avoiding these problems.

Use on:

• Aprons
• Baby Bibs
• Bandanas
• Baby Blankets
• Blanket (Stadium)
• Blouses
• Caps (Knit)
• Children’s Sleepwear
• Coat Linings
• Dresses (Cotton)
• Duffle Bag (Cotton or Nylon)
• Felt
• Fleecewear – Light
• Golf Shirts
• Jackets of Satin or Nylon
• Karate Belts
• Leather/Suede/Vinyl
• Scarves
• Sheets/Pillow Cases
• Shirts of Denim, Twill, Linen, Oxford, or Bicycle
• Shorts (Cotton or Nylon)
• Socks
• Swimsuits
• Tablecloths/Napkins/Placemats
• Ties
• Tote Bags
• Towels
• T-Shirts
• Umbrellas
• Webbing/Belting

Wash Away Stabilizer

Wash Away stabilizer is incredibly important for the times the stabilizer needs to be completely removed. Wash Away holds your fabric steady, yet dissolves in cool water or by throwing into the washing machine after stitching. Upon soaking or washing, the remaining stabilizer will break apart and wash away, leaving the embroidery soft and free of stabilizer while the stitches remain fully locked. This is the perfect backing to use when you want a clean finish without any backing showing. It can also be used to prevent puckering on fabric during construction.

Use on:

• Embroidery
• Free Standing Lace
• Sheer Fabrics

Peel N Stick

Peel N Stick stabilizer has a tear away backing with a pressure sensitive coating with an easy to peel liner. Peel N Stick is a good choice when embroidering hard-to-hoop areas, (cuffs, collars), high stretch fabrics, and for eliminating hoop marks that occurs with certain materials such as suede and denim. Typically Peel N Stick is used by hooping the backing with the peel-able liner facing upward. A quality Peel N Stick product should not have a gummy adhesive that can potentially gum up the needle.

Use on:

• Dog Collars
• Karate Belts
• Shirts (Bicycle)
• Socks
• Swimsuits
• Umbrellas

Hat Stabilizer

Hat stabilizer is used to improve the crispness of lettering and columns. Most tear away hat stabilizers are in the 2-3-oz density range. An extra fold of stabilizer is sometimes used to get a firm setting on rotating cap frames to prevent slippage.

Use on:

• Baseball Caps
• High-Density Embroidery Designs

Puffy Foam

Puffy foam is a lofty material used to generate a 3-dimensional look (Often on hats).

Black Stabilizer

Black stabilizers are used for dark garments such as black sweatshirts or black leather jackets. Black takes away the distraction of using a white stabilizer in a dark garment. There are multiple types of stabilizer available in the color black.

Toppings

Toppings are best used to prevent stitches from sinking into fabric such as corduroy or terry cloth. This type of stabilizer is composed of polyethylene or water-soluble plastic.