What stabilizer should i use

Cut-away backing remains permanently affixed to the fabric, and the excess is cut away with scissors, which is how cut-away backing has earned its name. It is available in 1 oz. Cut-away is best used on materials that stretch such as knits and fabrics that will be worn and washed frequently, as it prevents the design from stretching. It is also used on loosely woven and unstructured caps. Select a lightweight cut-away for light-stitch-density designs and a heavyweight cut-away for dense designs.

To do so, grab the material with both hands approximately 8 inches apart, and pull on the fabric. Make sure you are in the middle of the fabric, not near an elastic waistband or a zipper. If there is substantial stretching, you should use cut-away backing. Less stable than cut-away backing, tear-away backing is used for light support. Like cut-away, tear-away backing is true to its name. As its name hints, it is removed by tearing it off from the garment.

When your fabric requires strong support, you may use several layers of lightweight to medium-weight tear-away. Poly mesh or no-show backing is a lightweight woven cut-away that is soft, thin and strong. It is designed to provide additional stability to knit shirts. This type of stabilizer does not show through light-colored garments, hence its name.

It is used on polos and T-shirts that will carry designs with a low stitch count. For best results, we recommend combining a no-show backing with a tear-away backing.

No-show backing can be removed with water or heat. Aqua-top topping is a water-soluble plastic film used on the top of an embroidery design to prevent stitches from sinking into textured fabrics. It is used for temporary support on delicate, mesh-like and difficult-to-mark fabrics like pique, fleece, terry cloth or corduroy. Guide Conclusion: You Need All 3 Types of Embroidery Stabilizer Stabilizers come in different sizes and colors, and are used for different fabrics and design types.

The most stable and good to use for heavy designs with large stitch counts. About the Author: Embroidery Legacy. Our family business has been active in the embroidery industry since Related Embroidery Articles. October 15th, 14 Comments. October 8th, 0 Comments. Color Theory In Machine Embroidery. October 1st, 2 Comments.

September 17th, 0 Comments. August 25th, 10 Comments. Linda May 23, at pm - Reply. Embroidery Legacy May 25, at pm - Reply. Hi Linda, Fusing is regarding the use of fusible no show mesh.

Toppings will only need to be used on knitted and fabrics with a high pile. Cathy May 26, at pm - Reply. What type of stabilizer do you recommend for hats-ball caps etc.? Embroidery Legacy June 2, at pm - Reply. Gina Davidson June 4, at pm - Reply.

What do you recommend using with performance clothing like under armor? Embroidery Legacy June 22, at pm - Reply. Hi Gina, I would recommend using no-show mesh fusible. Gill Scarisbrick July 12, at pm - Reply. Embroidery Legacy July 22, at am - Reply. My pleasure Gill! Of course, feel free to print them off and refer to them when needed. Jackie September 23, at am - Reply. Embroidery Legacy September 24, at pm - Reply.

Caroline October 15, at pm - Reply. What type of stabilizer for doing crewel work embroidery. I am using linen. Embroidery Legacy October 23, at pm - Reply. Irene Clements November 22, at pm - Reply.

Embroidery Legacy November 25, at pm - Reply. Janet Fitch January 8, at pm - Reply. Embroidery Legacy March 2, at pm - Reply. Sara February 17, at am - Reply.

Can you use a standard tear away stabiliser on top of pile material or fake fur? Hi Sarah, I would not. Terry Stafford August 5, at am - Reply. Embroidery Legacy September 15, at pm - Reply. Most backings are available in different weights, usually advertised as ounces per square yd. The heavier the backing, the more stability it usually provides. A good backing supplier will sell many different weights, types and sizes of stabilizer in both pre-cut sheets and on rolls.

Where do I Start? As a beginner, it's best to stock up on small rolls of several different backings until you figure out what works best for you. Many suppliers, such as AllStitch , offer backing swatch cards you can purchase that give you the chance to see and feel the different types of embroidery backings offered. Pull some old clothes out of your closet and experiment with the different types of backing on different fabrics until are comfortable with what combinations produce the best designs.

Stay tuned to AllStitch's embroidery blogs for a deeper dive into specific embroidery backings. December 12, AllStitch Admin. As always, embroidery is both art and science. Relatedly: experiment, experiment, experiment! Things to Consider. Design choice will be a major factor in selecting a stabilizer for your fabric. Stitching a solid stitch-filled design?

One with running stitch details that require precise registration? A medium weight cutaway is going to give you the best results. Stitching a very light, running stitch design?

Depending on your fabric, you might prefer to switch to a sheer mesh cutaway, or under certain circumstances, a tearaway. Fabric choice will affect your choice of stabilizer, too. For starters, make sure you're working with a fabric that suits your design Knit or otherwise stretchy fabrics such as those in T-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweaters will fare better with a cutaway stabilizer than a tearaway.

Since these fabrics are stretchy, they can shift around easily, so they rely heavily on the stabilizer to keep everything exactly in place. Thinner fabrics such as quilters cotton and T-shirt knits will do better with lighter, more open designs -- and this combination may lend itself well to a sheer mesh cutaway. For a design with significant solid stitch-filled areas, choose a somewhat sturdier fabric such as duckcloth, canvas, or denim, and pair it with a medium weight cutaway stabilizer.

Combining a light-stitching design with a sturdy fabric? We rarely recommend tearaway, but you might do fine with it here. Types of Stabilizer. Cutaway stabilizers , as the name advertises, are meant to be cut away around the edges of the embroidery after it's done stitching.

In general, a cutaway will provide stronger support than a tearaway of a similar weight. Most of the time, we recommend using a medium weight cutaway stabilizer for best embroidery results. It's what we use when we stitch out the samples for every design that you see on the site except freestanding lace and in-the-hoop projects, to be discussed later. This stronger support will help prevent all those stitches from "hugging" the fabric together too much -- an effect that can lead to unwanted puckering, shifting, and gapping.

Cutaway and tearaway stabilizers, like felt, are emmeshed fabrics. This means that instead of being woven or knit, the fibers are all meshed together -- hold your stabilizer up to the light to see. This allows them to be strong in all directions.