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Workbook 4—Embroidery Basics
Stabilizers
Used extensively in machine embroidery, stabilizers are also useful
when sewing decorative stitches across the surface of fabric.
Adding stabilizer to fabric (usually on the wrong side), provides a
foundation that will support the stitching. Without the stabilizer,
there will often be puckering of fabric and tunneling of stitches,
ruining the beautiful look of embellishment you desire. While there
are dozens of stabilizers on the market, there are classified by how
they are removed from the fabric after stitching:
Tear-Away Stabilizer
Most commonly used type of stabilizer, designed to provide
temporary support of stitching
Placed on the wrong side of the project and carefully pulled
away once stitching is complete
Usually available in three weights – heavy, medium, and light.
Stabil-Stick is a tear-away with a peel-away backing that
exposes a sticky adhesive
Hydro-Stick is an adhesive tear-away with a water-activated
adhesive on one side that provides a secure bond and a high
degree of stabilization for very dense and/or intricate designs.
Available in white and black
Available in several sizes; use one that fits the selected hoop size
Cut-Away Stabilizer
Most widely used stabilizer in the commercial embroidery market.
Does not break down under dense stitching, due to the high fiber
– rather than paper – content
Excess stabilizer is trimmed away after stitching (leave about ¼”
of stabilizer around the edges)
Remaining stabilizer continues to support stitches throughout life
of garment/project
Stabil-Stick is available as a cut-away stabilizer
Available in fusible and non-fusible versions
Available in white, black, and beige
Available in several sizes; use one that fits the selected hoop size
Water-Soluble Stabilizer
Used for backing and topping, in single or multiple layers
Excellent for decorative stitching and cutwork as there are no
remnants of stabilizer left after removal (it dissolves)
As a topping, it keeps stitches from being lost in heavily napped
fabrics such as velvet and corduroy
Aqua Mesh Plus is an adhesive water-soluble stabilizer
Tips and General Guidelines
Use Cut-away for knit fabrics and Tear-
away for woven fabrics.
Wash-away is great for free-standing
lace and when you want no stabilizer to
remain in the project (fabric must be able
to be moistened).
Multiple lightweight layers of tear-away
may be preferable to one heavy layer, as
they are easier to remove.
Use PolyMesh behind lightweight or light
-colored fabrics as it is designed to
minimize “show-through”.
Keep a minimum of one roll or package
of each of the three types so you’ll be
ready for almost any stitching situation.