Embroidery stabilizers
17
Embroidery stabilizers
Perfect embroidery should lie ab-
solutely flat on the fabric without
pulling or puckering. The best way
to achieve this, especially when
embroidering large motifs or embroi-
dering large areas, is to use a special
stabilizer.
There is a wide range of stabilizers
and interfacings available which are
suitable for a variety of applications.
All quality stabilizers have no ‘give’
or ‘stretch’.
Embroidery on a single layer of fabric
is not recommended. The fabric
tends to pucker and the edges of the
embroidery start to wave after being
removed from the hoop. Stabilizer
can be eliminated for embroidering
small motifs on thick, firm fabrics,
such as denim or home furnishing
fabrics. However, it is always worth
test sewing to see whether or not a
stabilizer would improve the results.
Tear-away stabilizers
· similar to interfacing; tears like
paper
· one or more layers can be used
· comes in light and heavy weight
· for more stability, apply to the
wrong side of the fabric
with temporary adhesive spray
before hooping
· tears away from the back of the
embroidery after stitching
· stabilizer will remain under larger
embroidered areas
Application:
· for most general embroidery
applications
Cut-away stabilizers
· one or more layers can be used
· comes in light and heavy weight
· for more stability, apply to the
wrong side of the fabric
with temporary adhesive spray
before hooping
· cut away from the back of the
embroidery after stitching
· stabilizer will remain under larger
embroidered areas
Application:
· for most general embroidery
applications
Iron-on interfacing
· this is pressed (fused) to the wrong
side of the fabric
· iron-on interfacings are available in
a variety of thicknesses and should
be selected to suit the fabric being
used
· removable iron-on interfacing is
also available
Application:
· for all fabrics which tend to pull or
stretch when being embroidered,
e.g. jerseys, tricot, etc.
Paper backed adhesive stabilizer
· place stabilizer in hoop, paper side
up
· use a pin to score the paper and
remove it to reveal the self-adhesive
surface
· position the piece of fabric to be
embroidered on the stabilizer
Application:
· for pieces (collars etc.) smaller than
the hoop
· ideal for delicate fabrics such as
jersey, silk, etc.
Water soluble stabilizer
· solvable stabilizer looks like plastic
wrap
· solvable stabilizers are ideal protec-
tion for fabrics with a thick or
looped pile such as toweling; place
stabilizer on both sides of the fabric
and hoop all three layers
· dissolve stabilizer in cold water
when embroidery is complete
· solvable stabilizer can also be remo-
ved by gently tearing it away when
used as a topping on non-washable
fabrics like velvet.
Applications:
· ideal for toweling, velvet, bouclé
knits, etc.
· ideal for fine, sheer fabrics such as
organdy, batiste, etc.
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