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Embroidery Stabilizer Guide

by Stella Alex, Last Modified: July 4, 2022

embroidery stabilizer guide featured image

If you are an embroiderer, you will be aware of the demand for new designs and fashion styles. Likewise, the requirement for embroidery machines has increased in the past few years. It is the embroiderer’s responsibility to equip the machine with all crucial tools to acquire the beautiful embroidery designs in return. In my opinion, embroidery stabilizer is one of the most significant tools. It is requisite to understand about the stabilizer before delivering the professional embroidery results and impressive designs. 

Table of Contents
  • What is a Stabilizer in Embroidery Machine?
  • Types of Stabilizers in Embroidery Machine
  • How to Choose a Embroidery Stabilizer: Explained
    • Fabric Type
    • Embroidery
    • Appearance
    • Feel
  • Which Stabilizer Should You Acquire?
    • 1.Cut-away Stabilizer
    • 2.Tear-away Stabilizer
    • 3.Wash-away Stabilizer
  • Stabilizer vs. Interfacing
    • Download Printable Embroidery Stabilizer Chart to test your stabilizer.
  • Why Is Embroidery Stabilizer Important?
  • Final Words

In this ultimate Embroidery Stabilizer Guide, we will cover all the necessary information about stabilizer for the embroidery machine, its usage, types and everything you need to know about. Let’s begin!

What is a Stabilizer in Embroidery Machine?

A stabilizer for embroidery is a small tool supporting the fabric in an embroidery machine. Do you have to use stabilizer when embroidering, well, machine embroidery stabilizer primary purpose is to prevent stitching from stretching or puckering. It’s always important to pick up the right stabilizer for a beautiful embroidery design. 

Also Read: The Best Embroidery Machine for Custom Design

Types of Stabilizers in Embroidery Machine

A stabilizer is available in three major kinds:

  • Wash-away stabilizer
  • Cut-away stabilizer
  • Tear-away stabilizer

In the same way, there are numerous subdivisions of  types of stabilizer according to the weight. For example:

  • Choose the weight of the fabric. 
  • Select the weight according to stitch count. 

What type of stabilizer to use for machine embroidery? In simple words, if the stitch count is higher, the weight of the stabilizer should be significant. 

How to Choose a Embroidery Stabilizer: Explained

Picking up the right stabilizer is a bit of a confusing task, especially when you are a beginner at embroidery. To help you out, we have listed  some necessary embroidery stabilizer guide factors that you must consider before getting a suitable embroidery stabilizer for yourself:

Fabric Type

It’s a rule to use a cut -away embroidery stabilizer as fabric stabilizer for embroidery, while embroidering stretchy fabrics or knits. It will completely protect the embroidery process and prevent the puckering of the stitches for a long time. 

Furthermore, you should look for the weight when selecting stabilizing material for embroidery. Yes, we are talking about the stabilizer and correspondingly, the weight of fabric. If you are doing embroidery work on a heavy fabric type, go for the stabilizer according to that fabric. If the fabric weight is lighter, go for a lighter stabilizer and vice versa. 

suitable stabilizer

Also Read: 11 Best Embroidery Machine (Computerized Embroidery Machines for Home)

Embroidery

Don’t forget that choice of a best stabilizer for embroidery and the number of stitches are two interdependent factors. More stitches require a heavier piece of stabilizer. However, you can purchase a design with an underlay base dedicated to stitches. 

Appearance

How to use embroidery stabilizer? Well, In some cases, the stabilizer is found on the backside of the fabric. It makes the design and looks of stitches very complicated and messy. In such a situation, look for a water-soluble stabilizer as stabilizing material for embroidery. In this way, the other side of the fabric will not give an ugly look. Also, it’s easy to remove the stabilizer. 

Feel

The weight, as well as the types of stabilizer, can affect the fabric’s envelope. A heavy stabilizer will add more weight to the fabric. Subsequently, the stabilizer’s drape should be longer in the case of a lightweight stabilizer. So, if you have no additional weight, a wash-away stabilizer will give you a better feel and touch as machine embroidery backing . 

embroidery-stabilizer-cheat-sheet.

Which Stabilizer Should You Acquire?

You will find thousands of guides and manuals regarding stabilizer selection. Some of them are not true, and others have unauthentic aspects. In the following, we have mentioned the major types and examples that will help you pick the right one for you. 

1.Cut-away Stabilizer

It’s the permanent and most suitable stabilizer material for embroidery on the market. You will get the job done for a longer time. It is best suitable for clothes that are washed or worn regularly. 

Cut-away Stabilizer Example

The cut-away examples include sweatshirts, knits, T-shirts, etc. Buy Here

2.Tear-away Stabilizer

Such type of adhesive stabilizer embroidery machine is suitable for all types of fabrics that are woven. They do not stretch, and you have to use the finger to tear or scratch the stabilizer in the direction of the stitch. 

Tear-away Stabilizer Example

The most prominent examples of tear-away stabilizers are leather, vinyl, towels, and so on. Buy Here

3.Wash-away Stabilizer

There are sticky stabilizers for machine embroidery, but this wash away stabilizer is specially used for sheer fabrics. After completing the embroidery work, ensure the excess stabilizer and give it a wash with warm water. You can also put it under the flowing water and soften it with hair conditions if necessary. 

Buy Here

Wash-away Stabilizer Example

The perfect examples of a wash-away stabilizer are cutwork designs, freestanding lace, 3D, and more. 

Types of embroidery stabilizers

Stabilizer vs. Interfacing

It’s a fact that  backing material for embroidery- embroidery stabilizer and sewing interfacing are not interchangeable. Nevertheless, a question arises here. Is it possible to use interfacing as an embroidery stabilizer cheat sheet? What do you think? In our experience, it can probably be used in some cases. 

However, replacing is not a suitable substitute. In our recommendation, invest some amount and always buy a quality embroidery stabilizer. 

Download Printable Embroidery Stabilizer Chart to test your stabilizer.

Test Your Embroidery Stabilizer First

As you know that selecting and deciding how to use a stabilizer for embroidery with a good embroidery stabilizer depends on several factors, it’s better to try it first. For this purpose, you can use it on a few small pieces of fabric and check different types of stabilizers on it. This practice will save your time and also give you the best results. 

Why Is Embroidery Stabilizer Important?

Can you embroider without a stabilizer? Commercial embroiderers always have the top tools for working. However, homes or small businesses always use some sort of stabilizer along with iron on stabilizer for machine embroidery to stabilize the fabric. It makes the embroidery creative, clean, and according to your desire. People use certain types of embroidery stabilizers based on the fabric puckered. 


Final Words

To sum up, it’s all about the embroidery stabilizer guide along with  what is embroidery stabilizer, how to use fabric stabilizer and  which stabilizer to use for embroidery. We have discussed that you need to learn about the embroidery stabilizer, types, working, and other important aspects to be a perfect embroiderer. All three types of stabilizers have unique usage according to the applications. We hope you will find this guide helpful in choosing the right embroidery stabilizer for you. 


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About Stella Alex

Hello and Welcome to my Website! My name is Stella, and I have been an embroidery enthusiast for over 6 years. My interest in embroidery machines came in my teenage from my mother. I hope my efforts will help you a lot to get the best one. Thank You!

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