Use
Stabilizers are placed on the back (or sometimes on the front) of the fabric to support it during embroidery.
They prevent the fabric from shifting, stretching, or puckering and ensure that stitches are even and smooth.
Without stabilizers, many fabrics (e.g. jersey, fleece, thin cotton) would distort or gather under the stitches.
Types of stabilizers
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Tear-away stabilizer
Thin, temporary stabilizer that can be torn away after stitching.
Suitable for stable fabrics and light designs. -
Cut-away stabilizer
Remains permanently in the fabric; excess is trimmed around the design.
Provides strong support, ideal for stretchy or knit fabrics. -
Wash-away stabilizer
Completely dissolves in water.
Used when no stabilizer should remain – e.g. for lace embroidery or very fine fabrics. -
Heat-soluble stabilizer
Disappears when exposed to ironing heat.
Useful for materials that cannot be wet-washed. -
Permanent stabilizers
Remain in the fabric permanently to provide maximum support, e.g. for very dense designs. -
Adhesive stabilizer (Filmoplast)
A self-adhesive stabilizer where the fabric is pressed onto the sticky surface.
Ideal for materials that cannot be hooped directly, such as leather, velvet, or delicate textiles.
Importance in practice
Choosing the right stabilizer is crucial for embroidery quality:
- Wrong stabilizer → distorted fabric, poor outlines, unstable stitching
- Right stabilizer → clean, durable, professional-looking embroidery