It’s important to stabilize your fabric when you’re sewing designs.  That’s where embroidery stabilizers come in handy.  They really can separate the look from amateur to professional.

There are several different kinds of stabilizers.  Tear-Away stabilizers is one example.  You should use these with heavier fabrics because you’ll tear the backing away from the fabric.  You can iron these on or put them on using adhesive.  The adhesive version is ideal for small projects like baby clothes.

If you’re working with very thick material you might be at a loss to find the right stabilizer.  It’s best to use a soluble stabilizer in this case.  This is the method of choice for many embroidery enthusiasts who like to work with terry cloth.

It’s not always possible to work with heavyweight or incredibly strong fabrics.  In that case you should not use a Tear-Away stabilizer.  It’s a much better plan to use Heat-Away. 

One of the most specialized and highly regarded methods is the Tear-Away/Wash Away combinations.  It’s obvious why this one is so popular!  You can wash the garment you’re working with and won’t have to worry about a thing.  The design will be soft and lovely without any hint of the stabilizer you’ve used.

Those are all temporary versions.  There are certain times when it’s better to have something more permanent.  One of the first choices is having a Cut-Away stabilizer.  This is commonly used with the professionals in the industry because it helps protect the wearer from irritation.

One problem with the Cut-Away is that you can often see the outline under lighter fabrics.  The solution is to use Poly-Mesh cutaway.  This is genius because you cannot see the mesh under the garment.

There are even more choices than that out there!  You might be overwhelmed with all the options, but there is an easy way to make your choice.  First, you need to try and find stabilizers that will work well with your particular kind of fabric.  Think about the weight of the fabric and what will hold up best.  Also, consider the weight of the thread as well as the design you’re going to use.

Embroidery stabilizers are must haves when it comes to using machines to embroider your fabric.  Evaluate your options so you can have a beautiful embroidered design that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

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