Machine Embroidery Stabilizers II

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Welcome back to All About Machine Embroidery. Today is a carry-over from yesterday’s topic of Tear-Away stabilizers.

Machine Embroidery: If you are thinking about getting a sewing machine that includes Machine Embroidery then you will want to read All About Machine Embroidery. I have 31 posts that cover every possible thing you could want to know.

The topic today is Cut-Away stabilizers. As the name suggests, this stabilizer is removed by cutting it away.

 Machine Embroidery: If you are thinking about getting a sewing machine that includes Machine Embroidery then you will want to read All About Machine Embroidery. I have 31 posts that cover every possible thing you could want to know.

Today’s Question: Why do I need Cut-Away stabilizer; wouldn’t Tear-Away work?

Well, yes and no. Cut-Away stabilizer is permanent and designed to remain in the fabric with the design. It is primarily used when embroidering on knits.

Why can’t you just use the Tear-Away on knits? Well, Tear-Away will eventually disappear after a few washings. If you were to embroider a design on something like a t-shirt, when the t-shirt was washed all of the stabilizer would be removed and the design would crumple.

Another reason is the nature of knits. If the stabilizer does not remain, then stitching out the design would cause small holes in the knit fabric.

Not a pretty site.

You hoop your stabilizer and fabric just like when using a Tear-away. However, when you layout your item to be embroidered, you can actually pin it to the Cut-Away stabilizer.

 Machine Embroidery: If you are thinking about getting a sewing machine that includes Machine Embroidery then you will want to read All About Machine Embroidery. I have 31 posts that cover every possible thing you could want to know.

This is ideal for smaller items like kid’s onesies and t-shirts that don’t fit well into a hoop.

 Machine Embroidery: If you are thinking about getting a sewing machine that includes Machine Embroidery then you will want to read All About Machine Embroidery. I have 31 posts that cover every possible thing you could want to know.

Just like Tear-Away, Cut-Away comes in a sticky-backed stabilizer. This type of stabilizer is intended for really hard to hoop fabrics.

 Machine Embroidery: If you are thinking about getting a sewing machine that includes Machine Embroidery then you will want to read All About Machine Embroidery. I have 31 posts that cover every possible thing you could want to know.

 I always use this for knits!

One thing to remember with sticky-backed stabilizers, your needle can get gummed up from the ‘sticky’ stuff on the stabilizer.

This can cause your thread and/or needle to break. To avoid this, I keep packages of alcohol swabs next to my machine.

 Machine Embroidery: If you are thinking about getting a sewing machine that includes Machine Embroidery then you will want to read All About Machine Embroidery. I have 31 posts that cover every possible thing you could want to know.

When I see the needle start to have trouble I just run the alcohol swab around it to get off any sticky residue. This works every time.

When cutting away the stabilizer after you’ve embroidered, it is a good idea to have it flat on a table. Take.your.time because you don’t want to get too close and accidentally cut the fabric instead of the stabilizer.

 Machine Embroidery: If you are thinking about getting a sewing machine that includes Machine Embroidery then you will want to read All About Machine Embroidery. I have 31 posts that cover every possible thing you could want to know.

While Tear-Away may be be an all-purpose stabilizer; Cut-Away always leaves you with a stable design that will hold up under a variety of circumstances.

 Machine Embroidery: If you are thinking about getting a sewing machine that includes Machine Embroidery then you will want to read All About Machine Embroidery. I have 31 posts that cover every possible thing you could want to know.

Use a Cut-Away for these types of projects:

  • Lightweight wovens, knits, or sheers
  • When embroidering a dense design
  • Sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets 

Tomorrow’s topic:  Wash-Away stabilizers ~ who knew!

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