Machine Embroidery

All About Machine Embroidery: Day 9 – Stabilizers

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share a commission.

Welcome to Day 9 of my October series: All About Machine Embroidery

If you are visiting for the first time, here’s a quick recap. Since October 1st, I’ve been exclusively blogging on one particular subject, machine embroidery.

Catch up with my previous posts here.

Today’s topic is Stabilizers.

Maybe you’ve seen stabilizers at the fabric store or possibly used them on an applique.

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.
(Image Source)

This unholy mess is my box of 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. Q. Just what are stabilizers?

A. Stabilizers are a {hooped} support under the fabric that you are embroidering. It is placed into the hoop before the fabric.

Q. Why are there so many stabilizers?

A. It is true, there are a lot of different stabilizers; however, there are four basic stabilizers that you need to know about: Tear-Away, Cut-Away, Wash-Away, and Iron-away.

Q. Can I embroidery without a stabilizer?

A. Never! You will ruin your project and possibly jam your machine.

Today, I am only going to discuss one type of stabilizer, Tear-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. Tear-Away stabilizer is just that; you (gently and carefully) tear it away from the back of the design you’ve just embroidered.

Tear-Away is generally an all-purpose stabilizer and works best with woven fabrics.

So, here’s how it works. Separate the outer hoop and the inner 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. Cut a piece of stabilizer slightly larger than the outer 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. Place fabric to be embroidered on top of 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. Place inner hoop on top and tighten the screw to make everything very tight.

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. Place the hoop in the machine and embroider your design.

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. Take the design out of the hoop and carefully, remove the Tear-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. Didn’t this turn out nicely.

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. Some things to remember about Tear-Aways.

1. They work best on woven fabrics.

2. They remove easily.

3. There are Tear-Aways that have an adhesive surface. If you want to embroider something with a lot of loft, like terry cloth or fleece, you will need to use a Sticky-back Tear-away. (There are more details to this which I will share with Wash-Away stabilizers.)

That should cover the Tear-Away basics; tomorrow I will talk about Cut-Away stabilizers.

Thinking about purchasing an Embroidery Machine? Check out my Embroidery Machine Reviews.