Which Embroidery Stabilizer Should I Use?
| Stabilizer type | Best for |
|---|
| Cut-away backing (2.0 to 3.1 oz) | T-shirts, polos, performance wear, sweatshirts and any knit that stretches. Stays in the garment; use heavier weights for dense designs. |
| Tear-away backing (1.0 to 1.8 oz) | Stable wovens such as twill, canvas, denim and bags, where the excess tears away cleanly. |
| Cap backing (E-Zee Cap) | Structured caps on a cap frame; stiff support for the front panel. |
| Water-soluble wash-away and toppings | Towels, terry, fleece and velvet (keeps stitches on top of the pile) and free-standing lace. |
| 3D foam | 3D puff embroidery on caps and jackets. |
| Heat seals, laminates and finishers | Covering the back of the stitching for comfort and making patches. |
Match your stabilizer with the right embroidery needles, pre-wound embroidery bobbins and Madeira embroidery thread, and hoop it in quality embroidery hoops and frames. Shop everything else in embroidery supplies or see our Happy Japan embroidery machines.
Embroidery Stabilizer FAQ
What is embroidery stabilizer?
Embroidery stabilizer, also called embroidery backing, is a non-woven material hooped or adhered under (and sometimes on top of) the fabric so the stitches stay flat, in register and free of puckers. It supports the fabric while the needle penetrates thousands of times per design. The main types are cut-away, tear-away, wash-away (water-soluble) and specialty backings such as cap backing, 3D puff foam and heat-seal stabilizers.
Cut-away vs tear-away stabilizer: which should I use?
Use cut-away stabilizer on anything that stretches, such as t-shirts, polos, performance wear and sweatshirts; it stays in the garment and keeps the design from distorting wash after wash. Use tear-away stabilizer on stable woven fabrics such as twill, canvas, denim and bags, where the excess tears off cleanly after stitching. When in doubt, cut-away is the safer choice.
What stabilizer should I use for t-shirts and knits?
Knit shirts need a cut-away stabilizer. A lighter 2.0 to 2.5 oz cut-away works for most left-chest and light designs; move up to 3.0 or 3.1 oz cut-away for dense, high-stitch-count designs. Pair it with a ballpoint embroidery needle so the knit is not cut.
What backing do I use for embroidering hats?
Structured caps are usually stitched with a stiff tear-away cap backing on a cap frame, which supports the front panel and tears away cleanly. For 3D puff lettering on caps, add 3D embroidery foam on top of the cap before stitching.
When do I need a water-soluble topping?
Use a water-soluble (wash-away) topping on towels, terry, fleece, velvet and other high-pile fabrics so the stitches sit on top instead of sinking into the nap. Wash-away stabilizer is also used for free-standing lace and designs where no backing can remain; it dissolves in water after stitching.
What stabilizer weights and sizes do you carry?
We stock Madeira E-Zee cut-away stabilizer in 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.1 oz and tear-away in 1.0, 1.5 and 1.8 oz, in white and black, plus E-Zee Cap, Aqua Supreme and Washaway water-soluble, 3D foam, finishers, heat seals and laminates. Pre-cut sheets come in sizes such as 6.5x6.5, 7.5x8, 8x8 and 15x15 inches in 100 or 250 packs, and rolls run from 11 to 40 inches wide and 20 to 250 yards long. Call 480-229-7806 for help choosing.
Can I return embroidery backing?
Backing and stabilizer cannot be returned once the package is opened. Unopened product is covered by our returns policy. In-stock orders placed by 2:30 PM Arizona time ship the same day from Tempe, AZ.
What do embroidery stabilizer weights (oz) mean?
Stabilizer weight is the fabric weight in ounces per square yard. Light 1.0 to 1.5 oz tear-away suits towels, caps and stable wovens; 2.0 to 2.5 oz cut-away is the everyday choice for polos, t-shirts and knits; 3.0 oz and heavier cut-away holds dense, high-stitch-count designs on jackets and fleece. The denser the design and the stretchier the fabric, the heavier the stabilizer weight you need.
Is Pellon stabilizer good for machine embroidery?
Pellon is a popular craft-store interfacing and stabilizer brand that works for home sewing and light embroidery. For commercial multi-needle embroidery most shops use a production backing such as Madeira E-Zee, sold here in rolls and pre-cut sheets in consistent weights from 1.0 oz tear-away to 3.1 oz cut-away, so every hooping behaves the same.
