Stabilisers & Backings

A stabiliser (referred to in industrial circles as backing) is an essential for machine embroidery. It is used to support the fabric during the stitching process, and to keep puckering or stretching on fabric from occurring.

The choice of stabiliser can make or break an embroidery project! Using a stabiliser that is insufficient for the fabric or the stitch count of the design can make even the best digitized design look bad.

Stabilisers are classified by the method that is eventually used to remove the excess from the back of the project after the design has been stitched.

The three most common types are:
1) Cut Away – see our range
2) Tear Away – see our range
3) Wash Away – see our range

and within each group, there are several weights of stabiliser (usually measured by ‘gsm’ – grams per square metre.)

A good rule of thumb to follow is —

• Choose the weight that most closely corresponds to the weight of the fabric to be embroidered.

• Choose the weight according to the stitch count of the design – the greater the stitch count, the heavier the stabilizer should be.

Adhering any one of these stabilisers to the fabric with a temporary adhesive spray before hooping is recommended to keep the layers from shifting during the embroidery process and to make the item easier to hoop.