We all want beautiful results for our machine embroidery projects, and choosing the correct stabilizer is crucial to that pursuit! The world of stabilizer can feel daunting at first, but we’re here to help! With this guide, you’ll discover the ins and outs of each variety of stabilizer and determine which type is best for your project!
STABILIZER BASICS
Before we dive in, let’s review a few basics!
1: WHAT IS STABILIZER?
It’s a smooth material, often resembling paper, that doesn’t stretch. Its purpose is to support and
stabilize your embroidery project, and help eliminate puckering and uneven stitches. It’s the secret
ingredient that makes a project look amazing!
2: HOW IS IT USED?
The first step of many machine embroidery projects is to hoop the correct stabilizer in the
embroidery hoop; then, stitch a placement line on the stabilizer and proceed to add fabrics on top
of it. Alternatively, some projects begin with the fabric (or blank) being hooped first, and then fusing
stabilizer to the back of it
3: HOW MANY TYPES OF STABILIZER ARE THERE?
Stabilizer comes in many varieties, and each type serves certain projects better than others. The
four main categories are: Cut Away, Tear Away, Wash Away, and Speciality Stabilizer. Within each
category, variations of weight are also offered. For instance, Tear Away comes in light, medium, or
heavy weight options.
4: WHAT DETERMINES THE TYPE OF STBILIZER YOU SHOULD USE?
There are three factors to consider when deciding which stabilizer is best for your project:
Download the Beginner's Guide to Stabilizer!
Choose the right stabilizer for you project with our complete stabilizer guide! Here at ME Time, we test every design with Kimberbell Stabilizer to ensure your project comes together beautifully.
Download the Kimberbell Stabilizer Reference Chart!
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