A clear choice for your project

Which embroidery stabilizer suits your project?

Answer a few questions about your application and fabric. You’ll get one clear recommendation, suitable alternatives and an additional topper when needed.

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Startklar Maschinensticken mit drei SULKY Stickvliesen, Bobbin-Unterfaden und SCHMETZ Sticknadeln
Embroidery hoop, fabric swatches and different stabilizers for the Make ma! stabilizer guide

The right stabilizer

The right embroidery stabilizer stabilizes your fabric during embroidery and helps prevent puckering, distortion, and sunken stitches. Answer a few questions and receive a specific recommendation, suitable alternatives, and – if necessary – the right topping.

Free · no registration · with product selection and PDF overview

The main types of embroidery stabilizer

The most important question is not primarily about the brand or weight, but rather: What do you want to embroider and how does the fabric behave? Stretchy materials usually require a permanently stabilizing backing. Dimensionally stable fabrics often work with a tear-away stabilizer that is removed after embroidery.

For terry cloth, fleece, and other high-pile surfaces, a water-soluble topping complements the backing. Design size, stitch density, needle, thread tension, and hooping also influence the result. Use this overview as a starting point and test each new combination on a scrap piece of fabric.

Sulky Tear Away Plus in product view

Tear-away stabilizer for stable fabrics

Sulky Soft'n Sheer Plus – Schneidvlies für dehnbare Stoffe in product view

Cut-away stabilizer for jersey and stretch fabrics

Sulky Fabri Solvy in product view

Water-soluble stabilizer and topping film

Sulky Filmoplast® in product view

Self-adhesive embroidery stabilizer

Sulky Ultra Stable in product view

Iron-on and heat-soluble stabilizer

Sulky Solvy – wasserlösliche Stickfolie in product view

Topping for fluffy surfaces
Startklar Maschinensticken mit drei SULKY Stickvliesen, Bobbin-Unterfaden und SCHMETZ Sticknadeln
Stickvlies für Anfänger (mit Videokurs) - Make ma!
Stickvlies für Anfänger (mit Videokurs) - Make ma!
Stickvlies für Anfänger (mit Videokurs) - Make ma!
Stickvlies für Anfänger (mit Videokurs) - Make ma!
Stickvlies für Anfänger (mit Videokurs) - Make ma!
Stickvlies für Anfänger (mit Videokurs) - Make ma!
Machine Embroidery Starter Kit – 5 Essentials with Video Course

Machine Embroidery Starter Kit – 5 Essentials with Video Course

This starter bundle gives you five essential consumables for your first projects with a household embroidery machine. Three SULKY stabilisers cover woven, stretchy and high-pile fabrics. White bobbin thread and five SCHMETZ Embroidery Needles NM 75 complete the kit.

You receive:

  • SULKY Tear Easy, white, 25 cm × 10 m
  • SULKY Soft’n Sheer Plus, white, 25 cm × 5 m
  • SULKY Solvy, 25 cm × 10 m
  • SULKY bobbin thread, white, 1,000 m
  • SCHMETZ Embroidery Needles NM 75, system 130/705 H-E, pack of 5
  • “Stabilisers 1×1” video course as a digital extra

The video course explains how to choose, hoop, remove or wash out each stabiliser. The included 130/705 H-E needles are intended for compatible household embroidery machines; check the required needle system for other or commercial machines.

Pickup available at Ladengeschäft Hamburg

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Frequently asked questions about embroidery stabilizer

Which stabilizer is suitable for jersey and T-shirts?

For stretchy fabrics, cut-away stabilizer is usually the more reliable starting point because it remains permanently under the design. Choose a thickness appropriate for the fabric and design density and test the combination. For sensitive skin, a soft cover on the back may be useful.

Be sure to check out our set for optimal T-shirt stabilization.

When should I use tear-away instead of cut-away stabilizer?

Tear-away interfacing is often suitable for dimensionally stable, non-stretch woven fabrics. Cut-away interfacing is usually the safer choice for jersey, knits, and other stretchy fabrics. Design size, stitch density, and desired backing can alter the decision.

What do I need water-soluble stabilizer for?

It can serve as a fully removable stabilizer for freestanding lace and certain ITH projects. Thin water-soluble film is also used as a topping on terry cloth, fleece, or plush. Note product instructions and water tolerance.

Which stabilizer should I use for terry cloth and towels?

Underneath the terry fabric, you'll need a stabilizer appropriate for the design and fabric stability. Often, a water-soluble topping is also applied to the surface to prevent loops from poking through the embroidery and to ensure details remain visible.

Do I always need to hoop the fabric and stabilizer together?

No. Small, delicate, or difficult-to-hoop items can be attached to self-adhesive, already hooped stabilizer. Prepare this method wrinkle-free and without slipping.

Can I use several layers of stabilizer?

Yes, the better the stabilization, the better the embroidery result. Especially for stitch-intensive projects or flat stitch, we even recommend a combination of different stabilizers, e.g., cut-away stabilizer with tear-away stabilizer for more stability. We also recommend using 2-3 layers of thin tear-away stabilizer for thin fabrics instead of a heavy tear-away stabilizer, so that the embroidery is not pulled too hard when tearing away later.

Why does the fabric pucker despite using stabilizer?

Possible causes include unsuitable or insufficient fleece, stretched hooping, high stitch density, inappropriate underlay stitches, needle problems, or thread tension. Always assess the overall interplay of factors.

Is a particular stabilizer suitable for every embroidery machine?

The choice depends primarily on the fabric, motif, and workmanship. The hoop, embroidery area, and type of project influence handling. Also, check the instructions for your machine and the respective non-woven product.

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Further resources

The embroidery stabilizer guide provides you with a technically sound starting point. However, a clean embroidery result is achieved through the interplay of design, stabilizer, needle, thread tension, and correct hooping. Always perform a test embroidery with the original fabric and final embroidery file when using a new combination.

Explore all stabilizers Stabilizer overview as a PDF

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