Differences Between Tear-Away and Cut-Away Stabilizers
Modern machine embroidery is not complete without the use of stabilizers. These special materials prevent the fabric from stretching, pulling, distorting, or skewing during embroidery, and they also prevent stitches from sinking into the fabric's structure. Two of the most common stabilizers are tear-away and cut-away. They vary in density, and it’s crucial to select the right stabilizer for each fabric type. It’s also important to understand the differences between tear-away and cut-away stabilizers and their applications.
Using Tear-Away Stabilizer
Tear-away adhesive stabilizer is used to prevent the main fabric from pulling during embroidery. A lightweight tear-away stabilizer is ideal for thin and delicate fabrics like satin, batiste, or silk. A heavier stabilizer works best for fabrics such as linen, denim, drapery, and similar materials.
How to Use Tear-Away Stabilizer:
- To attach the stabilizer, place the adhesive side of the tear-away stabilizer against the wrong side of the fabric and press with a hot iron.
- If the stabilizer is non-adhesive, it can be secured with temporary spray adhesive if needed.
- Hoop the prepared fabric and embroider the design.
- After finishing the embroidery, gently tear away the excess stabilizer without damaging the embroidery. It should tear easily in all directions. If it doesn’t, you may have used a cut-away stabilizer instead.
Features of Cut-Away Stabilizer
Cut-away stabilizer is most commonly used for fabrics that tend to stretch. It is also indispensable when working with designs that have a large number of stitches, as it helps maintain the design’s shape even after repeated use, preventing deformation. Compared to tear-away, cut-away stabilizer has more volume, but it doesn’t add extra bulk to the embroidery or show through the fabric.
How to Use Cut-Away Stabilizer:
- The application process is similar to that of the tear-away stabilizer. Attach it to the fabric with a hot iron during the preparation stage.
- Non-adhesive stabilizers can be fixed with temporary spray adhesive or hooped together with the fabric.
- After completing the embroidery, carefully trim the excess stabilizer with small, sharp scissors. Make sure to avoid cutting the main fabric.
When choosing between tear-away and cut-away stabilizers, try to familiarize yourself with their characteristics to determine if they suit your project. If it’s challenging to decide, you can make several samples with your fabric and different types of stabilizers. Embroider a small design on each sample to better understand which stabilizer works best, ensuring a flawless embroidered result. Remember not to confuse tear-away and cut-away stabilizers with water-soluble ones, which dissolve completely in water, leaving no trace.