🧵 Stabilizer Selection Tool

Find the perfect stabilizer for your embroidery project

🧠 Quick Fabric Guide

🧶 Knit Fabrics

How to identify: Stretches in multiple directions, made of looped yarns (like t-shirts, sweaters, yoga pants)

Stabilizer needed: Cut-away (stays permanent) because knits stretch but embroidery doesn't

🧵 Woven Fabrics

How to identify: Limited stretch, made of crisscrossed threads (like canvas, denim, dress shirts)

Stabilizer needed: Tear-away (removable) because wovens are naturally stable

🔷 Non-Woven Materials

Examples: Leather, vinyl, felt - treat like wovens since they're usually stable

Recommended Stabilizer

Design Recommendations

Needle Type & Size

⚖️ Design Density & Weight Guidelines

Light Density Design

Large, spread-out designs with lots of open space (like airy florals) → Light-to-medium stabilizer

High Density Design

Concentrated designs with layered fills and satin stitches → Medium-to-heavy stabilizer

Key Principle: Match stabilizer weight to both fabric weight and design density. Heavy fabric + dense design = heavier stabilizer needed.

💡 Pro Tips

Needle Choice: Size 11 sharp needles give the crispest stitches. For tear-away or water-soluble stabilizers, always use sharp needles to prevent tearing. Heavier fabrics may need 14/90 or 16/100 needles.

Topping Stabilizers: Use on textured fabrics (towels, fleece, corduroy, velvet) to prevent stitches from sinking into the fabric texture. Remove after embroidery.

Multiple Sources: Different manufacturers may recommend slightly different approaches. Always test first on your specific fabric/thread combination.

Can't find your fabric? Try selecting the closest similar fabric type for guidance.