Hab+Dash is the e-commerce wholesale division of Fil-Tec, Inc. Fil-Tec is the manufacturer of sewing, quilting and embroidery threads, including Glide and Magna-Glide.

Nov. 2 - Nov. 15 all shipments from our TX warehouse will be shipping from our PA warehouse as we move to a larger location. Please note, your shipping rates will remain the same.

Toggle Nav
My Cart

How To Select a Machine Embroidery Stabilizer

How well you hoop your fabric has an impact on the finished product. Poor registration of stitches can occur from loosely hooped or insecurely hooped pieces. A secure grip on thick or slippery materials can be gained by using high-impact hoops. Fabric tension inside the hoop can be checked by pushing your finger across the fabric. Your tension may be too loose if wrinkles appear.

Purchasing a few full or half-sized rolls of embroidery stabilizer is the most economical way to get started. This gives the customer flexibility of having inventory that can be used for nearly any or all designs. We also have a wide array of appealing pre-cut sizes that properly fit numerous hoop dimensions.

Generally speaking, a large detailed design with filled embroidery areas on an unstable knit might use a heavier stabilizer than a small design on a stable woven fabric.

Cut Away Stabilizer

Cut away stabilizers are required to provide a stable foundation for delicate and stretchy fabrics both during the stitching process and afterward. Some fabrics are so stretchy they can force themselves down the throat plate. A cut away stabilizer helps retain the design’s shape after repeated washings and assists with maintaining the crispness of the design’s details. Having a cut away stabilizer that passes washable and dry-cleaning tests is critical. Cut away stabilizers are normally stronger than tear-aways. Softness, ease of cutting, and stability are all important features, but not always synonymous.

Tear Away Stabilizer

Tear away stabilizer is the most popular type of embroidery stabilizer. Designs can normally be completed safely, quickly and more economically compared to using a cut away. All it takes is to cut one expensive garment, the advantage of utilizing a tear away will be quite apparent! Most tear away backings have a density between 1.5 – 3.0 oz. A stable tear away backing should be able to absorb repeated perforations and tear easily and cleanly in all directions. Pulling a tough tear stabilizer too hard or too quickly on a delicate long-stitch design can needlessly cause deformation. Using two light layers pulled off one at a time can help you with avoiding these problems.

Peel N Stick

This is a tear away backing with a pressure sensitive coating and (easy to use) release liner. Peel N Stick is a good choice when embroidering hard-to-hoop areas, (cuffs, collars), high stretch fabrics, and for eliminating hoop marks that occurs with certain materials such as suede and denim. Typically PNS is used by hooping the backing with the release paper facing upward. A quality PNS product should not have a gummy adhesive that can potentially gum up the needle.

Hat Stabilizer

Most tear away hat stabilizers are in the 2-3-oz density range. Hat stabilizer is used to improve the crispness of lettering and columns. An extra fold of stabilizer is sometimes used to get a firm setting on rotating cap frames to prevent slippage.

Puffy Foam

Puffy foam is a lofty material used to generate a 3-dimensional look. (Often on hats) We suggest testing Puffy foam, or at least confirm that it is washable and dry-cleanable.

Black Stabilizer

Black stabilizers are used for dark garments such as black sweatshirts or black leather jackets. Black takes away the distraction of using a white stabilizer in a dark garment. We offer tear away and cut away options in black.

Toppings

Typically toppings are used to prevent stitches from sinking into high-profile fabric such as corduroy or terry cloth. These products are composed of polyethylene or water-soluble plastic. Please test prior to using that you are satisfied with how it dissolves.