What is stabilizer in embroidery?

Material hooped with the fabric to support the stitches, so the design keeps its shape and the fabric doesn't pucker.

Stabilizers and hooping

Stabilizer, explained

The main types are tear-away, cut-away, water-soluble, heat-away and adhesive, chosen by how much the fabric stretches and how many stitches the design has. Stretchy fabrics need cut-away; stable wovens usually take tear-away. The stabilizer finder suggests one for your project, and the stabilizer guide covers each type.

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