Stabilizer for denim and canvas

For denim and canvas, use medium-heavy tear-away (2.5 oz) for a typical logo, medium tear-away (2 oz) for light designs and two layers of tear-away or a cut-away for dense ones. Topping: not needed. Needle: 80/12 or 90/14 sharp (jeans needle on heavy denim). Use a sturdy hoop or float on sticky backing if the fabric is too thick to hoop.

A blue denim jacket with a sunflower embroidered on it
Backing for denim and canvas by design density
DesignExamplesBacking
LightText, outlines, open designsMedium tear-away (2 oz)
MediumA typical logoMedium-heavy tear-away (2.5 oz)
DenseFull fills, patches, big logosTwo layers of tear-away or a cut-away

Topping

Not needed

Needle

80/12 or 90/14 sharp (jeans needle on heavy denim)

Hooping

Use a sturdy hoop or float on sticky backing if the fabric is too thick to hoop.

Good to know

Thick seams deflect the needle: keep designs clear of them.

In the digitizer

Settings tuned for denim and canvas

Pick the Woven (cotton, twill, denim) fabric setting and Embrizo adjusts density, underlay and pull compensation for you before it makes the stitches.

Fill spacing
0.4 mm
Satin spacing
0.4 mm
Pull compensation
0.2 mm
Underlay
Standard

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Designs made for denim and canvas

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FAQ

Stabilizer questions

The quickest way to see what it does with your artwork is to try it. With a free account, digitizing and previewing cost nothing and take about a minute.

What stabilizer should I use for denim and canvas?

For denim and canvas, use medium-heavy tear-away (2.5 oz) for a typical logo, medium tear-away (2 oz) for light designs and two layers of tear-away or a cut-away for dense ones. Topping: not needed. Needle: 80/12 or 90/14 sharp (jeans needle on heavy denim). Use a sturdy hoop or float on sticky backing if the fabric is too thick to hoop.

Do I need a topping on denim and canvas?

Not needed. A water-soluble topping keeps stitches from sinking into piled or textured fabric and rinses away after sewing.

What needle is best for embroidering denim and canvas?

80/12 or 90/14 sharp (jeans needle on heavy denim). Change it every 8 to 10 hours of sewing, or sooner if it starts to skip or snag.

How do I know if a design is light, medium or dense?

Light designs are mostly lettering, outlines and open line art; a typical logo with some fills is medium; patches and designs filled edge to edge are dense. The stitch count chart shows typical counts by size.

What digitizer settings suit denim and canvas?

In Embrizo, pick the Woven (cotton, twill, denim) fabric setting: fill rows 0.4 mm apart, 0.2 mm pull compensation and standard underlay, tuned for this kind of fabric.

Sizes for denim and canvas

Other fabrics

Read: How to embroider denim jeans and jackets

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